Julianna Barbee, Director, NMSBDC at Northern NM College

It took a collapsing economy to expose the moral bankruptcy of entrepreneurs like Wall Street investor Bernard Madoff, who was arrested recently on suspicion of defrauding clients of $50 billion in a Ponzi scheme. If such practices were part of the business landscape at a time of relative prosperity, even greater lapses of ethical behavior and judgment may be likely now as many businesses struggle to remain solvent during what is expected to be a protracted and painful recovery.

While hard times drive some people to criminal and amoral extremes, others remain faithful to core principles or values that determine their conduct regardless of external circumstances. These principles, or ethics, are what separate people of integrity from people who disregard any law or agreement or courtesy that interferes with making a buck.

Ethical business practices bring their own rewards by raising the performance and reputation of those who practice them. Businesses that set ethical guidelines and promote ethical behavior are demonstrating that honesty, respect and safety aren’t expendable when times are tough. Businesses that are willing to go beyond the minimum legal requirements of the market and to hold themselves and their employees to a high standard of moral behavior are bright spots in a gloomy economy.

Here’s how a business can start building an ethical foundation:

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Roberta Scott, Director, NM Small Business Development Center at UNM-Valencia

Frequent reports of massive nationwide layoffs and ongoing anxiety about the economy are making more people wonder if this is the year to start controlling their own financial destinies by starting a business that’s compact enough to run from home, especially since cell phones, computers, the Internet and faxes make it easy to conduct business with potential clients and suppliers.

Advances in communications and office technology and the ongoing shift from a manufacturing to a service economy are among the many forces remaking Americans’ assumptions about work. Many workers are weary of the congestion, road rage, weather-related dangers and time loss that make commuting such a grind. Working parents often want more time with their children than they have when employed outside the home for someone else.

And while many workers are grateful just to have a job in a time of growing unemployment, others want more from work than just a steady paycheck and benefits — especially those who have lived through past downturns and are tired of forgoing raises and watching benefits erode as their employers struggle to survive. They want work that is challenging, interesting and fulfilling, and they want control over their time, their work and their health.

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Pat McNamara, Marketing Consultant

Failure to listen to potential customers or clients has sabotaged many a great idea or product, especially among entrepreneurs who lack empathy and act as if they know all the answers. Such a self-centered approach to doing business is bad enough when the economy is booming, but it’s fatal during a recession, when thinking about the other guy is essential.

Self-centered assumptions lead some entrepreneurs to commit one or all of these seven deadly sins of marketing and sales:

It’s all about me. “I may not be much, but I’m all I think about.” That slogan on a young man’s T-shirt caught my eye on a recent business trip, as did a similar pronouncement on the T-shirt of a woman in my hotel lobby: “It’s all about me.” Extreme self-consciousness underlies stage fright and is a barrier to successful sales. When a speaker or salesperson genuinely wants an audience or individual to understand a concept or make the right purchase, self-consciousness vanishes.

We are so much alike. In truth, we are all very different — in the things we value, how we think and make decisions, the speed with which we walk and talk. Some of us value relationships and strive for collaboration. Others focus on results. Some people make instant decisions, while others ponder for weeks. Appreciating diversity is critical to tailoring a sales pitch.

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Julianna Barbee, Director, NM Small Business Development Center at NNMC

Few things are as effective as a global economic crisis for identifying the qualities of leadership most likely to inspire optimism and involvement. Whether it’s in the world of politics or business, the most effective leaders exude both confidence and pragmatism and are inclusive and decisive.

Leadership in business means creating an environment in which people’s strengths are reinforced and their weaknesses offset, which is why the most effective leaders surround themselves with other leaders, not just experts in their chosen field.

Studies show that when something negative happens within the workplace, blaming the individual or individuals involved can often hinder our ability to see the larger context in which it happened.  Recognizing the fallibilities and possibilities of being human allows business leaders to unlock the energies of every team member and increase collective excellence and performance. A united team can focus on all areas at once rather than succumbing to the natural tendency to pay attention to one problem or opportunity at a time and get lost in the details.

Whether you are a business owner or an employee of a large or small organization, these leadership traits can help you and your business become more efficient and more productive.

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Gena Wilimitis, PR Coordinator, Securities Division, New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department

The Securities Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department is cautioning investors to avoid making impulsive and uninformed decisions about their long-term financial holdings in response to the unprecedented volatility on Wall Street.

“Investors should resist the temptation to make hasty decisions about their investments or finances,” division director Bruce Kohl said. “And now is the time to be especially wary of unsolicited financial advice offering new investment opportunities. We know from past experience that con artists follow the headlines to exploit the worries of everyday investors. In times of confusion and uncertainty, there are always those who will try to prey on the investing public.”

Turmoil in the home-mortgage market creates opportunities for crooks to peddle phony real-estate investments that promise enormous returns, Kohl said, and soaring energy costs have inspired scams disguised as oil and gas partnerships and alternative-energy projects. The Internet has given a global grasp to con artists who disguise themselves as online “friends” eager for your partnership in money-making ventures.
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Leslie Hoffman, Director of Lending, ACCION New Mexico

Remember your favorite first date? Think about what made it special for you.  Maybe it was the way your date listened and took an active interest in you and the things you care about. It could have been the extra care your date put into looking just right for the occasion or the bouquet of flowers that greeted you at the door.

Making a good and lasting first impression in business is a lot like a memorable first date. In a competitive marketplace where consumers, companies and government institutions have multiple choices about where and how to spend money, it’s vital for small-business owners to remember that selling yourself can help you sell your product or service.

A common mistake of business owners is failure to make a positive and lasting first impression, but it’s a mistake that’s simple to correct by following a few simple steps.

Be prepared. Begin building a lasting first impression even before your meeting starts. Know everything you can about your product or service. This might include having a portfolio of work or product samples or other promotional or marketing materials. Be prepared to answer commonly asked questions. Remember the adage: Failure to prepare is preparation for failure.

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