What Causes Runtime Error 6?

Runtime error 6 is an "overflow" problem that may happen for one of a useful of reasons.

Runtime error 6 can occur when data gets too big for its britches.

This "overflow" problem can happen when, somewhere along the way, data has been entered that is too big for its data field. What does this mean in plain English?

Let's say you're working with Microsoft Access (a database program). You have to put information into various fields (boxes), when some of these boxes are pre-set to only accept certain values. (This can be arranged for a variety of reasons; there is no need to go into the specifics here, as it would require some articles!)

If one of these fields is pre-set to accept values ​​of only 0-255, you've caused an overflow error if you accidently entered, say, 377.

Now of course you would not do this. However, sometimes programmers make mistakes. Sometimes a program must generate a random variable and it could be that the parameters on the generator are too wide (it generates larger numbers than it should).

Neverheless, sometimes this does not happen until it's a bit too late. That's why searching for updates, patches, and new versions / upgrades to your software is often a solution to this problem.

Runtime error 6 occurs with Microsoft Site Server 3.0.

Microsoft Site Server 3.0 is an example of how this kind of error may occasionally occur in even the most tested and professional software. Fortunately, this is one instance of runtime error 6 that can be easily cured. Microsoft support currently offers help with this error.

What else can cause an overflow problem?

Typically, the problem with this error comes from a mistake in programming. It can also come from your registry.

The Windows registry is a directory of program files that all the programs on your computer use. It directs functions to connect with their proper compliments in other programs and hardware.

Without it, your word processor would have to search your entire computer for the printer jack, every time you wanted to print a document. It would also have to search your entire computer for the keyboard, screen, and supporting software every time you started it up!

This would leave your computer capable of running more than a handful of programs at any one time - and even those would run slowly.

Registries can become cluttered over time through no fault of yours. They can also become damaged by spyware and viruses - problems that anti-virus programs do not typically fix. You can help avoid this by learning more about runtime error 6 and other registry issues.

Computer Repair Parts Advice and Software Solutions Using the Latest Technology

Software Solutions

Have you ever found yourself in the situation where you need computer repair parts? Of course you have! After all this is the computer age and most of us have at least one computer or laptop in our homes. It is possible that somewhere along the way, your computer will begin acting up and you will think it is a virus, when in fact it might be a problem with software compatibility due to a recent upgrade. While there are many different software tools available via the Internet, there are times when using an onsite repair service is in your best interest. This is especially true if there is concern about losing valuable data or those family photographs that are irreplaceable.

Finding the Solutions Yourself

There are ways available for you to try fixing your computer problems yourself. However, make sure you do not do more damage, because it can make your repair bill higher, when you end up calling for onsite computer repair. Experts certified in onsite computer repair services can install the computer repair parts you need and offer solutions to solve software problems and data protection concerns. Some experts will even recommend some informative books to help you that you will be able to find at Amazon books or possibly through an online e-book.

Hard Drive Backup Solutions

There are options for backing up your hard drive to protect your data. Onsite computer repair services can advise you on the best solutions for hard drive backup solutions, in the inconvenient event your hard drive is one of the computer repair parts that needs to be replaced. You can purchase mirror hard drives, but you have to make sure that you schedule regular backups and many times, your programs and data files might not be complete. Some repair services are able to recommend Internet-based providers, like Mozy for hard drive backup, for example.

Finding Your Own Parts

Some people are computer savvy enough to have the mechanical ability to replace some computer parts that are easy to access. Places like Tiger Direct sell new and refurbished computer products and parts and Dell offers replacement parts, as well. Just keep in mind this is not something that amateurs should attempt. Because you can lose valuable data and corrupt programs, as well as cause additional parts to be needed that might not have been needed to begin with. When you are certain that you have hardware problems and need computer repair parts, consider the experts that can fix your problem the most economically.

