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I know the recession is real. I know people are losing their jobs, homes and life savings. I get that.

But the truth is, we’re letting fear make it worse.

Look around you. Ask other business owners. They will sheepishly admit that business is good. Some, under the promise of anonymity, will confess that it’s great.

I spoke to a small business owner last week. His company is having a fantastic start to the year, and everything looks good. He needs a new company car. He has the money. Car prices have never been lower. But he’s holding off.

Just in case.

Simpson College’s theater program has a brilliant outreach program, thanks to the associate director. She’s like a pied piper, getting to know theater kids when they’re younger and encouraging them to visit the campus, attend Simpson’s very profitable summer program, etc.

Simpson just announced that despite great enrollment numbers and the construction of a new theater space, it’s eliminating the position.

Just in case.

We have to stop this. A stimulus package alone isn’t going to cut it. Do you think any of those stimulus dollars are coming your way? Check the list – you’re not on it!

Small business owners are the backbone of this country, and we will determine how long we’re in this recession. I’m not asking you to spend with reckless abandon. But don’t take your business advice from the local or national news.

Look around. See how your business is actually doing. Behave accordingly. We can be paralyzed with fear of what might be coming, or we can behave ourselves out of this recession.

It is up to us.

Drew McLellan is Top Dog at McLellan Marketing Group and blogs at www.drewsmarketingminute.com. He can be reached at Drew@MclellanMarketing.com. © 2009 Drew McLellan