Acknowledge that this is happening and just continue to do what you do.  Don’t get caught up in the gossipy wave of the drama.  In 1980, when I first started selling for what was at the time my father’s scrap iron and metal company, I encountered so many business owners sitting around doing nothing because they had no business, no product to make.  Those were difficult times, yet they came to work and made the best of the times.  I kept walking through doors until I found people who had business, were making product, and had scrap metal.

Don’t get caught up in the mass-commiserating or you will find yourself with zillions of others in this abyss, a dark, negative, nasty place where misery is served up.  The two links in Of Interest to You (below) are timely and excellent articles, one by Kathleen McEntee, McEntee Associates and the other by Ray Silverstein, President’s Resource Organization, to help you through business in our current economic climate.

Of Interest to You  First, How To Survive in Tough Times offers 5 tips to help you stay in the black and then, Sell Smarter, Not Harder, offers solid ideas on what to do to get more sales.

Speaking of growing your business, you have a whole network of women available to you through Optimal Level!  Go to our blog, read the profiles, and call someone.  Or, take advantage of our Meet Another Member Program  (see below).  Refer to one another; that’s a great way to build your business.  As I was doing one of our Midterm Evaluations, one of our members suggested that a way to improve benefits for our Optimal Level members is to help the members refer business.  You don’t have to leave the house or pay money to go to another networking event.  Go to the blog, find someone you would like to talk to or meet, pick up the phone and call! 

Optimal Level's Blog Features
The Optimal Level blog is available to everyone and we still have our members-only section. Remember to log in to get the members-only section.  Login is not necessary to read the following features:  

• Her Journey to Her Optimal Level – a blog written by an unusually successful business or professional woman who overcame obstacles, faced challenges head on, who dealt with work and home demands, climbed to a place of influence, and took her own path to success.  She will offer tips and describe her path to success. 
  
  Our November guest blogger is Judy Kaplan, founder, owner and CEO of Empower Woman Publications,  a woman who is passionate about helping others and accomplishing her goals. She helps women every day and supports multiple charities through her publication.  Some people become attracted to something that interests  them and then think or dream about it.  Judy discovers what is important to her, what she has to do to turn that into reality, and then does it.  If you are interested in how successful women make it to the top, Judy’s  blog is key.  Optimal Level is honored to have Judy Kaplan as our November special guest mentor blogger.  Under “Main Page” on the left of the home page, click on “Journey.” Please respond with your comments by clicking on “Leave Comment” which follows the blog.
  
  
• Featured Member of the Month – Julie Trotter Clark, President or the JT Clark Agency and Les Jetons – Though increasingly occupied with many responsibilities as President and CEO, Julie is still the creative “heart” and driving force of the 20 year-old JT Clark Agency.  With her vision and the many insights gained from 20-plus years in marketing, design and communication, Julie has formed her business around the core principle of Marketing Solutions by Design.  She has taught college-level courses in design and lectured on “Brand” and the creative process at the MBA Level. Now, her creativity has spilled over to our benefit creating the most unique and beautiful jewelry in our country.  Whether you can help with her top challenge or can benefit from her wisdom, go to our blog and read all about her.   Under “Main Page” on the left of the home page, click on “Featured Members.”  Please respond with your comments by clicking on “Leave Comment” which follows the blog.
  
  
• Linda’s Thoughts  - A monthly blog written by Optimal Level President and Founder, Linda McCabe.  Linda is a facilitator and business strategist with over twenty-five years in leadership and proven success in business development, sales and mentoring. Linda’s blog this month is titled, “My Three Mainstays in Tough Times." Our economic status is a common topic of conversation these days and for many us times are difficult.  Linda writes about how she deals with tough times.  Read her blog and find out three practices which sustain her through her challenging times. Under “Main Page” on the left of the home page, click on “Featured Members.”  Please respond with your comments by clicking on “Leave Comment” which follows the blog.
  
  
• Member blogs and comments – This blog site offers the Optimal Level members a chance to express their thoughts about their experiences starting or running businesses or about their careers, the wonders and complications, obstacles and thrills, as well as questions or suggestions relating to work and their lives in general.  This site is the place on the web for all business and professional women to find answers and share their thoughts and ideas.

Please click here (www.womenbizpower.net) and add your thoughts, comments, or questions.  www.womenbizpower.net blogs are for everyone and a user name and password are not required for the features listed above.  A user name and password are required only for Optimal Level  meeting Members and other features specifically intended for meeting members.