March 17, 2025

Thriving Through Economic Downturns: Strategies for Business Success When Others Are Struggling

In this timely episode, Michael Barbarita reveals how business owners can not only survive but actually thrive during economic downturns. While most businesses retreat during challenging economic times, this episode uncovers counterintuitive...

iHeartRadio podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconPandora podcast player iconAudible podcast player iconDeezer podcast player iconPodchaser podcast player iconSpreaker podcast player iconApple Podcasts podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player iconPodcast Addict podcast player iconJioSaavn podcast player iconCastbox podcast player iconCastamatic podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconFountain podcast player iconGoodpods podcast player iconOvercast podcast player iconPocketCasts podcast player iconPodurama podcast player iconPodverse podcast player iconPodyssey podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player iconYouTube podcast player icon
iHeartRadio podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconPandora podcast player iconAudible podcast player iconDeezer podcast player iconPodchaser podcast player iconSpreaker podcast player iconApple Podcasts podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player iconPodcast Addict podcast player iconJioSaavn podcast player iconCastbox podcast player iconCastamatic podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconFountain podcast player iconGoodpods podcast player iconOvercast podcast player iconPocketCasts podcast player iconPodurama podcast player iconPodverse podcast player iconPodyssey podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player iconYouTube podcast player icon

In this timely episode, Michael Barbarita reveals how business owners can not only survive but actually thrive during economic downturns. While most businesses retreat during challenging economic times, this episode uncovers counterintuitive strategies that can position your business for unprecedented growth while your competition struggles.

Powerful Business Strategies is broadcast live Mondays at 12 Noon ET Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). Powerful Business Strategies is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).

Powerful Business Strategies Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/powerful-business-strategies--6198916/support.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.279
The topics and opinions expressed in the following show are

2
00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:03.960
solely those of the hosts and their guests and not

3
00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.879
those of W FOURCY Radio. It's employees are affiliates. We

4
00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:10.000
make no recommendations or endorsements for radio show programs, services,

5
00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:12.400
or products mentioned on air or on our web. No

6
00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:15.679
liability explicitor implies shall be extended to W FOURCY Radio

7
00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:18.480
or its employees are affiliates. Any questions or comments should

8
00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:20.839
be directed to those show hosts. Thank you for choosing

9
00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:23.359
W FOURCY Radio.

10
00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:30.879
Welcome to Powerful Business Strategies, where you will find out

11
00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:34.240
that everything you have ever learned about growing your business

12
00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:38.320
is wrong. Finally, a show where you'll learn the right

13
00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:41.640
way to grow your business by learning business and financial

14
00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:46.320
strategies that your competition isn't doing. And now here is

15
00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:52.159
your host, President of NeXTSTEP CFO, Michael Barbarita, and joining

16
00:00:52.200 --> 00:01:00.240
Michael for today's show as an executive moderator is Chooky Obia.

17
00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:05.040
Welcome to Powerful Business Strategies. And by the way, today

18
00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.200
is Saint Patrick's day. I am wearing green, so I've

19
00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:11.799
got that COVID. But the reason why you don't hear

20
00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:15.400
the more invigorating voice of Chucky Obio. Welcoming you to

21
00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:19.040
the show is because Chukey and his wife recently had

22
00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:23.760
their first baby. It was the daughter and they welcomed

23
00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:26.959
Chelsea to the world. So congratulations to Chukey and his wife.

24
00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:29.680
He will be on leave for a little while, so

25
00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:32.200
in the meantime, my name is Michael Baberta. I'm president

26
00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:35.040
of Next Step CFO, and next Step CFO is a

27
00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:39.840
fractional CFO and strategic implementation firm. Business owners hire us

28
00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:42.560
to double and triple their profit using business and financial

29
00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:46.920
strategies that their competition isn't doing. Our vision is to

30
00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:50.879
ensure overwhelmed business owners achieve the time, freedom, and consistent

31
00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:54.760
profits to build a legacy and the life that they desire.

32
00:01:55.319 --> 00:01:58.280
Our mission is dedicated to guiding small business owners to

33
00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:03.799
leveraging their time, floating their profits, and building a meaningful legacy.

34
00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:06.879
The show Powerful Business Strategies in our book of the

35
00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:11.080
same name, is a step toward accomplishing that vision and mission,

36
00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:14.159
and Chuky and I are both affiliated with a number

37
00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:18.400
of different organizations. Chocky currently serves as a managing director

38
00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:22.719
of business development for Better Price, which they global business

39
00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:25.159
focused law firm, and in addition to that, Chucky and

40
00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:28.960
I collaborate to moderate business roundtables around the country and

41
00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:32.199
around the world and document those insights as part of

42
00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.840
our book, Powerful Business Strategies. But please don't that the

43
00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:38.919
views expressed on this show are personal views based on

44
00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:43.400
our own successful experiences, and this is something that i'd

45
00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:45.599
like to share that I've announced the last few weeks.

46
00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:48.599
If you have a business problem that you'd like us

47
00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:51.280
to answer, or a business question or a strategy that

48
00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:54.120
you'd like to ask us about, please email us at

49
00:02:54.280 --> 00:02:59.960
ask at NEXTSTEPCFO dot net. That's ask at NeXTSTEP CFO.

50
00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:03.879
Doesn't matter what the business problem is or what the

51
00:03:03.960 --> 00:03:07.240
question is, and we'll just answer it for you. But

52
00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:09.000
there are a couple of things that we do ask

53
00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:12.400
Number one, please state whether it's something we can answer

54
00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:15.800
on the ear or if it's confidential, let us know,

55
00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:17.919
and of course if it's confidential, we won't put it

56
00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:20.800
on the air. And number two, please provide your phone

57
00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:24.400
number because business problems can be complex and we might

58
00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:28.120
need more context or clarity. That email address, again is

59
00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:32.080
ask at NeXTSTEP CFO dot net. And they also want

60
00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:34.680
to point out that we've had we've had questions, but

61
00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:39.000
they have requested confidentiality, which, of course we will always

62
00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:46.360
always honor. You know, throughout history, the most extraordinary success

63
00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:51.280
stories weren't written during times of ease and abundance. They

64
00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:55.599
were forged in the crucible of challenge and uncertainty when

65
00:03:55.639 --> 00:04:00.439
the wins of economic change blow fiercely. Remember this truth.

66
00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:06.400
Diamonds are created under pressure, steel is strengthened by fire,

67
00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:11.719
And the most resilient innovative businesses are often those that

68
00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:15.599
navigated through economic storms, not those that sailed only in

69
00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:19.800
fair weather. Right now, somewhere in your market, a business

70
00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:22.879
owner is looking at the same economic landscape you are.

71
00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:28.839
But while others see only threat, the exceptional few recognize

72
00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:35.759
disguised opportunity. They understand that economic contractions don't just test businesses,

73
00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:42.279
they reveal which ones are built on solid foundations. You know,

74
00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:46.680
during the Great Depression, IBM expanded. During the two thousand

75
00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:49.959
and eight recession, Netflix grew its subscriber based by twenty percent.

