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"I appreciate the best, but I'm settling for less."

Plan B: An SMB's Guide To Making Do During The Recession

Start The Discussion | Fredric Paul | May 13, 2009 06:05 AM

bMighty's Fredric Paul presents his unique guide to affordable alternatives to the technology you really want.

Plan B: An SMB's Guide To Making Do During The Recession

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"I appreciate the best, but I'm settling for less."

Looking For The Next Best Thing, by Warren Zevon

All business owners have dreams about the technologies they really want for their business. Unfortunately, though, sometimes reality intrudes and you need to downsize your expectations. There's nothing to be ashamed of, and it doesn't have to be the end of the world.

On the following slides, we'll present 17 highly desirable technologies and other extravagances for small and midsize businesses (Plan A), along with a less-expensive, less-ostentatious, and easier-to-deal-with alternative for each one. The big difference? You actually stand a chance in hell of acquiring the stuff on the Plan B list ...

And if you're trying to make lemonade out of lemons, think of it this way: By going with Plan B you're doing your part for shared sacrifice and the new national mood of austerity and restraint. And you may find that sometimes -- just sometimes -- what seemed to be the lesser alternative turns out to be just as good or even better than what you originally wanted. If not, well, time to suck it up and comfort yourself in the knowledge that you're helping your business survive till better days are back again.