Adding More Memory

Most computer experts would recommend that you know the exact computer repair parts you need, when you want to add more memory, because you do not want to damage your motherboard. Again, this something that you can undertake yourself, if you are knowledgeable in this area, and helpful tools are provided by Crucial Memory so you can find the correct memory for your motherboard. However, if you are unsure about this task, it is easy and affordable for onsite computer repair services to install additional memory with the correct computer repair parts. This might be worth the peace of mind and it is an affordable option.

Kissing In A Dream Is not Always What You Think

We humans show our affection and love for one another, and our passion through a kiss. A kiss can soothe, calm and even magically heal-a child will feel all better after their boo-boo is kissed. In many cultures, but especially in Western cultures, a kiss is often the most intimate physical expression, sometimes considered more intimate even than sexual intercourse. It's pretty much common knowledge that prostitutes rarely kiss their clients on the mouth. This is because the kiss is recognized as a show of love and tenderness, and the services provided by a working girl (or guy) is little more than a business transaction.

In Christian societies, a kiss may also be an act of betrayal, such as the betrayal of Christ by the kiss of Judas. A kiss may also mark the beginning of the end of something, an action that marks the person or project's demise as in 'the kiss of death.' It also represents a goodbye, both temporary and permanent.

In fairy tales, kisses take on a much more complex, archetypal meaning. Snow White and Sleeping Beauty were both revived by a kiss. A frog is magically transformed through the power of a kiss. In the fairy tale world the kiss is associated with rebirth; of either the physical, psychological or spiritual.

In dreams, kisses may be of the tender, loving, healing kind, the impassioned intimate kind or the complex archetypal kind. They may be symbols of transformation, rebirth, or the rekindling or ending of a relationship or project-a 'breath of new life' or 'the kiss of death' delivered through the lips.

In dreams, a kiss is not just a kiss. It has to be understood in context. Is the kiss a simple peck on the cheek from a relative? This type of kiss could signify a need for, or actual, approval from people in authority or parental figures. If you're shying away from or avoiding the kiss it might mean that you're feeling smothered by those in authority or you may feel that you're being made to feel childish. Are you kissing a child, an animal, an inanimate object? Perhaps this is a suggestion that some healing needs to take place, or that you need to welcome this new aspect, situation or character into your life.

Kissing someone with what you're involved can indicate either a desire for closeness if it's missing, or may be an expression of deep affection for that person even on a subconscious level.

Dreams of kissing someone of the same sex, if you're heterosexual, can indicate a need for self-love or may indicate approval of self. And again, may be suggestive of deep affection, plain and simple.

If you're kissing someone you're not attracted to, or if the kiss is unwanted or makes you feel uncomfortable, the dream may indicate feelings of betrayal as forced kissing is a violation; of intimidation, of choice, of boundaries and of your body. These are the kisses that indicate you're feeling overwhelmed or over-pressured by someone or something in your life. Look at who is involved in the kiss to provide a clue to who or what the situation is. But, this type of kiss may also be a clue to feeling victimized or bullied / forced into actions or actions you are against.

The long, hungry desired kiss may represent, in your dream, a longing for something. The longing may be for love and intimidation, but it can also express longing for something missing in other areas of your life. For example, if you dream of kissing an actor this may be a play on words. It can mean that you're longing for the ability to take action in some area of ​​your life.

If a kiss is given to an animal, this may suggest a longing to return to or recover your true, uninhibited and unstifled nature. These are just some possible meanings. As always, the context, words and characters must be taken into consideration.

Other Possible Meanings:

Kissing someone you like and want may simply be wish fulfillment.

Kissing a faceless person can be demonstrating that your basic desire / s is being met.

Kissing someone you know casually and not romantically may represent recognition of harmonious vibrations.

Kissing a celebrity may be suggesting that you need to, or are trying to boost your self-worth.

Kisses with adulterous passionate overtones may mean that it's time to spice up the romance.

