Any experienced financial advisor will tell his or her clients to buy when the market experiences a downturn. “Everything is on sale,” is the old adage, and for good reason. If an investor rides the roller coaster, he or she will make up any “paper losses” only to add real gains later on. Business owners know this but are often too afraid to take the risk. Then, later regret not seizing the opportunity. Why Economic Downturns Create Opportunity Most economic downturns hurt a variety of industries. By the same token, that creates opportunities for those unaffected, and even those who are. Here’s an example. A construction business will probably suffer during an economic downturn as more people will attempt to go the DIY route. But, once the homeowner gets in over his or her head, they’ll need a professional. Entrepreneurs are often reluctant to spend money to make acquisitions, expand capacity or open new markets during an economic downturn. However, downturns can be an ideal time to invest in your business. Every recession creates opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs. And inaction doesn’t mean safety in uncertain times. Rather than simply hope things will get better, you should act to improve your operations and position yourself for growth when the economy recovers. —Business Development Bank of Canada The contractor who continues to aggressively market their services will likely be the one to benefit. Because their competition will likely cut back on advertising and maybe even layoff crew, the construction firm that remains publicly out front will reap the rewards of strategic marketing. Meanwhile, those who pulled back will only continue to shrink. 3 Reasons Now is the Time to Expand Your Business Even though just about everyone knows that a bear market presents opportunity, a good percentage will err on the side of caution, rather than taking a risk. So, it’s important to know the rewards that favor those who seize the opportunity. Here are three reasons now the time to expand your business: Commercial real estate is slow. Because of the nature of this economic downturn, commercial real estate is in a slump. That means you can use the circumstances to your advantage and negotiate a favorable deal. With a little bit of swagger and confidence, and a keen eye on opportunity, it’s possible to negotiate aggressively and score a real win. Remote work costs less than on-site. It’s no secret that remote workers cost substantially less than on-site employees. This is a great way to expand your workforce while getting a substantial discount and expand your business as a result. This also allows you to streamline your processes to get more productivity without paying more for it. There’s a larger pool of talent available. When the economy slides, many talented individuals become unemployed. That means, if you’re discerning enough, you can put their advanced skill sets to work for your business. What’s more, motivated and successful individuals will most likely come to you, while lackluster individuals and people who aren’t ambitious won’t. What other suggestions do you have for expanding a business? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting and giving others some ideas! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Having a good employee who is restricted in their capabilities can be a very challenging situation. This is especially true if he or she is a valued team member, but can’t put in the hours due to certain limitations. Whether it’s a preexisting condition, and injury suffered on or off the job, you obviously have moral, ethical, and legal responsibilities to him or her. However, this doesn’t mean that they are completely protected from being terminated or having their role and/or responsibilities changed. Although this article isn’t specifically about legal ramifications, it will give you some effective tools on how to deal with this particular set of circumstances. Read on to learn more about how to deal with an employee who has limited capacity. Every Situation is Different Limited capacity can mean the number of things, including an inability to perform certain physical tasks, and other situations. But, most often it is due to a physical limitation which prevents him or her from fulfilling one or more of their responsibilities. These can range widely, from an inability to lift certain amounts, to not being able to sit for a protracted period of time. An ever persistent problem facing employers is what to do with the employee who is chronically sick or has a serious health problem. Besides the obvious issues it presents to the employer- additional strain on other employees to pick up the slack; inability to properly staff and manage work loads; basic coverage concerns- there are also potential state and federal legal ramifications if the absences are not handled and documented correctly. —HNI Risk Services Whatever the case may be, It is up to you to be as accommodating as possible, without fully compromising your company’s position. In other words, it’s best to strike a balance and find a happy medium where you can accommodate their needs while also allowing them to fulfill most or all of their work responsibilities. 3 Key Ways to Deal with an Employee with a Limited Work Capacity There’s no hard-and-fast set of rules for coping with an employee who can only work in a limited capacity. After all, no two sets of circumstances are exactly the same. But, there are some general parameters you should observe. Here are three good ways to deal with a team member who is limited in their work capacity: Gain a real understanding of the circumstances. Whether it’s a back problem, issues with a disease, or anything else, you need to have a very clear idea of what’s going on with your employee. Understand precisely what his or her limitations are and aren’t. This way, you’ll have enough information to make good decisions when it comes to his or her role and responsibilities. Make strategic concessions where necessary. Even your best employee can suffer from very unfortunate sets of circumstances and still be able to contribute to your company in a number of ways. Though it’s difficult to comprehend or even accept, it could be a detriment to your business (that is, if you insist on keeping everything the same). So, think outside the box and make strategic changes so he or she can continue to be a productive asset for your company. Realistically reassess the situation periodically. Sometimes, this can be a long-lasting situation that can go on for years. Or, it could only last for several months. Regardless, you need to take the time to reassess the situation every now and again. What other suggestions do you have? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective; it’s greatly appreciated! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.