On June 22nd Rev. Marla was the Guest on Ken Ludwig’s internet radio show “What We’re Thinking About” This twice weekly show brings together leading metaphysical teachers, authors, ministers, visionaries and luminaries to share their unique style and perspectives on spirituality and life.

Rev. Marla was invited to share her perspectives of bridging business and spirituality. The recording below is a shortened version of the show. You can learn more about Ken Ludwig at his WEBSITE, or listen to the entire interview at the “What We’re Thinking About” archive page. Please stroll through the archives and listen to some of the past shows as well. There are truly some amazing conversations stored there.

As always The Inspired Business center strives to provide you with the most current information, perspectives and opportunities to express your unique form of Spirituality, Leadership and Profitability.

Feel free to share your comments below. If you have a topic you would like Rev. Marla to cover please let us know.

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Preparing for the Recovery

As a result of the sharp economic downturn just experienced, most businesses operate on a bare bone basis.  As soon as economic activity turns around it will e necessary for most to hire right away because capacity is now so greatly reduced.

Before doing so, take the time to review your Cash Flow forecast and your Strategy position.

1. Cash Flow: When a business grows again, it absorbs cash; particularly when inventory, receivables have to be rebuilt after a bare bone period.  Building working investment is inevitable, but it quickly becomes an issue when financing is difficult particularly now when banks continue to sit on the side lines.

2. Strategy: Although this is a word that is not part of the every day vocabulary of most small and mid-sized businesses, strategy should be reviewed at this time.  Why? Because all businesses are exposed to change that occurs faster than ever before, and the crisis may hide those changes so to speak:

a. In a very disruptive crisis business structure always adjust.  The assumption is that when business    picks up again, the game will look the same, but permanent disruptions wil have occurred.  Be prepared.  Make sure you explore:

1. How your clients have changed during the crisis?  Have their own markets shifted?
2. How have your competitors fared?
3. Are there new competitors that are from outside of the traditional landscape?  When business is slow, companies often expand into contiguous markets; some new players may have shown up on your turf.
4. Are some of the players offering a different value proposition?  Disruptive innovation often appears in crisis times.
5. Has there been a shift in what your clients buy?  how they buy it?

b.  Have you reviewed how you do things?  Could you increase the value to your clients and/or increase productivity by changing your processes? Have you streamlined operations so you can now add business in the most effective manner?

c.  When you begin hiring again, will the next person you hire be doing the same job as the one you let go?  Or do you need different skills?

The end of a recession is a good time to review your business environment.  When things are still slow, prepare a plan on how best to manage cash flow to respond to the opportunities and build a profitable platform.

Working Investment and Payroll will quickly absorb all cash if you do not focus on productivity, through process improvements and efficiency investments.

By Alain Bolea

July 7, 2009

Alain Bolea is a member of The Inspired Business Center team; to view is profile please follow this link: http://www.theinspiredbusiness.com/team.html

This month, we received our new president, and from him the people of this country will have great expectations. Our country is in dire need of a strong leader who will lead this country in a new economic direction and out of the recession that we have been slumbering in now for a year. Barack Obama will need to be a strong leader with the resolve, confidence and leadership to guide this country out of its current troubles.

We as business leaders and owners need to have the same resolve, confidence and leadership that will lead our own into not just survival this year, but one of strength and prosperity. To reach our goals and objectives, we must act boldly with a well-designed plan to get everyone within our companies working together and going in the same direction. We must have faith in one another and never give up, work our tails off and change the direction of our companies, just like Barack Obama will need to do. It’s time for our new leader, and us as leaders, to act with the confidence and  boldness needed to change the direction of our country and our companies.

Michael Doyle is President of Brand Iron Marketing