Kissing is the start of passion for just about any age group. Whether it's young lovers stealing a kiss at the front door, or a mature married couple kissing tenderly on their 25th anniversary, a kiss is usually about love, passion and tenderness.

A kiss from a lover, under happy circumstances, presages happiness and contentment.

A kiss from a stranger poses an unexpected gift.

A kiss can represent affection, joy, coming success, or a wish to be close to someone.

An unwanted kiss may indicate upcoming overtures from someone you do not especially like or care for.

If you're kissing a close friend, then the suggestion may simply be a reminder of your respect and feelings for your friend. On the other hand, it may be implying that you're seeking some intimate closeness that is lacking in some waking relationship. It may or may not signify a romantic interest for him or her.

To dream that you're kissing someone's hand, signifies respect.

To see others kissing in your dream suggests that you are too involved in their personal lives and relationship. You need to give them some space.

In general, kissing is a token of affection and suggests warmth, happiness, appreciation, passion, tenderness and connection. However, there is always the negative connotations to consider. A kiss may be a last kiss, a kiss off, the kiss of death, a kiss goodbye, an unwanted advance or a means of spreading a contagion.

To determine what the kiss represents in a particular dream make note of who is involved in the kiss, where the kiss is taking place, how you (the dreamer) react to the kiss and the character, and what other elements are included in the dream . Also, make note of if the dream is primarily positive or negative.

By answering these questions, you should be able to determine what your kissing dream is trying to tell you.

Move Beyond Business Intelligence

Business Intelligence (BI) is not just about providing a means to present business information; it is an enabler that improves the power of individuals to make knowledgeable decisions. In order to unleash this power, BI needs to move beyond data and reporting, and become more integrated into the processes that actually run the business. BI should be extended to focus on individual needs, providing simple and proactive tools that can be called upon at any time and used to enhance business collaboration through the company. A number of key trends will drive companies to move Beyond Business Intelligence over the coming years:

Driving Performance Management from inside the Business
Enterprise Performance Management is a set of processes that help organizations optimize their business performance. It is a framework for organizing, automating and analyzing business methodologies, metrics, processes and systems that drive business performance. Over the next 5 years, Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) will begin to supersede traditional Business Intelligence. More emphasis will be placed on how organizations define, develop, communicate and deliver strategies and plans, and how these are managed, monitored and assessed as they are executed. Organizations will need to change attitudes of both executives and staff to create a culture willing to listen, learn and innovate. With this willingness to share ideas and adapt quickly to change, the organization will be able to create an environment where freedom of information, collaboration of individuals and traceability of governance are core business values.

Linking Budgeting, Planning and Execution
With the current downturn in the global economy reducing budgets, the need to adequately forecast both the budget and overall income of strategies and plans is becoming critical. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers study of US companies showed that 65 per cent of respondents indicated that their budgeting and forecasting needed to be more relevant, while 44 per cent saw the link between strategy and planning as requiring the most improvement. Utilizing historical and external information, executives can predict the results of strategies and / or plans, allowing them to construct feasible business strategies with obtainable objectives, and support the development of achievable plans with realistic budgets.

Utilizing Real-time Information
Decision making will begin to be distributed throughout the organization moving from back office to front-office staff (ie sales, call center). Management will begin to work to identify key attributes that affect decisions and feed these to the front-office staff, allowing for decisions to be made that realistically affect the overall business. Having the most up to date information is critical to making better decisions. As information moves closer to the front-office and impacts decisions made there, the latency of information must be reduced.

Creating simpler ways to get knowledge
As BI becomes more integrated into the operational processes of an organization, the methods required to realize the information need to be simplified so that the natural process of decision making is not interrupted. Solutions need to provide simple and engaging mechanisms for users to retrieve the relevant information at the right point of the process. Technology that provides flexible reporting will need to be "fronted" with pre-built focused and personalized solutions that are applicable to the step of the process and the role of the individual interacting with it. Providing these types of solutions will enable organizations to reduce the skills necessary to access the information and speed up the process of decision making.