76
00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:53.519
These weren't accidents. They were the result of leaders who

77
00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:58.959
refused to retreat what others did. Today, a challengeuld be

78
00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:03.519
that exceptional busines, this owner, the one who sees possibility

79
00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:09.759
where others see problems. Because when this economic cycle inevitably turns,

80
00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:13.000
as all cycles do, it won't be the business that

81
00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:17.000
simply survived that thrives. It'll be the one that use

82
00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:23.480
this moment to innovate, that use this moment to strengthen foundations,

83
00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:29.560
and that use this moment to capture market share while

84
00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:34.439
all others pull back. Remember that tough times don't last.

85
00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:39.680
Tough business owners do. There's what I'm having this show

86
00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:42.199
today is because some of my clients are telling me

87
00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:47.480
that their customers are pulling back, that they're postponing large projects,

88
00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:51.639
they're ordering less, they're more price conscious, or downsizing what

89
00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:55.079
they used to do at the moment. It's not all clients,

90
00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:57.639
and it's not all industries, but it is fascinating to

91
00:05:57.680 --> 00:05:59.800
note that the ones who are not feeling the effects,

92
00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:02.319
I'm doing some of the things that I will talk

93
00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:06.959
about today. You know, when storm clouds gather on the horizon,

94
00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:11.279
most captains head for the harbor. They seek safety, battening

95
00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:15.040
down the hatches, hoping merely to survive the coming tempest.

96
00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:21.040
But throughout history, the successful navigators have done something different.

97
00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:25.160
They prepared their vessels to sail boldly, into the storm.

98
00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:30.720
The same is true in business. Economic downturns don't create

99
00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:35.600
or destroy opportunity, They merely transfer it from the unprepared

100
00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:41.000
to the prepared. Although there's retreat, the visionary business owner

101
00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:46.040
understands that the greatest opportunities often emerge during the most

102
00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:51.480
challenging times. And remember, more millionaires and billionaires have been

103
00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:56.040
created during economic contractions than any other time period in history.

104
00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:00.439
Why is that Well, because downturns separate those who build

105
00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:06.079
businesses on solid foundations from those who have separate those

106
00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:11.480
who prepared from who are prepared, from those who simply

107
00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:15.800
hope for the best. Today, I want to challenge you

108
00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:18.800
to be among the prepared, to be the business owner

109
00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:23.120
who not only weathers the storm, but harnesses its power

110
00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:25.839
to propel your business forward. Because the question isn't whether

111
00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:30.519
you can afford to prepare for an economic downturn, it's

112
00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:37.560
whether you can afford not to. So today we're diving

113
00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:41.240
deeper into a topic that's on many business owners' minds

114
00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:45.240
these days, how to prepare for and thrive during an

115
00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:49.480
economic downturn. You know, business is terrifying, and it's terrifying

116
00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:54.319
because we're responsible for so many other people's lives. And

117
00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:58.160
the scariest thing about business is that when you wake

118
00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:01.360
up in the morning, we really never know what to expect.

119
00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:07.360
And this uncertainty is amplified during economic downturns. What traditional

120
00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:12.120
wisdom says to cut back, preserve cash, and essentially go

121
00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:15.800
into survival mode. But today our objective is to give

122
00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:20.399
you something different financial and business strategies that your competition

123
00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:24.319
isn't doing that will help you thrive during economic downturns,

124
00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:28.920
reducing the terror and uncertainty of business. So let me

125
00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:31.800
be clear from the outset, you can never really be

126
00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:35.799
ready for an economic downturn, but you can be prepared,

127
00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:38.879
and our job as business owners is to be prepared

128
00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:43.600
to adapt. This means to be flexible to change. You know,

129
00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:47.600
what I find is is that many are resistant to

130
00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:52.000
change and therefore don't adapt. And that's why. So if

131
00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:56.519
you thrive during economic downturns, and as we all know,

132
00:08:56.679 --> 00:08:59.039
business is always changing. And this is June now more

133
00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:02.080
than ever. Just a short time ago, interest rates were

134
00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.559
low and many industries were having record years. But with

135
00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:08.720
interest rates, you know, staying relatively high, higher than we're

136
00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:13.919
accustomed to, credit card delinquencies rising personal savings and decline,

137
00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:18.200
and now tariff's being introduced, many industries are now facing

138
00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:22.559
some significant uncertainty. And as a fractional CFO and profit

139
00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:25.919
growth strategist, I see this uncertainty every day, and so

140
00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:30.919
business owners ask me three critical questions. Number one, why

141
00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:35.080
are some companies winning while others are struggling? Secondly, what

142
00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:38.960
are the winning companies doing differently? And third how can

143
00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:43.759
I win during an economic downturn? So today we're going

144
00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:47.919
to answer these questions comprehensively and we'll explore proven strategies

145
00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:52.519
that have helped businesses not just survive, but thrive during

146
00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:57.879
previous recessions and economic contractions. So in our first segment

147
00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:03.840
will this the foundational mindset and preparation needed to prosper

148
00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:10.440
during downturns, starting with laser focused on your personal goals

149
00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:15.120
and a leveraging and leveraging a visionary mindset rather than

150
00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:20.120
falling into survible thinking. And our second segment will dive

151
00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:24.519
deep into financial clarity, understanding your numbers and using tools

152
00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:28.440
like the Business Account Flow Forecast to make data driven

153
00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:34.279
decisions when others are guessing. Finally, in our third segment

154
00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:38.679
will explore specific business strategies that successful company companies implement

155
00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:45.240
during downturns, from strategic pricing approaches to smart cost management

156
00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:50.200
that actually fuels growth. And what's particularly exciting about today's

157
00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:52.919
show is that most of your competitors will be doing

158
00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:57.080
exactly the wrong things during an economic downturn. While they're

159
00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:01.480
cutting in discriminately and retreating on the market, You'll be

160
00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:06.759
strategically positioned to capture market share, attract top talent, and

161
00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:11.440
build a foundation for exponential growth when the economy recovers.

162
00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:14.919
So grab that pen and paper because you're about to

163
00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:20.360
discover how economic downturns can become your greatest business opportunity.

164
00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:22.799
And remember, if you're driving, don't grab that pen and

165
00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:26.919
paper and listen to the replay at Powerful Business Strategies

166
00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:32.159
dot com up. So let's dive into that first critical

167
00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:36.759
component of thriving during an economic downturn, having the right

168
00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:42.320
foundation and mindset to make strategic decisions while others panic.

169
00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:47.000
So winning business owners during economic downturns have a laser

170
00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:50.559
focus on their number one goal. But here is the

171
00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:53.600
key distinction. I'm not talking about their number one business goal.

172
00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:57.840
I'm talking about their number one personal goal for themselves.

