Home working too much insulation from the 'real world'?

'you don't understand what it islike to be in the real world'...'real business is hard' comments I recently heard from colleagues attending a networking meeting. Bemoaning the unfair competition as they now have to compete with more lone and isolated workers as more specialists are made redundant or are taking the opportunity to strike out on their own.

Strangely I do sympathize with their views, the attraction for me is the lower overheads, the flexibility and creation of real space in my life. But in answer I have to say, we are no more insulated than anyone else, I have lost income through small businesses folding, big companies delaying payments for up to three months crying poor cashflow or banking problems

The tax man still thinks I need to pay him, has an interest in my home and its value this year we have potential for a capital loss but the tax man isn't buying it.

So what do you do to stay in touch?

Three steps to help in keeping it real.

1 Subscribe to an online news service that doenst just include headlines but focuses on the inpact of shrinking markets and rising unemployment. It helps in having informed discussions with organizations or small businesses who are struggling.

2 Contact your customers regularly, ensuring that they understand your interest is in making certain that you are providing the best service possible for them and wherever possible make referrals (let them know the referral came through you) that personal interest indicates that you know your market place and theirs.

3 Respond to public debates in a way that demonstrates you know what it is really like, keep it personal and make sure people know how you are coping.

For many small enterprises this will be a year of growth if they handle it right, from recession to big business is not impossible, I have friends and colleagues who forget they started in their garage or back bedroom with a phone, a wordprocessor and an idea now they are large medium sized businesses belating on about the financial situation.

Something that came as a bit of an insight for me was a conversation with a close friend who has just put his company into recievership owing nothing, but with no capital, any surplus will be taxed and spilt with the shareholders, He has taken millions in salary over the last five years, left nothing in the company for investment or growth and now thinks it too much like hard work to keep 30 people in a job. When I asked why take all the money out of the company in personal salary he responded that is what everyone does. Well he is a bit of a no brainer if you want to last through a recession and stay ahead of the game don't pay yourself too much, the company is more than the person who owns it, that is what history has taught it is a real shame that SME owners didn't read the lessons of history.

Detached from reality? No I don't think so rather the other way aroundwe can't avoid it.

Have a great week and 2009 - hopefully the sector will continue to grow providing excellence at every level.