Utilized Unstructured data
BI has historically been based on structured data collected from applications and databases utilizing a small amount of the actual information within the organization. Typically, 80 percent of business information is unstructured, held within documents, email communications and other formats. New techniques for harvesting this information will continue to be developed including improvements in text mining and analysis, the ongoing development of the Semantic Web and the increased use of Natural Language Processing (NLP). These developments will allow organizations to include new data into their analysis (ie call center communications, customer complaints, and email communications), improving knowledge of their customers and lead to more innovative sales, marketing and retention strategies.

Delivering Knowledge at decision points
Execution is a result of thousands of decisions being made by employees acting on information they have and their prior experiences. In order to execute more effectively, companies need to take advantage of the skills of their resources, and the in-built inclining of people to improve business performance. By defining who is accountable for each decision, the company can empower its employees and focus management on identifying decision making patterns that can represent best practice. This best practice can be distributed throughout the organization so that continuous improvements in decision making can be seen in the future. To support employees, management needs to ensure that the relevant information is available at the various decision points, enabling the employees to move forward with the confidence that the decision is correct.

Bridging the gap between business and technology
One of the key problems that affect every company is the struggle that they have when business and technical people are in the same room. The technologists are frustrated that the business does not understand why IT is critical to their success and how it can help the business move forward. The business is frustrated that IT never seems to understand what they want and complains when they want to make changes just before the project is delivered.
This gap is one of the most common problems facing companies trying to implement BI solutions (but this problem is not limited internally). Many management consultancies provide strategic business advice on how to improve business performance, build strategic initiatives and change the operations of the business, with little or no regard to how this will be implemented. Technology vendors build applications and data warehouses that do much more than the business desires, and sometimes require the business to change key processes.

Acting in isolation business and technology can be driven down different directions; communication is the key to bridging the gap. By developing and utilizing a common and consistent language that both the business and IT can understand, requirements defined, delivered and measured through the lifecycle of the solution.

Conclusion
As these trends show, in the future more emphasis will be put on the integration of information into everyday tasks and how business improvements can be made. Technology will still enable the solutions and continue to drive many of the opportunities available to the business, but the focus of solution definition and design will move to the business and be based on five core values

• FOCUS - Providing personalized and tailor guidance and information to people within the organization allowing them to make the right decisions
• ACTION - Allowed the organization to move away from a "question and answer" model to one which provides "actionable information" to all people, allowing them to integrate information into the natural flow of their business activities.
• COLLABORATION - Using information to allow individuals to share ideas and inform them of their impact to the overall goals of the business
• INTEGRATION - Combining multiple sources of structured and unstructured data allowing companies to extend their knowledge network and open up previously unexplored information repositories
• TRACEABILITY - Using information during the process of strategy definition and planning. Information can be made available through the organization, allowing both management and operational resources to understand the impact of their contribution to the business

Whilst focusing on these core values, companies will utilize more advanced analysis techniques (ie Predictive models for forecasting, complex attribute generation, What-if Models) to turn the information available into valuable knowledge. Distributing this knowledge through the organization to people at all levels of the business in focused, personalized and easily usable solutions will be the key to moving Beyond Business Intelligence.

The journey will not be complete overnight, it is a commitment that needs to be made by the company, but the long-term benefits will positively affect all aspects of the companies business. The company will be more proactive in the way it manages itself, able to effectively utilize the skills of its resources, and continuously improve business performance.

Many of the building blocks exist today; companies can leverage what they have already implemented and add value in improving reporting and information analysis, plugging the gap between the day-to-day operational and financial systems that run the business and the top-level strategic reviews that show whenever it's on course. By measuring them against the core business values, companies can identify areas of improvement where immediate benefits can be realized.