173
00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:01.120
And their families, because this is the not only the why,

174
00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.759
but this would be their greatest motivation to adapt and

175
00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:11.039
to be flexible to change. You know, great CEOs always

176
00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:15.679
stopped by understanding their personal goals and motivations and understanding

177
00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:19.480
what's really important to you and your family. I don't

178
00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:22.240
know about you, but it's important to me that my

179
00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:26.519
business serves me, not the other way around. And that's

180
00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:29.360
really the basis of this show. You know, I don't

181
00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:31.720
want you to feel like a slave to your business,

182
00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:37.919
especially during these challenging economic times that may becoming because

183
00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:43.440
the pressure increases exponentially, as you all know. Now, before

184
00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:46.320
you can start to do tactical things, you must strategically

185
00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:50.600
understand why am I doing this, where am I headed,

186
00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:55.840
and what does success look like for me? And by

187
00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:58.240
the way, this is not in your business, this is

188
00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:00.960
in your life because I've seen this stake happened over

189
00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:03.240
and over again, and a lot of you are in

190
00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:05.679
the position right now where you get so excited to

191
00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:07.720
make your impact in the world that you jump out

192
00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:11.159
there and your creative business and now all of a sudden,

193
00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:15.320
you're fitting your life around this business thing that you creative.

194
00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:18.399
So the way it should work is that you create

195
00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:21.200
the life you want and let the asset, which is

196
00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:24.879
the business, serve you allow you to get to that life.

197
00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:29.240
I hope that makes sense because that's a critical start

198
00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:35.120
to any handling of an economic downturn. So we must

199
00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:37.799
start by setting our personal goals first, then moving to

200
00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:40.559
our business goals. And with respect to our business goals,

201
00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:44.960
it's net profit goals first, then revenue goals. Revenue goals

202
00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:49.000
without net profit goals are useless during a downturn. Want

203
00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:51.399
more take on pay you need more profit. You want

204
00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:53.759
to pay down debt. What do you need? You need

205
00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:58.519
more profit? Want to hire somebody like a manager or

206
00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:03.159
an administrative person, You certainly need more profit. This focus

207
00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:07.360
on profitability rather than just top line revenue, becomes even

208
00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:14.559
more critical during economic trans contractions. I got a question

209
00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:18.360
from a listener. Many business owners get caught up in

210
00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:22.799
survival mode during downturns. I agree, How can they maintain

211
00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.480
this focus on personal goals when everything seems to be

212
00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:29.879
just keeping the business afloat? Well, that's a great question.

213
00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:34.080
So the key is to create what I call prior

214
00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:38.799
priorities pyramid. At the top of your pyramid is personal.

215
00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:43.879
The why the specific lifestyle, the freedom, the time, freedom

216
00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:49.000
or impact that your business that you want to create

217
00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:51.720
for your business that you want your business to create,

218
00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:55.840
I should say, and during turbulent times, start each week

219
00:14:55.879 --> 00:15:00.759
by reviewing this personal vision. Then work backward identifying the

220
00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:04.679
specific business actions that's supporting. This keeps you from getting

221
00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:07.960
lost in reactive mode. For example, if family time is

222
00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:12.200
a core personal goal, you might prioritize business strategies that

223
00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:17.080
increase profitability through systems rather than through your personal time investment.

224
00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:21.039
This approach ensures that you'll even are that even your

225
00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:28.679
survival strategies aligned with your deeper personal objectives. Next, winning

226
00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:34.159
business owners and economic times have a visionary mindset. I'm sorry.

227
00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:38.559
In economic downturns, they have a visionary mindset. It's easy

228
00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:41.039
to get sucked into the doom and gloom of a downturn.

229
00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:46.679
It's easy to go into scarcity mode. Don't do that. Yes,

230
00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:49.919
the economy is changing, but the world isn't ending. We

231
00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:54.879
need to adapt, not shut down. Avoid scarcity based decisions

232
00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:57.919
and make visionary decisions. Think about the impact of your

233
00:15:57.960 --> 00:16:01.120
decisions next quarter, next year, five years from now. Make

234
00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:04.320
decisions that will serve you well in the long run.

235
00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:08.120
Don't just think about those short term implications with the

236
00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:11.960
economic downturn, Because when we think about the vision of

237
00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:16.559
our companies that inspires us. This inspiration is crucial fuel

238
00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:22.080
during challenging times. Remember, your mindset isn't just about positive positivity.

239
00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:27.720
It directly impacts the strategic choices that you make. Let

240
00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:29.840
me give you a concrete example of how this works.

241
00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:34.320
So during the nine recession, I worked with two similar

242
00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:38.720
companies in the same industry. Company A went into defense mode,

243
00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:44.080
cutting marketing, laying off talent, doing terrible margin business just

244
00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:47.039
to keep people busy, and essentially trying to weight out

245
00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:50.879
the reception. Versus Company B, who took a different approach.

246
00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:55.600
They maintained their marketing while optimizing about while optimizing it

247
00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:59.559
for a better return on investment, They retain their top performers,

248
00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:03.840
and they actually invested in new product development. By twenty eleven,

249
00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:07.680
Company A had survived but was struggling to regain momentum

250
00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:11.400
that they had lost market share share, their staff was demoralized,

251
00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:17.400
and they had no innovation pipeline. Company B emerged from

252
00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:22.039
the recession with increased market share, a motivated team, and

253
00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:25.480
new offerings that position them for explosive growth during the recovery.

254
00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:29.200
The difference wasn't their circumstances, it was their mindset and

255
00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:34.599
the strategic decisions that flowed from it. So this visionary

256
00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:39.599
mindset must be paired with solid financial clarity. Now, this

257
00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:41.960
pot might freak out some of you, because I know

258
00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.400
a lot of you aren't doing it, and we've you know,

259
00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:47.920
we have assessed over one hundred business owners and when

260
00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:51.680
we asked three basic financial questions, the vast majority of

261
00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:55.839
these business owners just don't know the answers. So winning

262
00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:59.759
business owners make the right decisions in economic downturns because

263
00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:03.319
they make decisions based on the numbers and the data.

264
00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:08.160
What times are good, you can buy? Yeah, yeah, you

265
00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:11.440
can buy. Not looking at this stuff not effective still,

266
00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:15.160
but you'll get by. But to win an economic downturn,

267
00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:18.440
you must make decisions based on the numbers. And to

268
00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:23.279
start with, I'm trying to do the best I could

269
00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:28.000
to isolate the vital five numbers that you need to

270
00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:30.279
know and that should be with you at all times.

271
00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:34.079
And just by knowing these five numbers, this isn't a

272
00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:38.759
big lift here, guys and girls. Just by knowing these

273
00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:43.480
five numbers, you'll be able to make better business decisions

274
00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:47.319
by understanding what your sales are, what your gross profit

275
00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:50.680
is in terms of the absolute dollars, what your gross

276
00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:54.799
profit percentage is, what your net profit is, and your

277
00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:59.119
current cash balance. You got these five numbers down, you

278
00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:04.759
will make better decisions than you make today. And you also,

279
00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:07.599
of course have to understand what each of those categories are.

280
00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:10.480
And that's a great question for the ask at next

281
00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:15.160
step cf NET. By the way, the next winning business

282
00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:19.440
owners understand what their financial statements are telling them. So

283
00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:22.319
the three key financial statements are the p and L

284
00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:25.319
profit and law statement, the balance sheet, and the cash

285
00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:28.079
flow statement. And when I'm in a room of small

286
00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:30.279
business owners and i ask how many people look at

287
00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:33.079
the P and L at least once a month, I

288
00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:35.799
can be guaranteed that less than half raise their hand.

