Our country continues to be an economic crisis unparalleled since the Great Depression. Many small businesses have already closed their doors – many others are barely hanging on. Nevertheless, this is a time of OPPORTUNITY for business owners who know how to adjust to the changes that are taking place. The reason it is a time of opportunity is because these tough times will prune the businesses that survive. After many more businesses go under – those that remain will have a breathtaking opportunity to grow. The key is in knowing how adjust to the changes that are taking place.  

John Patrick has been counseling small business owners for over forty years. During this time he has seen continuous cycles of “feast” and “famine” in our economy and in the economic health of the businesses he has worked with. John has experienced his own feast and famine cycles – beginning with having hundreds of thousands of dollars of surplus funds to spend with his initial 5 corporations in the 1960’s – to losing everything including his home and cars in December of 1970. All of these experiences motivated John to think is terms of being prepared to cope with changes – both periods of feast and periods of famine.

John developed a simple and unique “feast/famine perspective” which has equipped hundreds of business owners to deal with good times and bad. This analysis (and the commentary and counsel that goes with it) will show you the TRUTH about how healthy your business is now, how healthy your business could be if your income increases (FEAST), and how you can thrive even if your income decreases (FAMINE). This Analysis will help you analyze things like: What level of gross income would be most desirable? (Is bigger really better?) What level of income do you need to survive? When and how should you adjust the prices of your services? How and how much (and in what ways) should you compensate those who work for you? When and how (cash, borrow, or lease) should you buy equipment or a new vehicle?  The value of this information is incalculable: It can make the difference between whether or not you survive – even thrive as we continue to go through economic chaos. It can keep you from wasting money and still make the profit you need in a famine.

The FEAST/FAMINE PERSPECTIVE WILL HELP YOU:

1. Rethink you PRIORITIES. What is really important in your life and your business? If the economy adversely affects your business, what should you give up FIRST in order to keep those things that really matter?

2. Increase your direct CONTROL. Are there things which are on auto pilot that need to be put back in your hands so that you can change direction quickly?

 3. Eliminate DEADWEIGHT. What do you have that is costing you time or money or energy without bearing any fruit?

4. Make this an OPPORTUNITY. The economic problems may be an opportunity to communicate -  to discuss items 1, 2, and 3 in candid ways with those who are involved. This may also be an opportunity to make changes that are needed that in normal times would be more difficult to make. If you persevere while your competitors crash and burn, you will be stronger and healthier and better able to serve your customers in the long run. 

5. POSITION YOURSELF so that you are more FLEXIBLE – so you are prepared and can cope with whatever happens. This is not a time to make commitments that you may later regret. It is a time to explore options for how you might function if things get worse. 

If you would like John to meet with you and explain how this works, please click "Contact" at the top right of this page or call John at (503) 927-2750. There is no charge or obligation on your part for this meeting.