Its not the economy that poses the greatest challenge at the moment " nor is it customers, its the negativity from the media.

With all the talk of share prices and profits dropping, business directors are becoming concerned that their goals may be unachievable and are therefore lowering them, which in turn creates a negative attitude in that organisation.

Recession is an unpleasant time for everyone, and inevitably, some businesses will struggle, and very possibly fail. But some will thrive and succeed, and these will be the companies that don't get overwhelmed by all the negative press that surrounds us nowadays and that take a positive attitude toward growth during this difficult time.

To continue growing during tough times, the key is to think positively, if you don't think success is a possibility, then its decided there and then. Thinking as if it WILL happen can improve results significantly.

Another very important step to take is to use the services of a very experienced sales and marketing coach.

The right candidate will have decades of experience, therefore will have worked in recessions before and will be able to steer you through it.

Opportunities can arise from a recession. Other companies may be discouraged from implementing the marketing campaigns they were considering, which presents opportunity for other businesses.

The fear of the credit crunch will most likely stop a lot of companies from conducting their marketing effectively, which will then affect their openness to new business opportunities. Had they taken a positive attitude from day 1, the predicament could well have been avoided.