289
00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:38.160
And when I ask how many people look at their

290
00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:41.039
balance sheet once a month, forget that less than ten

291
00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:43.400
percent of the room raises their hand. And when I

292
00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:45.599
ask how many people look at their cash flow statement,

293
00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:48.480
what's a month where cash is canting and cash is

294
00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:51.880
the lifelood of a business, I might get one person

295
00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:55.759
to raise their hand. It's being you know, cash is

296
00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:58.480
the lifeblood of a business that is being totally neglected.

297
00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:02.799
So the good news is you don't have to know

298
00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:05.119
how to read financial statements, but you do need to

299
00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:08.759
understand the story behind them and how those financials will

300
00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:10.920
guide you to make the best decisions. And if you

301
00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:15.119
need help understanding your financial statements, give us a call.

302
00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:20.599
We are strategic chief financial officers, and go get that

303
00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:25.119
help that you need before this entown turn intensifies. So

304
00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:27.519
let me share a story that illustrates the power of

305
00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:33.200
financial clarity during difficult economic times. I worked with a

306
00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:37.039
manufacturing company during the twenty twenty pandemic shutdown, and while

307
00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:41.400
their competitors were making panic based decisions, we had a

308
00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:44.880
clear understanding of their cash runway, their break even point,

309
00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:48.920
and their most profitable product lines. But a great start

310
00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:53.519
by the way just to get that clarity, and this

311
00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:58.000
clarity allowed them to make strategic choices temporarily suspending their

312
00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:01.160
least profitable lines while doubling down on the highest madch

313
00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:04.640
of products. They negotiated with suppliers for a position of

314
00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:09.599
knowledge rather than fear. They restructured rather than simply cutting

315
00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:13.960
the result. While their industry contracted by thirty percent, they

316
00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:18.400
experienced a fifteen percent revenue dip, but maintain their profitability.

317
00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:21.480
So it's not necessarily that you're going to throw You

318
00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:25.160
don't have during to be bad economy that your sales

319
00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:27.480
are necessarily going to go up. You're just going to

320
00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:29.559
manage the revenue that you get better and it's not

321
00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.319
going to go down as much as it would have

322
00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:34.839
if you didn't take some of the positions that we're

323
00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:38.680
talking about today. And by the time the economic recovery,

324
00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:43.480
by the time the economy began recovering, they had actually

325
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:47.079
gained market share. So here it's a question I'm just

326
00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:50.559
getting out from a listener. You mentioned the importance of

327
00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:54.279
knowing your numbers, but many business owners find financial statements overwhelming.

328
00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:58.359
I agree with that. What's a simple first step that

329
00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:02.079
they can take to gain financial clarity. Well, first of all,

330
00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:09.160
you know know your vital five and then then block

331
00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:13.240
out two hours with your bookkeeper or CFO or accountant

332
00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:17.359
with a specific goal of understanding just three three of

333
00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:21.599
those numbers, your gross profit margin, your monthly break even point,

334
00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:27.559
and your current cash runway. Now, gross profit margin tells

335
00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:29.960
you how much of each sale is available to cover

336
00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:33.720
overhead and generate profit. Got to understand that it's one

337
00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:37.240
of the vital five. Your break even point tells you

338
00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:40.359
exactly how much revenue you need each month to cover

339
00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:43.519
all expenses. So I'm going a little deeper here beyond

340
00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:46.680
the vital five. But it's important to understand your break

341
00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:49.920
even and your cash runway shows you how long you

342
00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:55.279
could survive if revenue drops significantly. So that's the reason

343
00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:57.359
why I want you to know your current cash balance,

344
00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:00.079
but I also want to want you to know your runway.

345
00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:04.119
So just understanding these three numbers plus your vital five

346
00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:07.240
put you ahead of eighty percent of business owners and

347
00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:11.440
provide the foundation for making confident decisions rather than fear

348
00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:19.039
based decisions during a downturn. It's another question for business

349
00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:22.480
owners who want to maintain a visionary mindset despite despite

350
00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:29.920
economic headwinds. What practical habits have you seen work best well.

351
00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:34.960
I recommend implementing what I call it dual focus system.

352
00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:41.000
So each week, dedicate specific time to both defensive and

353
00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:45.000
offensive planning. Maybe Monday mornings for reviewing cash flow and

354
00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.920
managing costs those are the defensive elements, and Thursday afternoons

355
00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:54.200
for innovative and growth strategies. The offensive elements. And so

356
00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:58.400
this structure, the structured approach, ensures that you don't get

357
00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:05.880
consumed by either mindset. Also create visionary council. A visionary council,

358
00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:08.319
so this is a small group of forward thinking business

359
00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:11.680
owners who meet monthly to share opportunities that they're seeing.

360
00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:15.200
I fully recommend that that is a real that's a

361
00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:20.079
great idea. And during downturns, we tend to isolate, which

362
00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:25.960
reinforces negative thinking and damages our mindset. Intentional connection with

363
00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:30.240
growth minded peers counteracts this tendency and keeps your thinking

364
00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:34.400
expansive even when the economy is contracting. I call that

365
00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:38.279
optimizing your environment. By the way, and so before I

366
00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:42.480
continue this discussion, we're going to take a ninety second break. Hey,

367
00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:45.000
their business owners, let me ask you something. Are you

368
00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:48.880
tied of blending in with your competitors, frustrated with slow

369
00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:51.960
growth and slim margins? Well, I've got news for you.

370
00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:56.240
Everything you've ever learned about growing your business is wrong.

371
00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:59.359
Don't worry. I'm here to let you in on a

372
00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:03.640
secret weapon. Your position of market dominance. It's what sets

373
00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:07.519
you apart, makes you irreplaceable, and has customers lining up

374
00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:10.839
at your door. My name is Michael Barberrita from Next

375
00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:15.240
Step CFO. I know what you're thinking. Sounds great, Michael,

376
00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:19.000
How do I find my position of market dominance? Well,

377
00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:22.680
that's exactly why we've created our game changing impleitation program

378
00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:26.559
called Next Step to Market Dominance. In just ninety days,

379
00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:28.640
we'll guide you step by step to a position of

380
00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:33.039
market dominance by uncovering your unique strengths that competitors can't touch.

381
00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:36.839
By crafting a message that resonates deeply with your ideal customer,

382
00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:39.799
by building a strategy that turns you into the go

383
00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:42.839
to expert in your field. Now this is in theory.

384
00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:46.440
These are battle tests strategies that have helped businesses like

385
00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:51.319
yours double triple and quadruple their revenue. Don't let another

386
00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:54.720
quarter go by struggling to standout. It's time to dominate

387
00:25:54.759 --> 00:26:00.440
your market period. Go to NEXTSTEPCFO dot net forward slash contact.

388
00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:03.680
Fill out the form and in the message section put

389
00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:07.480
the word dominate or call us at seven eight one

390
00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:11.200
three two six three A two two. That's next step

391
00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:14.920
CFO dot net forward slash Contact or call us at

392
00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:18.200
seven eight one three two six three A two two.

