Do you get a little sick of people reminding you that the economy has seen better days? Seriously, as a small business owner, it certainly can be exciting knowing that every fiscal quarter could be your last. But if the edge-of-your-seat terror at the possibility of bankruptcy is making it difficult to sleep at night, then maybe you could use some reassurance. Well, preparation is the enemy of failure, and here are five things you can do to help keep your business from becoming a flaming pile of lost dreams and broken hopes.

1. Practice safe search
There was a time when business security meant a lock on the door and an overweight guy with a nightstick patrolling the halls at night. Now, the preferred method of stealing from a company involves cyber-theft, and the necessary security measures have gotten a lot more complex. But as the world moves forward, some businesses, both large and small, are still trying to play by the old rules. Don’t be one of those companies. Make sure to install security software on all of your company computers, and keep them updated. Keep employees informed about the dangers of unknown email attachments/links and unfamiliar websites. Back up your information off network, and make sure that your passwords are difficult to guess and changed regularly. Perhaps the most important thing you can do is educate your workforce about cyber-security. Remember, the chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and one irresponsible employee can put an otherwise secure company into the ground.

2. Deal with “now” problems now
It never hurts to look ahead, unless you do so at the expense of looking at where you are right now. If you’re busy drawing up plans for future expansion but your business hasn’t hit any of its goals in the last few months, then you need to get your mind back in the present. Once you’ve gotten everything back on course, then you can get back to dreaming.

3. Show appreciation
It’s a common enough thing for smiling executives to make a show of patting their underlings on the back and telling them that they’re what keeps the company going, but how many really believe it? You can’t have a tower without a base, and your company’s foundation is made from its employees. So be available to them. When they want to talk to you, either to share an idea or to just chew the fat, <em>really listen to them</em>. Show your appreciation of them, and reward their good work with service awards like monetary bonuses and paid time-off. Throw the occasional party and encourage a friendly, pleasant work environment. One of the biggest expenses for many companies is in the hiring and training of new employees, so if you can keep the ones you’ve already got and reduce turnover rates by letting your workers know that they matter, you’ll always save money in the long run.

4. Be competative
You should know that most customers don’t give two cents about the money you’ve invested or the dreams you’re struggling to achieve; all they care about is getting what they want for as little cash as possible. That means that even if you <em>know</em> that your product is head and shoulders above the competition, you’re still going to have to go out of your way to get it to the customer. Aggressive advertising, limited-time offers, special deals, and above all, <em>great customer service</em> are all important things to have if you want your company to succeed. Many businesses, when they see themselves coming upon hard times, will increase their prices or cut down on quality. This may save money for a little while, but eventually the consumer is going to notice and take their business elsewhere. So put in some extra effort and make your business the best choice for your customers, and they’ll repay you by remaining your customers.

5. Look on the bright side
Face it, every company sees difficult times. When you encounter obstacles to success, what can you do? Sometimes it might seem easier to just throw in the towel and write it all off as a bad venture. There’s something to be said for cutting your losses and moving on. It’s the safe thing to do, but if you wanted to play it safe, what ever possessed you to become an entrepreneur in the first place? You need an optimistic outlook to survive in today’s economy, and even though it might be tough to struggle through the difficult times, you’ll never see the morning if you don’t survive the night. Nike began with a few guys selling shoes out of the back of a car, do you think they didn’t hit a few rough patches? So keep your chin up, deal with problems as they arise, and don’t let small failures distract you from big success down the line.