Don't Waste A Good Recession

The Number #1 critical measurement in your business today is likely one you're not even measuring. Change that immediately.Chapters: Where we are in the Economic Clock (ticking downwards)How "Free Cash Flow" is the KPI that connects your P&L with your Bank BalanceThe "Cash Absorption" risk I'm seeing in SMEs right now, where Revenue is growing but Free Cash Flow is decliningHow to grow cash fastWith every passing month we move closer to the next economic downturn, the next Recession, the next great opportunity of your business life.Right now, before even the "Respond" phase on the Economic Clock, Cash is King. So are you measuring your Cash and your Cash Flow? Are you prioritising cash accumulation in your business - by managing expenses, managing debtors, and holding strong with your pricing and payment terms?If not, you still have time to catch up. But the businesses who thrive from the very start of the crash will be those with cash who are ready to act. We will all end up in the same stormy seas - but some of us will arrive in much safer boats.

Why the World’s Tallest Buildings Open in Recessions (Economic Clock Explained) Chapters: 00:00 – Why skyscrapers open in recessions 02:10 – The Economic Clock explained 05:30 – Where we are right now 08:00 – The 4 phases: Down, Drag, Release, Up 11:30 – What to actually do in your business 14:00 – Where the real opportunities are Here’s a strange but true fact: Most of the world’s tallest buildings open during recessions. Not before. Not after. Right in the middle of the downturn. That’s not bad timing. It’s how economic cycles actually work. In this episode and the corresponding video on the Don't Waste a Good Recession YouTube channel, I break down the Economic Clock—a simple way to understand where we are in the cycle, what’s coming next, and what small business owners should actually do about it. No jargon. No theory for theory’s sake. Just practical, “mom and pop economics” you can use in your business right now. What you’ll learn: == Why boom-time decisions show up as pain later == The 4 phases of every economic cycle (and how they actually feel in real life) == Where we are right now—and what that means for your business == Why most businesses miss the biggest opportunities == How to respond, plan, execute, and profit through a downturn You don’t need to predict the economy perfectly. You just need to understand where you are on the clock—and adjust your strategy accordingly. If you run a small business and want to stay ahead (instead of reacting late), learn to tell the time. And don't waste a good recession...

In small business, sometimes it's the uncertainty that does the damage - not even through a thousand paper cuts, but through that constant sense of something hanging over all of our heads. So how do we own the uncertainty? How do we manage our energy and still make good decisions in business when we're unsure about the future? Welcome to Don't Waste a Good Recession, episode two. Last week, I talked about the three different ways that small businesses respond to an economic downturn. If you want to thrive, not just survive, a key part is how you respond. Not just reacting, not just going in blind. This week, I'm going to share a key framework you can use to stay in control and take ownership of the outcomes in your life and your business. I'm talking about the Circles of Control framework by Stephen Covey. And in particular, in the "Before" phase of the current economic downturn, I talk about Cash. Revenue is Vanity, Profit is Sanity, and Cash is King - a fact that is most true at the point of maximum financial opportunity, the depths of a recession. The individuals and businesses who will benefit most at that time are the ones who are focusing right now on how they build cash in their Circles of Control and Influence.

Welcome back, to the first episode in the 2026 Season of "Don't Waste a Good Recession". The global economy is entering a downturn phase, shifting from euphoria to anxiety. This creates critical risks for small and medium businesses – and more importantly, moves us all closer to the Point of Maximum Financial Opportunity. Yes, Maximum Opportunity. More marketshare is created in a downturn than at any other point in the economic cycle, and how you respond now will determine the success (or otherwise) of your business in the coming years. Businesses respond to a Recession in one of three ways: they Dive, Survive, or Thrive. The difference is their emotional and investment management. Dive businesses ignore or suppress emotions, leading to inaction and failure. Survive businesses react impulsively to feelings, leading to inconsistent decisions. Thrive businesses acknowledge emotions without being controlled, enabling strategic choices. Ongoing, deliberate investment decisions differentiate thriving businesses from others. What are you choosing in 2026?