Equating Profitability With Cashflows: A Myth in Corporate Financial Performance

The issue of profit and cashflow and their relative importance in business has become an unending discussion in recent boardroom discussions. As some analyst are looking at profit history of business to assess performance, others are looking at the cash movements (ie cashflows). People even get more confuse when a profitable business on one hand is not able to pay its suppliers or expand whiles a non-profitable business (ie loss) continues to stay in business. The income statement and the cashflow statement of every business has the clue to this issue of profitability and cashflow.

Cash flow is the difference between the amount of cash a company receives and pays whereas profitability is the difference between revenues and expenses and every company report on both their cash holdings and profitability as part of its financial reporting. Certain cash flows can not be recorded as revenues or expenses at the time of the transactions, while other cash flows may not be part of the operating activities, and that are not profit related.

Concept of Profitability in Business

The success of a small business depends on its ability to continuously earn profits. Profit basically equals a company's revenues minus expenses and is critical for businesses because it determines whether a company can secure external financing, attract more investors or grow its operations. A business owner must understand the importance of profitability in business management and develop strategies that give his company the best chance at remaining profitable as that is its main goal for existence among other goals.

Relevance of Profitability in Business

Profits stimulate investment and innovation and as a business undertakes more investment, it leads to generation of more employment. With generation of employment income, more demand for goods in the market will be created.

Profit is considered necessary for business survival and growth and a business that does not make enough profit is not likely to survive in a growing competitive environment because it enables the business to grow, motivate employee, partnerships investors etc.

Profit is a return on investment and every firm invest money with the expectation of higher returns on their investment. Just likeholders expect higher returns in the form of dispute so do financial institutions expect better rate of interest on the loan given to the business enterprise.

Profit is used to test the efficiency of a business and the success or otherwise of the business can be justified by the amount of profit earning capacity.

Profit serves as buffer to meet unexpected expenses and as a business is exposed to many risk and uncertainties including changing market demands and conditions etc., profit is used to meet such unfavorable business changes.

Retained profit serves as a form of internal financing and can be used for increasing the volume of business through expansion and diversification. Any further surge is re-invested in the business for further development.

The Concept of Cashflow

The old-age saying, "cash is king" which is usually used to explain the failure of both businesses and consumer households remains relevant in modern business because without proper amount of cash on hand, entities can run into major trouble, and even be forced into bankruptcy. Cash inflow is the lifeblood of every business and businesses need cash for various reasons including investing in new infrastructure and dealing with unexpected expenses. Moreover, a key factor in a business's potential for long-term success is cashflow and as such a company may have all the revenue in the world, but without the ability to generate cash, it can easily fail. Without cash a business will not run, resulting in employees becoming cranky and suppliers ceasing to supply materials even though the business may be very profitable. Sources of cashflow include receipts from customers, additions to capital, payments to suppliers, etc.

Relevance of Cashflow in Business

For a company to grow, it will often need to make capital expenditure investments in areas such as factories, machinery, or technology etc which are usually one-time cost and require significant funds, but without cash on hand, a business may not be able to make these necessary investments and, as a result, may never be able to experience company growth. Even where loans are used, the loan agreement will require a significant down payment or periodic interest payment which will in turn require that the company have access to cash.

Businesses can undertake mergers or acquisition as an expansion strategy either within their niche or to branch out into new areas but without the necessary cash, it would never be able to take that opportunity to buy a valuable company at a reasonable price. Acquisitions like these offer growth potential for many businesses.

Two key benefits of holding shares is dividends and share repurchases. Dividends puts cash in the pocket of shareholders whiles share repurchase is a management way of expressing confidence in the business growth potential via share valuation. However, without cash though disputes nor share repurchases would be possible for a public company.

Every company experiences economic downturns at some period in operation which could affect its sales and with cash, the company will be more flexible and able to survive the downturn but without readily available cash, it may be forced to wind up, downsize its staff or even be declared bankrupt.