393
00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:22.359
Welcome back and remember you can catch all the recordings

394
00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:26.000
at Powerful business Strategies dot com. So now let's dive

395
00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:29.640
into that second critical component of thriving during economic downturns,

396
00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:34.759
using powerful financials tools to make data driven decisions while

397
00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:39.440
your competition is guessing. The single most powerful tool for

398
00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:45.039
navigating economic uncertainty is a business and cash flow forecast.

399
00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:50.079
Why because this forecast helps you understand the outcome and

400
00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:55.559
remif and ramifications of your decisions before you make them.

401
00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:59.759
For example, how many have ever been surprised by income

402
00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:02.559
to Well, if you have a business and cash flow forecast,

403
00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:07.079
you will never be surprised by tax liabilities again because

404
00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:09.759
you'll always know what your projecting net profit looks like

405
00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:13.960
and you'll always have an idea of what your cash

406
00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:18.960
flow situation is. And CEOs of the best companies are

407
00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:22.720
never surprised by taxes or anything else for that matter,

408
00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:27.160
because they all have a business and cash flow forecast.

409
00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:29.599
The bottom line is, if you want to thrive in

410
00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:33.319
academic downturns, the number one tool of winning business owners

411
00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:37.400
is the business and cash flow forecast. There's a reason.

412
00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:43.319
Why all venture capitalists and all boards of directors demand

413
00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:46.880
business and cash flow forecast and let me explain what

414
00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:49.519
a business cashflow forecast includes.

415
00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:53.920
It's not just a simple revenue projection. A comprehensive forecast

416
00:27:53.960 --> 00:28:00.960
includes projected monthly income statement you know, second, a projected

417
00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:06.000
balance sheet. You know you have. It's a professional forecast.

418
00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:09.960
It's not a professional forecast if there's no projected monthly

419
00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:13.799
balance sheet. Why Well, one of the thing, one of

420
00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:15.880
the items that are listed on the balance sheet is

421
00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:21.319
cash and as you know, that's one of the vital five. So,

422
00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:24.079
and it will also show you how your assets and

423
00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:28.039
liabilities evolve. And then of course you need a projected

424
00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:33.599
cash flow statement and then a scenario analysis. So what

425
00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:37.599
is that? Well, you want to know things like, well,

426
00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:40.000
what happens if your sales are up ten percent, what

427
00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:43.240
happens if they're down twenty percent? What does cash flow

428
00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:47.200
look like if I make this decision? What does my

429
00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:50.880
business model look like? So the power of this forecast

430
00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:53.559
is that it allows you to test decisions before making them.

431
00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:56.000
Want to know if you can afford to maintain your

432
00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:59.799
marketing spend during a downturn, rd it to the forecast,

433
00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:02.640
whether to invest in new equipment. The forecast will show

434
00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:05.279
you the impact. Wondering how long you can survive if

435
00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:09.160
revenue drop thirty percent. Forecast will answer that. Here's a

436
00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:12.880
question that I'm getting there. Yep, there's a question from

437
00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:18.359
a listener, Michael. Creating a business and forecast sounds complicated.

438
00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:21.160
Is this something that small business owners can do themselves

439
00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:24.480
or they need professional help? Well, while there are tech

440
00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:27.799
plates in software available, I really you know this is

441
00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:31.160
a bias, but I strongly recommend getting professional help to

442
00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:36.240
set up your forecast. You know, the structure and assumptions

443
00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:39.799
are critical because it's one of those things like with computers,

444
00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:45.000
it's garbage and garbage out type of thing. And so

445
00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:51.240
I can't overstate the importance of scenario planning during economic downturns.

446
00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:54.359
Most businesses operate with a single set of projections, which

447
00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:58.519
creates a false sense of certainty. Smart businesses develop at

448
00:29:58.599 --> 00:30:02.079
least three scenarios. Best case, if the downturn is milder

449
00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:06.079
than expected or your business is minimally affected. Expected case

450
00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:10.519
and that's your most likely scenario based on current information,

451
00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:13.559
and then worst case, a severe scenario that tests your

452
00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:18.000
business resilience. You know, in my experience with working with

453
00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:23.559
business owners as their CFO, they always like to see

454
00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:26.480
the worst case, and because anything better than that, they

455
00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:28.480
know they can survive. If they can survive the worst case,

456
00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:31.880
they can survive the expected in best case. So for

457
00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:36.039
each scenario, identify the trigger points, specific metrics that would

458
00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:39.920
indicate you're moving from one scenario to another, and predetermined

459
00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:43.200
actions you'll take when those triggers are hit. For example,

460
00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:47.680
one of my clients in the retail business created these

461
00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:51.960
clear trigger points. If sales decline less than ten percent,

462
00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:57.240
maintain all operations but optimized marketing spend. If sales decline

463
00:30:57.279 --> 00:31:01.799
ten to twenty percent, reduce operating and you renegotiate bend

464
00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:05.200
of terms. If sales decline more than twenty percent, close

465
00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:10.680
under the performing locations and restructure debt. You know, having

466
00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:14.279
these decisions mapped out in advance allowed them to act

467
00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:18.759
decisively rather than emotionally when conditions change. That's so important.

468
00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:24.000
Any of your forward thinking relative to these economic downturns,

469
00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:31.160
while while it's not raining, is just excellent, excellent strategy.

470
00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:35.200
Beyond the business and cash flow of forecasts, winning business

471
00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:41.160
owners implement rigorous cash management during downturns, and this includes

472
00:31:41.160 --> 00:31:44.519
a thirteen week rolling cash flow, which is a detailed

473
00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:48.599
week by week projection of all inflows and outflows updated weekly.

474
00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:54.880
A cash cash acceleration strategies for systematic approaches to convert

475
00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:59.359
sales to cash faster. Think about that. You want to

476
00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:02.640
reduce itnumber of days in your cash conversion cycle from

477
00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:05.400
start to finish, from the start of your process to

478
00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:08.480
the end. What are the average number of days it

479
00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:12.359
takes you from the start of your process to the

480
00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:14.880
end of the process where the customer finally pays you.

481
00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:20.880
Cash conversion protocols that defined guidelines for managing outflows cash

482
00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:24.839
trigger points. These are specific cash levels that trigger predetermined action.

483
00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:28.759
As I mentioned earlier, I worked through the service business

484
00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:32.200
that implemented these systems just before the twenty twenty pandemic hit.

485
00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:36.319
But while their competitors were frantic trying to figure out

486
00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:40.480
their cash position, my client had clear visibility into their

487
00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:46.400
cash flow and it already activated their conservation protocols, and

488
00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:51.599
this allowed them to make calm, strategic decisions rather than

489
00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:56.720
panicked reactions. Let's also talk about the importance of margin

490
00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:59.880
management during economic downturns. You know, when revenue was at

491
00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:03.319
the pressure, understanding of protecting your profit marches becomes even

492
00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:07.440
more critical. See many business owners make the fatal mistake

493
00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:11.400
of cutting prices to maintain volume during downturns. While this

494
00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:15.559
might temporarily maintain revenue or maybe even increase in a bit,

495
00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:20.559
it can devastate the profitability and cash flow. Instead, winning

496
00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:25.119
business owners focus on value based pricing. We've mentioned that

497
00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:30.200
a lot before, emphasizing the unique value that they provide. Rather,

498
00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:35.519
they're competing on price, second product, service mix optimization, focusing

499
00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:37.599
on high margen art Rooks. We talked about that a

500
00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:42.359
little earlier. Strategic discounting. If discounts are necessary, applying them

501
00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:47.599
strategically then versus across the board, just in certain spots.

