Paperclips Don't Grow On Trees

The 7 most expensive words in any organisation are...'We have always done it that way.' Running a business is tough in the best of times but when things do go well, it's easy to be complacent. Few business owners and leaders are complacent today, however. After decades of growth and prosperity, the 'GFC' has been a wake-up call for many, and a reminder that good and prudent financial business practices not only deliver greater margins but can prove a lifeline in difficult times. From Wall Street to Main Street, times are still fairly tough and most business owners and middle managers are still nervous about personal finances and job security. 

What - if anything - can be done by the average man or woman in the workforce to secure their business and their role? Most obstacles present opportunities. An economic downturn may be an opportunity in disguise to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your overall business. 

Paper Clips Don't Grow On Trees offers readers some practical, positive options to look at what they're doing well in terms of adding value - and reducing costs - to their operation. The author is not an economist, but worked with IBM globally for a decade and has successfully run a small business for 17 years. 

Catherine DeVrye is a best-selling author and winner of the Australian Executive Woman of the Year Award. She speaks to organizations around the world on client service, thriving on change and turning obstacles to opportunities.