Love your business? Remember to Like and Subscribe to "Don't Waste a Good Recession".Gain business clarity, courageous leadership, and lifestyle rhythm with international business advisor Jacob Aldridge. This is episode 24 in our series - thanks for watching and all the feedback.Great news! For the first time in our series, going back to March 2020, the number of Active Cases globally has declined! It's part of a wider trend that suggests the Execution and Profit Phases of the Recession are almost upon us.How confident can you be in the leading economic indicators?What does this progress mean you need to do for your business?And have you Liked and Shared this video with your business community?Other videos discussed this month:Last Month's Snapshot and Forecast - https://youtu.be/YlwetG9D-XsIs the Recession Over? - https://youtu.be/M9hoFSp2tygAre you Living in the Old Paradigm? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53jKW...Yes, I was preparing my clients for this Recession at the end of 2018 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBUPl...Why Inflation will kick in soon, and how Governments and Rich People benefit - https://youtu.be/OSG_qiIo-3s

Love your business? Remember to Like and Subscribe to "Don't Waste a Good Recession".Make better, proactive business decisions with international business advisor Jacob Aldridge. This is episode 23 in our series - thanks for watching and all the feedback.What do the January economic fundamentals mean for your February 2021 (and beyond) business success?Increasingly, the answer now depends on whether you are in the UK or not. For my friends and viewers inside the UK, you are unfortunately experiencing the Brexit Recession immediately following the Coronavirus Recession - make sure you go 'Back to Basics' with our Core Content Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuU0n....Learn more about the new economic fundamentals, and the key business benchmark indicators here - https://youtu.be/vmlVkASk3-UReview "When will the Coronavirus Recession End" indicators from last month - https://youtu.be/M9hoFSp2tyg

Love your business? Remember to Like and Subscribe to "Don't Waste a Good Recession".Make better, proactive business decisions with international business advisor Jacob Aldridge. This is episode 22 in our series - thanks for watching and all the feedback.What do the December economic fundamentals mean for your January 2021 business success?Learn more about the new economic fundamentals, and the key business benchmark indicators here - https://youtu.be/vmlVkASk3-UReview "When will the Coronavirus Recession End" indicators from last month - https://youtu.be/M9hoFSp2tyg

Love your business? Remember to Like and Subscribe to "Don't Waste a Good Recession".Since the world changed in March 2020, our Economic Snapshot has been designed to help you make better business decisions. What do the November economic fundamentals mean for your December business success?What are the 3 indicators that a Recession has ended? And how are they looking in countries like the USA, UK, and Australia?What are the 4 Transformations that a Recession forces on every small and medium sized business? Do you have the strategy in place to benefit from those changes?Learn more about the new economic fundamentals, and the key business benchmark indicators here - https://youtu.be/vmlVkASk3-U

Love your business? Remember to Like and Subscribe to "Don't Waste a Good Recession" - or head to JacobAldridge.com to receive every update to your inbox.Since the world changed in March 2020, our Economic Snapshot has been designed to help you make better business decisions. What do the October economic fundamentals portend for your November business success?And after 20 episodes, what have we predicted so far in 2020 that has come true - for the benefit of those who watch every episode?Learn more about the new economic fundamentals, and the key business benchmark indicators here - https://youtu.be/vmlVkASk3-U

Love your business? Remember to Like and Subscribe to "Don't Waste a Good Recession" - or head to JacobAldridge.com to receive every update to your inbox.Since the world changed in March 2020, our Economic Snapshot has been designed to help you make better business decisions. Back then, we talked about 3 outcomes for privately-owned businesses: Dive, Survive, or Thrive. Six months later ... how is your business going?In this video, we talk about the Lead and Lag Indicators of the Economy, and how they will impact your business in October.We then dive deeper into Dive/Survive/Thrive ... by exploring the triad of Fragile/Robust/Anti-Fragile as developed by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.We've all seen some Fragile businesses in 2020. How do you build a truly Anti-Fragile business that benefits from Volatility?Stay in relationship with us by Subscribing today.Learn more about the new economic fundamentals, and the key business benchmark indicators here - https://youtu.be/vmlVkASk3-U