502
00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:53.640
Cost structure alignment, ensuring cost flex appropriately with revenue changes.

503
00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:59.880
One manufacturing client implemented a margin management system that required

504
00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:04.759
any proposed price reduction to be accompanied by a corresponding

505
00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:09.679
cost reduction plan. This was brilliant. This simple rule prevented

506
00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:14.199
the knee discounting that had eroded their profitability during previous downturns.

507
00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:20.599
Another critical financial strategy for downturns is capital allocation discipline.

508
00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:26.480
When resources are constrained, way do you invest those resources

509
00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:32.079
to become exponentially more important? So, winning business owners developed

510
00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:37.360
clear capital allocation frameworks that prioritize investments based on return

511
00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:44.800
on investment, strategic alignment, risk profile, and payback period. They

512
00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:47.920
also regularly review all things all areas of the business

513
00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:53.199
using zero based thinking. Knowing what I know now, would

514
00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:56.360
I still make this investment or hire this person or

515
00:34:56.400 --> 00:35:04.119
offer this product? Question from the listener. You've emphasized cash

516
00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:09.199
management during downturns. What are some specific cash acceleration strategies

517
00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:17.199
that businesses can implement quickly? Well, there are several. First,

518
00:35:17.719 --> 00:35:22.639
implement upfront deposits or payment terms for new customers during downturns,

519
00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:25.840
customers are more willing to accept these terms to secure

520
00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:30.639
reliable vendors. Second, offer early payment discounts, for example two

521
00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:33.800
percent off if paid within ten days. Third, you can

522
00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:38.199
streamline your invoicing process. You know many businesses are surprisingly

523
00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:42.199
slow to invoice. That always baffles me, But they are,

524
00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:47.719
and that delays cash flow and unnecessarily or segment your

525
00:35:47.719 --> 00:35:51.199
collections approach. Use different strategies for different types of customers

526
00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:54.280
rather than a one size fit all approach. And then

527
00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:59.599
finally consider factoring receivables. If you have credit worthy customers

528
00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:05.239
need the cash sooner. I've seen businesses improve cashflow by

529
00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:08.000
fifteen to twenty percent in sixty days with these strategies,

530
00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:13.119
which can be the difference between struggling and thriving during

531
00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:20.400
a downturn. Another question, what about businesses that are already

532
00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:23.679
facing cash flow challenges as they enter the economic downturn?

533
00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:28.880
Is it too late for them to implement these strategies now?

534
00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:31.599
It's never too late, but the approach needs to be

535
00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:36.920
more intensive. But businesses already experiencing cashflow pressure, I recommend

536
00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:41.039
what I call cashflow CPR. This is a three step

537
00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:47.559
emergency protocol. First, control the bleeding. Immediately identify the largest

538
00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:52.920
cash drains. Secondly, prioritize ruthlessly. Create a tiered system for

539
00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:57.119
all expenses and payments, separating the must pays from the

540
00:36:57.199 --> 00:37:01.440
can weights because there's always a can eight list. Third,

541
00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:07.840
restructure quickly. Proactively reach out to vendors, landlords, and lenders

542
00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:12.360
to negotiate terms before missing before missing payments. That's important.

543
00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:17.480
The key is transparency and communication. Stakeholders respond much better

544
00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:21.519
to proactive restructure than to surprises. I've seen this. I've

545
00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:24.840
seen businesses on the brink of insolvency turn around in

546
00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:29.880
ninety days using this approach, but it requires immediate, immediate

547
00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:35.159
action and complete financial transparency. So before I continue this discussion,

548
00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:38.119
we're going to take a ninety second break. Hey, their

549
00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:40.840
business owners, let me ask you something. Are you tied

550
00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:44.760
of blending in with your competitors? Frustrated with slow growth

551
00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:48.559
and slim margins? Well, I've gotten news for you. Everything

552
00:37:48.599 --> 00:37:53.199
you've ever learned about growing your business is wrong. Don't worry.

553
00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:55.559
I'm here to let you in on a secret weapon,

554
00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:59.559
your position of market dominance. It's what sets you apart,

555
00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:03.519
make sure irreplaceable, and has customers lining up at your door.

556
00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:08.159
My name is Michael Barberrita from Next Step CFO. I

557
00:38:08.280 --> 00:38:11.440
know what you're thinking. Sounds great, Michael, How do I

558
00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:15.320
find my position of market dominance? Well, that's exactly why

559
00:38:15.320 --> 00:38:19.280
we've created our game changing impleitation program called Next Step

560
00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:22.559
to Market Dominance. In just ninety days, we'll guide you

561
00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:25.360
step by step to a position of market dominance by

562
00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:29.400
uncovering your unique strengths that competitors can't touch. By crafting

563
00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:32.800
a message that resonates deeply with your ideal customer, by

564
00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:35.400
building a strategy that turns you into the go to

565
00:38:35.559 --> 00:38:39.159
expert in your field. Now this is in theory. These

566
00:38:39.159 --> 00:38:41.880
are battle tests and strategies that have helped businesses like

567
00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:46.360
you as double, triple, and quadruple their revenue. Don't let

568
00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:49.599
another quarter go by struggling to standout. It's time to

569
00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:54.960
dominate your market period. Go to NEXTSTEPCFO dot net forward

570
00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:58.400
slash contact. Fill out the form and in the message

571
00:38:58.400 --> 00:39:02.440
section put the word dominate or call us at seven

572
00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:06.079
eight one three two six three A two two. That's

573
00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:10.360
NEXTSTEPCFO dot net forward slash contact or call us at

574
00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:13.639
seven eight one three two six three A two two.

575
00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:18.800
Welcome back. Now, let's explore the third critical component of

576
00:39:18.840 --> 00:39:22.880
thriving during economic downturns, and that's implementing the right business

577
00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:27.480
strategies that your competition isn't doing. Did you know that

578
00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:31.360
ninety five percent of business and financial strategies use today

579
00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:37.400
are identical identical to competitors. They don't work, particularly, they

580
00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:40.440
don't work even in good times, so you can just

581
00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:43.159
imagine how they're going to work in bad economic times.

582
00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:47.480
So during economic downturns, the problem becomes even more pronounced

583
00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:52.159
as businesses retreat to conventional wisdom, cutting across the board,

584
00:39:52.440 --> 00:39:56.840
halting innovation and essentially trying to weigh out the sort. Instead,

585
00:39:57.159 --> 00:40:00.880
winning business owners implement strategic approach is that position them

586
00:40:00.920 --> 00:40:03.920
the capture market share while others retreat, and let's explore

587
00:40:03.960 --> 00:40:08.159
those strategies. Every business should have a position of market

588
00:40:08.239 --> 00:40:12.960
dominance that becomes even more powerful during economic downturns. This

589
00:40:13.280 --> 00:40:17.639
isn't branding. It's a clear articulation of how you solve

590
00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:21.119
critical problems that your market faces in a way that

591
00:40:21.199 --> 00:40:24.639
no one else does. And there's ways to create that.