Businesses like individuals also face vacancies for expenses that require immediate payment like legal fees and unexpected costs associated with natural occurrences and as most of these are not budgeted for, it means businesses must have access to the necessary cash to prepare for such emergencies, and without cash, the business may fall flat.

Businesses are expected to minimize cost and one way to do this is to reduce a lot of online transactions processing which comes with a lot of excessive fees and to use cash instead where appropriate. By paying cash, a business can reduce its online fees and extremely cut transaction costs to the minimum with surplus cash for other productive activities.

Readily available cash helps businesses expand in the absence of loans. Many businesses have difficulty accessing loans for expansion but if it has cash available, it can position itself to take advantage of opportunities to expand and make relevant decisions.

Cash is essential for paying bills faster to avoid unnecessary penalties because paying creditors with forms other than cash can take longer to process, leading to unnecessary late fees and it makes more sense that paying in cash is the preferred method.

Are there any differences between Profitability and Cashflow? YES!

The differences between these business concepts is in recording of Non-Cash Revenue, Non-Cash Expense, Financing & Investing transactions. Companies may see increased profitability from non-cash revenues, but such an increase in profitability will have no impact on company cash holdings because companies record revenues when earned using the accrual method of accounting, despite no cash received and when cash is later collected for previously recorded revenues, increases company cash holdings but will have no impact on the profitabilityability again. Non-cash revenue incudes accrued income, credit sales, gains and profit on disposals etc. Also, companies may see reduced profitability because of non-cash expenses, which will have no impact on company cash holdings. Companies record expenses when incurred using the accrual method of accounting, despite no cash paid and when cash payments are made later for previously recorded expenses, it decreases the company cash holdings without affecting profitability.

Other differences are:

• Money invested in a business, or borrowed by a business, increases cash BUT does not increase profit
• Capital expenditures, such as buying a new machine, decreases cash BUT does not decrease profit
• Profit accounts for overheads on accrual and prepayment basis whiles cashflows accounts for overheads when cash is paid
• Cashflows reflect the details of incoming and outgoing flows of cash without using estimates of allocations and provisions like depreciation, bad debts etc. BUT profit is associated with a lot of such allocations and provisions

Conclusion

When you imagine a new business, you think of what it would cost to make the product, what you could sell it for, and what the profits per unit might be because we are trained to think of business as sales minus costs and expenses, which is profit but cash is equally critical yet people always think in profits instead of cash and interestingly we do not spend the profits in a business, we spend cash instead.

Desist from thinking that making profit increases cash the same amount because a business's cash flow can be significantly higher than bottom-line profit, or consider lower and know that cash flow can be negative when you earn a loss or positive when you have a loss because there's no natural correlation between profit and cash flow. It's that prudent for businesses to remember that cash pays the day-to-day expenses, not profit and is important for the business always. Profit becomes more important for the long-term success of the business.

Tips for Using Voice Dictation to Blog on the New iPad

Would not it be great if blogging were as simple as sitting down with a friend to share a story, your thoughts, or a point of view? Oh, to be freed from the computer keyboard and writer's block - to be able to simply say what is on your mind without freezing up in front of the computer screen without any idea what to write? Well, now it can be that simple.

Whether you are an aspiring writer or a professional who wants to share your knowledge and opinions with the world - whether it is writing about food, pets, cars, reporting the news, or simply keeping an online journal - blogging just got easier with the help of Apple's new iPad, featuring voice dictation. When combined with the blogging app Blogsy, the iPad becomes the ultimate tool for bloggers. I am going to explain to you how easy it is to use. Before you begin blogging, you will need to establish a site for your blog. There are plenty of free options on the web like Blogger, WordPress, Moveable Type, and Drupal, all of which only take a few minutes to set up and even offer themes to make your blog unique. then you can get started.

