Many of the business owners I'm talking to have seen a decrease in activity - people spending less and being even more careful about what they buy. We are bombarded by news stories that portray a nation in financial turmoil. Some of the people I talk to refuse to read the paper or watch the news on TV for that very reason. They want to see some good news. Is your glass half full or half empty?

For those of us who have lived through the economic slowdowns of the past, who have been unemployed, we know that this too will pass. It's part of the constant ebb and flow of economic cycles. But that doesn't make it easy.

Remember, it's not all doom and gloom. Sales of fuel- efficient cars is so strong that there is actually a shortage of some models. In the flood ravaged areas of Iowa realtors are active because there is a shortage of homes available for purchase. Campsites are full as people seek ways to vacation at lower cost. For people with cash in the bank, real estate and stocks can be purchased at sale prices. Houston is booming because of the high oil prices.

As a business owner you always have choices. You can choose to sit around waiting for something good to happen, or you can take action to improve your results. September is an ideal time to do just that. The kids have started school. Families have new routines and people spend their time in new ways. Now is a great time to get back to work on your business.

Spend some time reviewing your results to date. Look at your sales. Where did your revenue come from? What services or products did your customers buy and why? Look at your customers. Who were they and why did they choose to do business with you? Look at your expenses. Are they reasonable and appropriate? The object, of course, is to determine what's working and what's not. Based on that information you can adjust the mix of products and services, address your expenses, revise your marketing plan (you do have a marketing plan, right?) and get ready to grow your business in the fourth quarter.

Yes, tonight you've got homework.

It's much more expensive to find new customers than to keep existing ones, but even that is on sale now. You've probably noticed that businesses are doing less advertising. That creates an opportunity. There are fewer ads, so media outlets are more likely to cut favorable deals. Fewer ads also means that your message will get more attention, more bang for the buck. Knowing your customers' reading, listening, Internet and television habits will allow you to choose the best media to reach your prospects. The goal is to stop chasing prospects and have customers chasing you. It's up to you to make something happen.

Every good networker will tell you that the easiest way to begin a relationship is to find something you both have in common. If you have kids in school, you have something in common with all those other parents. Take the opportunity to find out what else you have in common, what's important and what's fun. It's been my experience that you might not wind up with customers; you might wind up with close friends.