592
00:40:24.760 --> 00:40:29.719
If we've heard our commercials. During downturns, customer problems and

593
00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:33.760
pain points often shift, and smart business owners quickly adapt

594
00:40:33.800 --> 00:40:37.559
that position of market dominance to address these changing concerns.

595
00:40:37.719 --> 00:40:40.920
For example, during the two thousand and eight financial crisis,

596
00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:45.719
a luxury retailer shifted their position from exclusive designer collections

597
00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:51.320
to investment pieces that retain their value, directly addressing their

598
00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:57.320
customers' new financial concerns. Similar to that during the early pandemic,

599
00:40:57.400 --> 00:41:01.000
a restaurant rapidly pivoted from positioning as a premium dining

600
00:41:01.079 --> 00:41:06.239
experience to restaurant quality faily meals that are safely delivered,

601
00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:11.199
responding directly to their customer's new priorities. Around safety at home,

602
00:41:11.239 --> 00:41:16.039
CET and living. I'm getting an early question on this

603
00:41:15.920 --> 00:41:20.480
in this segment. Repositioning sounds good in theory, but many

604
00:41:20.559 --> 00:41:25.199
business owners worry about confusing their market or diluting their brand.

605
00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:29.719
How can they adapt their positioning without losing their identity? Well,

606
00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:33.800
that's very insightful question. The key is to evolve your

607
00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:37.599
positioning rather than completely reinventing it. Think of it as

608
00:41:39.079 --> 00:41:42.960
highlighting a different facet of your existing value proposition rather

609
00:41:43.039 --> 00:41:46.800
than creating a brand new one. The core of who

610
00:41:46.840 --> 00:41:49.880
you are should remain consistent, but what aspects that you

611
00:41:49.960 --> 00:41:54.679
emphasize should shift to align your customer's changing priorities. For example,

612
00:41:54.679 --> 00:41:57.639
we'll give you this example. A high end fitness studio

613
00:41:58.039 --> 00:42:02.119
had always focused on transformation the results, but during economic concertainty,

614
00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:06.719
they emphasize the stress reduction and the mental health benefits

615
00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:09.760
of their approach. Same service, same values, but a different

616
00:42:09.760 --> 00:42:13.559
emphasis that resonated with their members' current needs. So it's

617
00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:18.599
just a shift in the thinking of the same product. Second,

618
00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:22.400
winning business owners implement a compelling offer strategy that addresses

619
00:42:22.440 --> 00:42:28.239
the specific concerns customers have during economic downturns. See during

620
00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:31.800
uncertain times, customers become more risk averse and scrutinize their

621
00:42:31.800 --> 00:42:35.559
spending more carefully. Your offer needs to overcome these height objections,

622
00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:41.079
so effective downturn office strategies include risk reversal, which is

623
00:42:41.079 --> 00:42:43.360
where the seller and the transaction takes most or all

624
00:42:43.400 --> 00:42:48.599
the risk. Value based bundles, packaging your core offer with

625
00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:54.320
additional valuable components at slightly higher price but delivering substantially

626
00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:57.400
more value. Member. If value is higher than price, they'll

627
00:42:57.400 --> 00:43:03.719
buy segmental offerings. That's creating good, better best options that

628
00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:08.280
allow customers to select based on their current financial situation.

629
00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:10.719
By the way, these are all strategies that we've covered

630
00:43:10.760 --> 00:43:15.119
in previous shows. Recurring revenue models shifting from large one

631
00:43:15.199 --> 00:43:19.519
time purchases to smaller recurring payments that feel more manageable

632
00:43:19.880 --> 00:43:25.119
during uncertain times. It's all great. Third winning business owners

633
00:43:25.159 --> 00:43:29.480
implement strategic cost management rather than obitrary cost cutting. The

634
00:43:29.599 --> 00:43:33.280
general mindset of business owners and economic downturns is to

635
00:43:33.320 --> 00:43:36.719
cut everything, but you can't cut your way to success.

636
00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:40.960
Use this formula for cutting expenses. You cut the expense

637
00:43:41.360 --> 00:43:45.239
if the expense doesn't help you acquire a customer, if

638
00:43:45.239 --> 00:43:48.599
it doesn't help you retain a customer, if the expense

639
00:43:48.639 --> 00:43:51.639
doesn't increase the long term valuable customer, and if the

640
00:43:51.719 --> 00:43:55.960
expense doesn't help deliver your product or service to a customer.

641
00:43:56.559 --> 00:44:00.719
And after you apply these rules to expensive expenses, look

642
00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:05.239
for investments in the three a's assets that produce revenue,

643
00:44:05.280 --> 00:44:09.480
amazing people to help you scale, and automation to lever's time.

644
00:44:11.840 --> 00:44:15.199
Success in economic downturns is not defined by those who

645
00:44:15.239 --> 00:44:19.840
spend less, is defined by those who spend smart. And

646
00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:22.639
let me give you an example. During the two thousand

647
00:44:22.639 --> 00:44:27.119
and eight recession, A manufacturers facing significant pressure to cut costs,

648
00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:32.039
and rather than implementing across the board reductions, he categorized

649
00:44:32.199 --> 00:44:36.559
all expenses using the framework I just shared. This revealed

650
00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:39.760
that they were actually under spending in areas that directly

651
00:44:39.840 --> 00:44:45.239
impacted customer acquisition and retention, while overspending on internal system

652
00:44:45.320 --> 00:44:50.119
that didn't touch directly touch the customer. By really allocating,

653
00:44:50.280 --> 00:44:54.559
not just reducing, but by reallocating their spending, they were

654
00:44:54.679 --> 00:44:58.719
able to reduce costs by fourteen percent while actually increasing

655
00:44:58.760 --> 00:45:03.280
their marketing impact, act and customer service capabilities. The result

656
00:45:03.920 --> 00:45:06.599
was that they emerged from the recession with higher market

657
00:45:06.599 --> 00:45:10.880
share and stronger customer loyalty than they had going in

658
00:45:12.920 --> 00:45:17.920
for economic downturns create unique opportunities to upgrade your talent pool.

659
00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:23.079
While most businesses implement hiring freezers or layoffs during downturns,

660
00:45:23.639 --> 00:45:29.320
visionary companies selectively hire exceptional talent that suddenly becomes available

661
00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:34.039
as other companies can track. I've seen businesses completely change

662
00:45:34.039 --> 00:45:37.239
that their capabilities by strategically adding just one or two

663
00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:42.039
key people during downturns, people they could have never attracted

664
00:45:42.119 --> 00:45:45.719
during stronger economic times. And this might be an experienced

665
00:45:45.719 --> 00:45:49.480
salesperson from a larger competitor, or an operations leader who

666
00:45:49.519 --> 00:45:53.239
can really drive efficiency. And the key is being selective

667
00:45:53.280 --> 00:45:57.519
and focusing on roles that directly drive either revenue growth

668
00:45:57.880 --> 00:46:03.960
or margin improvement, and positions that more than pay for

669
00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:11.320
themselves even in these challenging times. Fifth downturns offer unprecedented

670
00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:16.559
opportunities to ford strategic partnerships and alliances. As businesses look

671
00:46:16.599 --> 00:46:20.920
for ways to maintain their market, for instance, with reduced resources,

672
00:46:21.199 --> 00:46:29.039
partnerships become increasingly attractive. Here's one question from a listener.