Step 1: Setting up Blogsy

The first thing you have to do is set up Blogsy with your blogging account. Open Blogsy and click on the gear icon in the lower right corner. This will bring up the Setting tab, where you will find several options like Service Settings, General Settings, How-To Videos, FAQs, and few others. Tap on Service Settings and you will be presented with a list of blogging platforms. Select the platform you have chosen on which to blog, enter your account details, and tap Sign In. Then head back out to the main input screen and get ready to starting blogging!

Step 2: Writing your post with voice dictation

Now that you have ready to write, let's go over the Blogsy interface. Across the top of your screen, you will see a toolbar that features all of your text editing tools. Positioned vertically on the right are options from which you can pull in media (pictures and videos). The majority of your screen is made up of the text or input box, which is broken into two parts, the title and the body.

Now, let's get to the part you have been waiting for - blogging with your voice. It is as easy as pushing a button.

Title:

A blog post's title is very important. The title not only joins readers, but it is also what Google's web crawlers will find when cataloging your site's data. Make it short, catchy, and to the point. Tap on the grayed-out word, "Untitled." A cursor will appear, and the on-screen keyboard will pop up. To the left of the space bar is a microphone; This is the button to activate / deactivate the voice dictation function. When you are ready to begin, tap the button, wait for the chime, speak your title, then tap the button again. Within a second or two, your words should appear exactly as spoken. A word of advice: When you are using voice dictation, remember that the microphone is on the top of the device (look for the hole directly above the camera on the aluminum side). It helps to lean the iPad toward you when speaking. It is also very important to speak slowly and enunciate your words. Try not to whisper or use slang, as the iPad will probably get it wrong, and you will just end up wasting time with edits.

Body:

Now tap directly below the title in the body box so that you can begin to write your post in the same manner. While the dictation feature is powerful, it is not without limitations. It would be nice to talk continuously until you have finished your thought, but you risk overloading the iPad and losing some of what you said. Pace your thoughts, speaking one or two sentences at a time.

And that's it! Simply continue to follow this method of speaking slowly and clearly, taking breaks between thoughts, and you'll have a complete blog post in far less time than it would have taken to type.

Step 3: Adding images or videos to your post

Images within a blog post help the reader visualize your thought, so they are important to include. Blogsy makes adding media extremely easy with its ability to drag and drop images and videos from multiple sources, including YouTube, Flickr, Google Images, the Internet, and your own photo files, as well as images stored in your WordPress image library.

Business Survival Tips in a Bad Economy

The economy runs in a cyclical pattern. Most business people know this and, hopefully, plan for it. Whether the cycle is based on the calendar, the changing seasons, or national and world events, there are good business times and instances when things seem bad or even dire. It is easy to say "Keep the emotion out of decision making." It is far more difficult to make some choices without a sense of worry and fear. Anyone who has bills to pay or a family to support has that nagging voice of apprehension in the back of his or her mind. There are thousands of successful people (including this writer) who have been near or at rock bottom. They made the choice to take positive action to get out of the pit and back into the light of achievement. Again, this might be easier said than done.

So ... anyone in a difficult business situation has three choices:

1. Find new ways to keep your business / career going
2. Find a new career
3. Do nothing and hope for the best

The third choice is reaction and not action, since you will 'ride the wave' of whatever comes to pass.

The second choice, while difficult to decide, may be the only option for your situation. Discuss this decision with the people in your life that matter the most to you, especially if you have a family. They need to know and understand what might happen.

The first choice will take some effort and determination. If you're willing to dedicate energy to your success, the benefits will be timeless. Below are a few suggestions that might assist you with weathering a bad economic storm. Keep in mind not every idea will work for every person or organization.

Improve Customer Service - No matter your industry, your customers are probably feeling the same economic slow down as you. Demonstrate to them the reason their money is best spent with you and your company. This does not necessarily mean offering a discount or giving another sales pitch, even though there is nothing wrong with doing that to generate sales. Simply talk to them; find out how their business is going. Show genuine interest in their prosperity. Hospitality professionals can build a memorable experience instead of simple order taking and delivering food. The objective is to "wow" your customer more than ever ... and certainly more than your competitors.

