Is the Recession (Really) Affecting Your Business?

by ShayB
14 replies
I felt this was an appropriate post for this forum.

Not sure who the original person was who wrote this. If anyone knows, please help me give proper credit.

--------------------------------------------

The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs.
He was hard of hearing so he had no radio.
He had trouble with his eyes so he read no newspapers.
But he sold good hot dogs.
He put up signs on the highway telling how good they were.
He stood on the side of the road and cried, "Buy a hot dog, mister?
And people bought.
He increased his meat and bun orders.
He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.
He finally got his son home from college to help him out.
But then something happened.
His son said, "Father, haven't you been listening to the radio?
Haven't you been reading the newspapers?
There's a big depression.
The European situation is terrible.
The domestic situation is worse."
Where upon the father thought, "Well, my son's been to college. He reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know."
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, took down his advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs.
And his hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
"You're right, son" the father said to the boy.
"We certainly are in the middle of a great depression."

(Or are we?????)
--------------------------------------------

While we don't want to keep our head in the sand, we also don't want to get so caught up in the news that we sabotage our own business.
#affecting #business #recession
  • Profile picture of the author magicash
    Powerful. One reason I have come back into IM after a many-years break(I was once a member here in 97) is PRECISELY because of the current and coming economic problems we will face. It's the perfect time to get involved in home business. When the U.S. was founded, virtually ALL business was home business. And then even later people had their day jobs, and also their home business, such as making furniture, selling eggs, ect... The U.S. has fallen far from that idea which originally helped make it so prosperous. The people who start falling back on home business NOW will be the ones helping their relatives through very hard times in the next few years.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467710].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author summer07
      Yes, the recession is absolutely affecting my business. It's a fantastic motivator! I'm making more progress in IM (meaning $) than I ever have before.

      Don't know who said it, but I believe it: adversity is the mother of invention!

      Cheers!

      Audre

      (hey coach rock...nice to bump inta ya!)
      Signature

      .

      QUALITY Press Releases
      For discerning professionals
      who invest in long term content marketing
      for Visibility * Credibility
      .
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467721].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author nursewriter
        Shay,

        Powerful message that everyone should learn a lesson from.....I am so sick of listening to the media spout doom and gloom 25/7....I wonder what would happen if America was exposed to nothing but positive messages all the time instead of negative?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467773].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author shaddai
        Is the Recession (Really) Affecting Your Business?
        Yup. Crushed it flat. I had a granite & tile installation business. August was about $5k, september $3.5k, October $1.5k, November $1.5k (due to another contractor being in a bind, there was 0 directly through my business) December $0, January..about $800 so far...again, due to another contractor needing help. If it weren't for friends knowing I'm screwed, my Christmas present would have been a Ch7 attorney.

        In the summer of 2005, I had 7 guys working for me & was churning $20k a month..

        That's why I'm here :-)
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467784].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        Originally Posted by summer07 View Post

        Yes, the recession is absolutely affecting my business. It's a fantastic motivator! I'm making more progress in IM (meaning $) than I ever have before.

        Don't know who said it, but I believe it: adversity is the mother of invention!

        Cheers!

        Audre

        (hey coach rock...nice to bump inta ya!)
        LOL "Coach Rock" - I really like the sound of that.

        You really are doing a great job with your biz! Keep it up.
        Signature
        "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467798].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author tess47
        Originally Posted by summer07 View Post

        Yes, the recession is absolutely affecting my business. It's a fantastic motivator! I'm making more progress in IM (meaning $) than I ever have before.
        Same here! My business has improved dramatically the last two months, but it's because times like these really make you think about what effort you put into your business.

        Great post, Shay!!
        Signature

        Tess
        Ghostwriting Services - Exceptional Content With An SEO Twist!
        Internet Marketing Tips - Straight Talk Marketing! Is Success on YOUR Horizon?
        Content Writing Services - Great. Content. Period.

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467801].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author magicash
    Nursewriter, haha.. But Nice doesn't sell advertising! You are so right though, we are bombarded with worst-case-scenario news. Everything is a numbers game. You can always find hundreds of terrible news to report in the midst of millions of other kinds of news. I guess the real question we should ask is, why doesn't lots of good news sell advertising?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467786].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rachel Incoll
    Yes, that's a brilliant story...I love it!

    I remember a year or 2 ago one of our local paper's published it and I think I copied it onto one of my blogs too I thought it was so good...& so true.

    I don't think they had an author name for it either.
    Signature
    Sick Of Spending Hour After Hour Searching For Australian Wholesalers?
    Discover Over 1,000 Genuine Australian Wholesalers In Just A Few Minutes At www.AussieWholesaleSuppliers.net.au
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467803].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
    Very nice Shay.

    I love the message.

    We have a choice whether or not to think for ourselves, or believe the BS.

    Don't worry, the web is taking care of getting rid of all the BS.

    - J
    Signature

    P.S.

    Join The Future: Telekinetic Marketing

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467804].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author anonymous123567
    Awesome Shay,

    It demonstrates the exact follow the heard mentality that got us into this mess, the power of the media huh!?

    Really cool story, thank you!

    Alex
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467806].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
      Originally Posted by alexshelton View Post

      Awesome Shay,

      It demonstrates the exact follow the heard mentality that got us into this mess, the power of the media huh!?

      Alex
      Alex, WE are the New Media. You and I now have more power than any TV, Radio, Telegraph, Pony Express, Newspaper/Magazine, etc.

      We as individuals can now setup our own world broadcast stations.

      The future is NOW.

      - J
      Signature

      P.S.

      Join The Future: Telekinetic Marketing

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467813].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author anonymous123567
    WE are? OH YEAH! lol

    YAY

    Very good point actually J, man I love the Internet!
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[467846].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author absolutelee
    I had my best month ever in January '09. It was over double my previous best month. Also, I read this story in Dr. Norman Vincent Peale's "The Amazing Results of Positive Thinking". I'm not sure if it's original there.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[479951].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steadyon
    So far no problems.

    But I guess there will be more competition in the years to come as more people attempt to build internet businesses.

    I suppose many of us have a head start in the learning cycle so we should be thankful for that and use our knowledge more effectively to grow our businesses now.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[480291].message }}

Trending Topics