This is a follow up to “4 Musts for Managing Tough Times“.  Please read that article before hunkering down to read this one.

PLEASE.  Don’t just hunker down.  It’s important to take charge.  Stay out there.  Act boldly.  AND then just in case… hunker down.

And please don’t read this article until you have set an expense reduction goal. If you are one of many who wants to skip this step, please go back and do this first.  Otherwise you’ll just be burning (your time) while reading.

Got your goal?

Good.

It’s design time!

If your goal isn’t huge and if you haven’t already spent some time searching for them – it may be real easy to spot ways to cut back with little pain and just enough gain.

If not – then another line by line study of each expense category may do the trick if you ask yourself questions like:

• Why do we spend money on this?
• What would happen if we didn’t spend money on this?
• Okay – the place would fall apart? Then – what would have to happen for us to reduce this expense by say….10%?

Questions like these often allow shifts in thinking that result in aha’s which result in you wondering  – “why didn’t I think of that before?!”

But that’s okay – you thought of it now!!

No luck yet? Then I suggest that you get out of there.

Just leave. Go sharpen your pencil. Feed the fish. Pet the dog. Rub the kitty. Grab a bowl of soup with a friend who makes you laugh. Go outside and breathe in the fresh air and sunshine. Or my favorite – go outside, breathe in the fresh air, soak up the sunshine AND dig in the dirt. All great tools for emptying the mind and making room for innovative thinking.

Still stuck? Probably tired too. And overwhelmed. Certainly deserve to be.

Then stop again. This time to read a story which is now on my wall because it helps so much.  And because I seem to need it so often.

A boy was working on a project in the garage. He was trying to lift a big box but couldn’t budge it.

His father passed by and asked, “Are you using all of your strength?”

“Yes,” the boy replied with that tone of voice that usually goes along with rolling the eyes.

“Are you sure?” said the Dad..

“Yes, Dad. I am trying as hard as I can”.

The father responded calmly, “No. You’re not. You haven’t asked me for help.”

So what about you?

Are you using all your strength?

P.S.  Part 3 of the Managing Tough Times series will be available right here on Friday, January 30.

Jan is President of Business Class Inc. If you don’t yet subscribe to the “Business Class” E-zine…you are missing out on a tool that is highly praised by managers and business owners across the country. You’ve got nothing to lose and much to gain. Sign up here. It’s quick, easy & FREE!