Find New Low Cost / High Impact Tactics - Maybe you can find a better component that reduces costs while maintaining quality. There might be a step in your operations that can be modified to improve margins. A little research might lead to surprising results. Be careful when doing this so as not to put someone out of work because the next person trimmed from the payroll could be you. Another operational aspect to modify would be advertising. Usually one of the first budgets to be cut, your marketing expenses will always be an important part of your operations. Find the promotional campaign thatave you the best results over the past three years and implement it again. Do some research to see if other advertising methods or different audience that would give your business an immediate impact. What about giving your sales team a larger prospect base, such as expanding their geographic area? Increasing quotas probably is not the best idea. It is difficult enough to get a completed sale in this slow economy. They are already concerned if there will be food with their next meal. No need to put additional stress on them, which customers and prospects will sense. That is, unless you want your sales people to leave or your customers to lose faith in the stability of your company.

Get Cross Trained - Learn how to work in other positions at your company. When the unfortunate layoffs begin, your value will increase because you know more than one job. There might already be a gap due to down sizing and it is an opportunity for you to be proactive by helping to fill the need. Before cross training begins, make sure this other position will be necessary for a long time and not slated to be phased-out. Business owners will find this a good time to get 'back in the trenches' and relearn various aspects of the operation. There might be instances where, unfortunately, it will be more economic for you to work a position than pay someone.

Take a Class - There is always something new to learn whether it is about your chosen profession, how to improve your lifestyle or some topic that is completely new to you. It would be a good idea to get some education about industries that compliment company's operations. Maybe, when you started reading this article, you thought about selecting Option 2 - find a new career. Would not your future have more options by learning some new skills? Consider any education as a way to get where you want to be. There are libraries, community groups and online sources of free or low-cost education. Find what is available for you.

Discover New Networking Groups - "It's not what you know, but who you know." Sound familiar? One of the most important questions to keep in mind when meeting someone for the first time is not "What can you do for me?" but "What can I do for you?" By focusing on the other person, who they are and what they need, you will have a better chance of being remembered as a positive and helpful professional. Expanding your circle of influence is not completely reciprocal; however new opportunities will usually present themselves when you least expect it. Of course, you will need to foster this new relationship over time.

Business owners, presidents and VPs may look to their managers, managers and employees for ideas. You already know the people in your organization who show initiative and understand their jobs. By getting more people involved, they will have a sense of commitment from you and some reassurance. They see the economic signs the same as you and probably have the same concerns about the stability of their job. For managers and employees, ask your supervisor or company's owner if they are willing to listen to your ideas to keep the company prosperous. Any sincere offers will be perceived as your commitment to the company's success.

You might be thinking: "What happens if I chose Option 1 and nothing happens or things get worse?" You can try again with a new plan; take another look at finding a new career; or just start jumping for the best. Obviously, that question can be asked if any of the choices were selected. It is for you to determine the best path to follow to get the most from your situation.

Also consider having "Me Time" or "Family Time" at least once a week. This will give you and everyone around you the chance to relax and reset. You will not be the only one who will get burned-out from the stress of working all the time or worried about the future. Remember there are people who care about your well being. Talk to your close friends, your spouse, your significant other and even your children. Communication will bring comfort to everyone. Draw strength from your family and close friends for encouragement and moral support during the challenging times. This will help you to stay focused on whichever path you choose to take.

Finally, a job does not dictate your worth as a person. A job is only a resource to achieve a desired lifestyle. Your ethics and personal values ​​are the characteristics that make you important and distinct ... to yourself, your family and your friends. Because, in the grand scheme of the universe, it is not what job title you held that will be important, it is the number of people whose lives were enriched by knowing the real you.

Wishing you and your good health and prosperity!