(ARA) – We’ve all heard the bad news: There is a global recession, the housing market continues to decline, the banking industry is struggling and unemployment continues to rise.

But, if you are one of the many whose employment has been affected by the recession, there is a silver lining. Entrepreneurs account for 50 percent of the gross domestic product and 50 percent of job creation in America. Small businesses grew rapidly in the last two recessions. If you prefer being part of an existing company, many companies are looking to upgrade their talent, especially smaller companies who will value previous experience.

Ready to start your own business? A recent study by Network Solutions and the University of Maryland investigating the overall health of U.S. small business shows that 69 percent of small businesses were profitable in 2008 and, of those, 69 percent say their success was equal to or better than the previous year.

“This is a great time for personal change. Pursue a lifelong passion or turn your professional experiences into profit for yourself,” says Rebecca Rodskog, a corporate change management consultant and founder of Rodskog Change Consulting in New York.

Ever thought of freelancing or consulting? Have a penchant for chocolate? Do you have a talent for knitting? Is calligraphy something you happen to be good at? Believe it or not, you can make money from these skills by starting your own business, says Rodskog.

Having started out on her own after years in corporate America, Rodskog now offers several tips for turning the recession into revenue:

* Take it small scale at first. We’re not talking comprehensive business plans and venture capital commitments. Step one would be to get yourself online. Creating a Web site for your business or to tout your skills is neither difficult nor expensive, and it’s a great way to get yourself started. Let’s face it, everyone searches online first when they are looking for a service or product.

* Proactively network. Connect with new people on social and professional networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo and Xing. And don’t forget to network offline too. Attend industry, chamber of commerce and community events — and always have a business card with you. Some of your best marketing can occur through your own face-to-face and offline communities.

* Work with partners. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from those who have an expertise you don’t. You can also consider bartering your skills for theirs to keep your costs down.

Not ready to go out on your own? If starting your own business isn’t in the cards for you, Rodskog also suggests a few things to keep in mind to be sure you stand out in the crowd.

* In this market, flexibility and adaptability are key essentials to finding a new job. Consider new categories and positions that you otherwise might not pursue.

* Tap into one of the many Web sites that specialize in career changes like: www.careerchange.com, www.rodskog.com, www.careerapple.com and www.how-to-change-careers.com.

* Believe in the power of the collective. Offer to help others when you can — whether it’s passing along a job tip, article or helpful contact.

For more information and other valuable tips from Rebecca Rodskog and Network Solutions, visit www.growsmartbusiness.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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You can join a number of organizations that serve the needs of the self-employed. For instance, in the United States, many states have a local chamber of commerce that works to advance new businesses. Your business could become a member of this group. What this group does is connect you with a variety of expertise in various areas so you can receive education and counsel about every aspect of your business.

You can find groups that meet together for seminars and classes to teach you what you need to know about your business as well. A college or university accredits some of these types of classes, and some are for the benefit and growth of your business.

Other networking opportunities may also be available in your area through your local government job center. For example, the Wisconsin Job Center in Green Bay, WI has people within it that fund a program called Urban Hope. This is a program that is run for a small fee, which has a schedule of classes that aspiring businessmen and women can take. This class is geared for those who are of low income.

One benefit of a program such as Urban Hope is that it gives you access to a variety of opportunities. For instance, at one time they gave out two grants to the best business plans developed within the course of this program. If you are interested in a program such as this, you may want to find out if one exists in your area. There may be, but by a different name.

Other ways to network to improve your business is to contact your local library. They may have information regarding events that take place at the library dedicated to help local business owners. These classes are usually offered in the evenings for free on occasion. Sometimes for high school students, entrepreneur classes are offered after school.

If you are in college, you may have many resources available to you if you want to start your own business. Usually you can network with a campus business association or similar program, and they can offer you advice and support while starting a business. Along with that, they may have knowledge of grants available to those who want to start a business.

Other aspects of starting a business include the necessity to create a business plan or budget. You can team up with a financial advisor who either works for profit, or a budget manager who works for a non-profit organization that offers free budget help. They can help you with projecting profits and losing and also help you control your operating expenses.

If you are in business, you never have to do it alone. In fact, you can also join online business groups as well. When you join these online groups you can discuss aspects of business with other members by way of a forum. Some topics discussed at online business sites include effective ways to advertise, feedback on choosing a business slogan, and critiques on existing products or services.

Those who join online business groups may also receive free information, such as articles like this one. You can visit sites such as this one to find all the information you need, including contact numbers to business professionals who can help you.

Other types of networking that you can do for small businesses include creating a circle of support to connect you with new customers. Sometimes, for instance, one business may not have all that a customer is asking for, so they will refer that person to someone else who can offer the services the customer is looking for. In turn, the person who you have done that referring favor for will do the same for you.

Also, in order to make peace in the business world, many businesses will even unite together. When they team up they avoid the over competitiveness that can happen between businesses, and they are able to reach more clientele. Many large corporations are known for this. They will merge with another corporation, which offers similar services as them but perhaps to a different demographic. If the companies work together, they will both reach the other’s groups.

Networking is one of the most important aspects of business. It is essential, because if you are not a people person you will not be able to run a business, no matter how talented you are. There are very few exceptions to this rule, so take advantage of all the opportunities available to you.

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