Optimism Could Save Your Business – Don’t Overlook It!

From 2007–2011, the Great Recession crippled businesses all over the country. Many companies went under — but some kept fighting. They managed not just to survive but to grow! When the economy recovered, it catapulted them to incredible success.

What did they do right?

I’ve thought about this a lot in the last few months, and I think there are three big answers.

1. They focused on the things they could control. Instead of stressing about the economy, they looked inward at their businesses and asked, “What can I do to improve by 1%?”
2. They took action. Not only did these businesses ask themselves how they could improve, but they actually did it! When you do this over and over, your success will compound, and that 1% will become much more.
3. They leveraged the power of optimism.

It might sound cheesy, but creating an optimistic environment in your business helps you succeed. Just look at the supply chain hurdles our company has faced since 2020. When products became difficult to get, we could have given up and told our customers, “Sorry, this situation sucks, and we’re out for the foreseeable future — maybe forever!” Instead, we were optimistic. We thought, “We’ll get through this. Now, what can we do to take action?”

That mindset led us to shift our selection, find (or create) new products our customers love, and expand our warehouse to keep as much as possible on hand when inventory was available. I was definitely worried about the warehouse expansion because of the extra expense, but I kept my optimism high by focusing on the benefits. Sure enough, it all worked out!

My team and I got through that situation by using what I’ve learned from my mentors and masterminds about businesses that survived the Great Recession – and fortunately, we had a ton of awesome clients like yourself to help support us throughout. We focused on what we could control (our own warehouse space), took action (put money into an expansion), and leveraged the power of optimism to keep us going (had faith that it would all work out). You can use these same steps to improve your business. Optimism is helpful in many areas, but I think marketing is a huge one.

Too many chiropractors cut back on their marketing efforts and expenses because they’re stuck in a negative mindset. They think a new strategy won’t work out — so they scrap it before giving it a chance. This isn’t a productive way to do business! It’s better to optimistically put your money into a couple of marketing campaigns and stay consistent with them. Don’t back out just because your success dipped for a day. If you stay in the game, the results will be massive.

We’re all bombarded with negativity daily on the news, but that doesn’t mean we have to let it take over our minds or businesses. Next time you find yourself in a negative rut, just think about the three steps I outlined. Don’t give up. Instead, ask yourself, “What can I do to improve by 1%?” March is National Optimism Month, so there’s no better time than now to work on your positive mindset.

Good luck!

-Josh Walker