Whatever the economy is or is not doing, it's always a good idea to examine your business on a quarterly basis. You change, it changes, time changes, your clients change. You have new skills, new ideas, and an expanded vision. Every quarter you should cut, release, shed the worst 10% of everything you've got

Slash strategically

This not about slashing 10% across the board. It is about carefully examining what is working and getting very clear about what is not working, no matter how attached you are of keeping it.

Track the money you spent

Look for the cracks in your spending - the things you overlook because they seem unimportant. Are you printing on both sides of your paper so you don't have to buy paper so often? Are you using pencils rather than pens so they last longer? Do you have the best long distance plan for the areas you call most frequently? Are you getting monetary value from the work you hire done by a virtual assistant? Look at every item and see how your expenditures might change.

Track time spent

Wasted time can be a mean a big loss in profitability, energy and satisfaction. I continually have to watch not being pulled off my morning plan because I start answering emails and sometimes spend too long doing so. I love forums but I do need to have a personal rating system that allows me to judge the value received versus time spent. Time is wasted because you start one thing and then jump to another and then another and end up feeling overwhelmed and unsuccessful because nothing is completed. Set three goals for the day and make them happen. If you have time left over do more, but focus on those three tasks and acknowledge yourself when they are completed. "You go girl, that's a job well done!!!!!

Get really clear where your money is coming from

I was surprised once to find that I had made a lot of money copy writing when it was not something I was putting out to do at all. People needed it, saw I could do it and asked me. Look to see if your information products are bringing you income or if their value actually lines in your increased expert status and credibility. How can you leverage what you already have into more products and services?

How have the trends changed?

Look at your business plan and see how it stands up to the latest trends. What do you need to adjust? What new need has appeared? What new problem has become evident?

How has your target audience changed?

People spend differently during different seasons and different economic environments. What is happening to your target audience that you need to respond to? How can you fulfill their new needs? Has a new target audience opened up you need to explore?

Check your pricing, packaging and bundling

What new incentives can you offer? Is it time to give yourself a raise? How can you package your services so people commit for longer periods of time? What products can you bundle with your services that will add value?

Has your vision expanded?

Has your dream gotten bigger? Do you see possibilities you want to explore? Has your skill set changed so you can now embark on the project you've had in mind so long? What services or features can you add that will attract more people and more business?

Streamlining your business is like outfitting it in a new wardrobe for the season. How do you want it to be seen? Where are you taking it? What are the foundations of your wardrobe? What can be mixed and matched? What can be discarded? Travel light, travel lean, travel far.