673
00:46:30.719 --> 00:46:35.679
Your shared several strategies for driving driving during downturns. If

674
00:46:35.719 --> 00:46:38.280
a business owner could only implement one or two of

675
00:46:38.280 --> 00:46:42.880
these immediately. What would you recommend our prioritizing, Well, if

676
00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:47.440
I had dorek down, let's say that just two strategies,

677
00:46:48.239 --> 00:46:53.079
I'd recommend focusing on financial clarity and cash management, specifically

678
00:46:53.079 --> 00:46:55.800
implementing the thirteen week host glow and forecast that we

679
00:46:55.840 --> 00:46:58.920
talked about. This gives you visibility and confidence to make

680
00:46:59.239 --> 00:47:03.400
strategic decisions rather than reactive ones. And secondly, I would

681
00:47:03.480 --> 00:47:08.199
prioritize your position and market dominance and your compelling offer

682
00:47:08.519 --> 00:47:13.760
to align with your customers changing priorities during the downturn.

683
00:47:17.360 --> 00:47:20.800
So as we wrap up today's discussion on thriving during

684
00:47:20.880 --> 00:47:25.840
economic downturns, let's summarize the key strategies that we've covered

685
00:47:25.880 --> 00:47:31.400
for turning challenging economic times into your greatest opportunity. First,

686
00:47:31.440 --> 00:47:34.920
we explored the foundational mindset needed to make strategic decisions

687
00:47:34.960 --> 00:47:39.039
while others panic. We discussed how winning business owners start

688
00:47:39.079 --> 00:47:42.639
with clarity about their personal goals, understanding exactly why their

689
00:47:42.679 --> 00:47:45.800
business exists and what it is to provide them and

690
00:47:45.880 --> 00:47:52.840
their families. This personal clarity drives better business decisions, especially

691
00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:57.519
during turbulent times. We also emphasize the importance of maintaining

692
00:47:57.519 --> 00:48:02.079
a visionary mindset rather than succumbing to scarcity thinking. Academic

693
00:48:02.159 --> 00:48:06.559
downturns don't create or destroy opportunity, they merely transfer it

694
00:48:06.639 --> 00:48:10.559
from the unprepared to the prepared. By focusing on long

695
00:48:10.679 --> 00:48:14.320
term impact rather than short term fear, your position your

696
00:48:14.320 --> 00:48:17.800
business to capture opportunities that others miss. I know that's

697
00:48:17.960 --> 00:48:23.199
I know that's difficult, but really got to focus on that. Second,

698
00:48:23.280 --> 00:48:26.920
we covert the critical financial tools that provide clarity when

699
00:48:27.199 --> 00:48:31.320
uncertainty is highest. The business and cash flow forecast gives

700
00:48:31.360 --> 00:48:34.679
you the ability to test decisions before you make them,

701
00:48:34.880 --> 00:48:39.119
while scenario planning preparesship to the multiple what IFFs. We

702
00:48:39.199 --> 00:48:42.280
stress the importance of knowing your vital five numbers sales,

703
00:48:42.679 --> 00:48:46.039
gross profit, gross profit percent, net profit, and your current

704
00:48:46.119 --> 00:48:52.960
cash balance. We also discussed rigorous cash management systems, modint

705
00:48:53.000 --> 00:48:58.599
protection strategies, and discipline capital allocation, all of which become

706
00:48:58.719 --> 00:49:04.760
exponentially more important during economic contractions. And third, we explored

707
00:49:04.920 --> 00:49:11.320
specific strategy business strategies that successful companies implement during downturns,

708
00:49:11.320 --> 00:49:14.480
from creating or adapting your position of market dominance to

709
00:49:14.559 --> 00:49:20.320
address to address changing customer concerns to creating compelling offers

710
00:49:20.800 --> 00:49:25.679
that overcome heightened risk aversion. We covered strategic cost management

711
00:49:25.719 --> 00:49:31.679
that focuses resources on customer impacting activities while reducing non

712
00:49:31.800 --> 00:49:36.440
essential expenses, and we also discuss how downturns create unique

713
00:49:36.639 --> 00:49:41.800
opportunities to upgrade your talent and form strategic partnerships that

714
00:49:41.840 --> 00:49:45.840
allow you to maintain or even expand your market presence

715
00:49:46.079 --> 00:49:51.960
while sharing costs. Remember, successful navigation of economic downturns isn't

716
00:49:52.000 --> 00:49:56.239
about luck. It's about preparation, clarity, and strategic action. By

717
00:49:56.320 --> 00:50:00.199
implementing the strategies we discussed today, you can position your

718
00:50:00.280 --> 00:50:04.320
business not just to survive, but to thrive when others

719
00:50:04.320 --> 00:50:09.639
are struggling. Keep thinking differently and act boldly. You know

720
00:50:09.679 --> 00:50:13.079
today we're all facing the call to adapt and to

721
00:50:13.119 --> 00:50:16.639
make decisions based on the numbers. Those who do will

722
00:50:16.639 --> 00:50:20.519
make business a lot less terrifying. Those who do will

723
00:50:20.559 --> 00:50:24.760
achieve their number one goal. Those who do will thrive

724
00:50:24.840 --> 00:50:30.320
in economic downturns. There are more millionaires and billionaires minted

725
00:50:30.559 --> 00:50:34.320
during economic downturns than any other time period in history.

726
00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:40.639
The only question is are you prepared to be the

727
00:50:40.679 --> 00:50:45.239
next one. To get a copy of the book Powerful

728
00:50:45.239 --> 00:50:48.719
Business Strategy simply go to our website www dot next

729
00:50:48.760 --> 00:50:53.880
STEPSCFO dot net. It's totally complementary. And until next Monday

730
00:50:53.920 --> 00:50:56.719
at noon Eastern time for Tricky Obio, my name is

731
00:50:56.719 --> 00:51:00.639
Michael bob Rita. And remember, don't keep doing what your

732
00:51:00.679 --> 00:51:02.159
competition is doing.

733
00:51:04.559 --> 00:51:07.639
You have been listening to powerful business strategies finding out

734
00:51:07.639 --> 00:51:11.320
that everything you ever learned about growing your business is wrong.

735
00:51:11.599 --> 00:51:14.800
Tune in next week and every week at noon Eastern

736
00:51:14.880 --> 00:51:18.320
time on W four CY Radio with your host Michael

737
00:51:18.360 --> 00:51:22.960
Barbarita of NeXTSTEP CFO and moderator chugy Ovio