When you're a business owner or if you work on your own, any mention of an upcoming recession trigger a very loud alarm in your head. You have the choice of being scared and paralyze or you can do something else that will surely let you have more sleep at night.

Think about your first reaction when you started reading in the newspapers every day that the stock market was plummeting and recession was around the corner. Did you feel fear? It is a natural reaction, don't be ashamed for that. The life of your family and that of your employees -if you have them-, depend on your business. If it is gone, what will you do?

You don't know if your business will actually be affected by the recession, if it ever comes. Whether it happens or not, it will do good to you if you start preparing for a worst case scenario.

Just like big companies have crisis plans when something bad happens in their business, you too must have a contingency plan in place.

Why is that helpful? Because if something bad actually happens, you will be better prepared to weather the storms. A crisis plan lets you think ahead about possible solutions and answers to face adversities and by doing this before the crisis, you make sure that you're not going to be taking decisions based on fear, rush or pressure. Planning leads to better decision making.

What you will include depends on the particulars of your business but the basics are cashflow -how to keep it-, accounts payable -how you will pay your creditors-, if you have employees what you will do about them if your sales drop dramatically and how to keep generating revenue.

Did you know that many of today's largest fortunes were made during the Great Depression? What this means for you today is that no matter what happens, there are always opportunities to make money.

Use your lateral thinking and discover now possible income streams that you haven't thought of. Research new markets, new products, new ways to perform what you actually do. Discover what else could work in your business.

There are countless opportunities to try. Most of the time we're too busy with day to day problems to figure out new ways, specially if your business is doing good. Invest some time in planning for the future. In this global market, what happens on the other side of the world will most likely affect you. Be prepared.

Take this as an opportunity to explore new venues. The more prepared you are, if the so much predicted recession never comes, the better you will be able to stay in business and add value to the people you serve.

Claudia Juárez, The Small Biz Crisis Coach, teaches entrepreneurs and small business owners how to deal with business crises from the inside-out keeping the motivation alive in the process. Discover the 2 THINGS that will recession proof your business at http://www.MotivationEmergency.com

Whether you have a job or business, whenever we start hearing a recession is around the corner, we start having shivers along the spine: will the company downsize if there are not enough sales? Will I be let go? The good news is there is a way to break free from the fear cycle.

Newspapers these days are filled with stories of how the dollar is weak, how the stock exchange has been plummeting and the dark shadow of massive lay off starts flying over us.

While not everybody will lose his or her job, and in fact we don't know if ANYONE is going to even in face of the upcoming economic recession, you might still hold fears. The fear of losing your job is more real to you than what any economist or politician can say.

I can't predict if you in particular will be let go, but I do know that you, yes you, in particular, can get over that fear.

There is one secret here to cope with any uncertainty you might face: fear is not only not going to help you, but in fact can destroy all your chances for success.

Now, I'm not saying you have to go out into the world thinking you are Superman. What I am saying is that fear is not going to help you.

From my own experience I know that fear kept me from planning when I was laid off of one job. I knew the company was downsizing, my post was cancelled and I was transferred to another department. My days were counted but I was paralyzed in fear. Eventually I was downsized myself. The economy was in ruins and my attitude was too.

What could I have done differently? Maybe not much inside that company. That was (and is) beyond my -or your- control. But I could have planned had I not be so scared of the future.

Every company, specially the big ones, have a crisis plan to implement when something bad happens. As an employee, nobody told you how you could prepare in case a crisis arised in your life.

Planning at this particular stage, when the recession is just about to start, gives you an immense advantage. Start thinking now what are you going to do if your job, if your company, is no longer there.

Here are some questions for you to start you thinking:

What if your particular trade is no longer necessary in the next economy cycle?

Can you train now for the future? Are you willing to invest in your education?

Can you see a trend for the future and re-train for that?

Are you willing to start a side business? Remember that very large fortunes were made during the Great Depression.

Can you save some more money?

Can you pay some of your debts or make a little sacrifice and reduce your debt?

Are you willing to invest to get help?

How can you generate a side income while still holding your current job?

How can you downsize your expenses in order to save or to pay debts?

Planning for the worst reduces your incertitude and that gives you peace of mind. It doesn't mean you have to focus on the worst. There's a lot on the Law of Attraction out there teaching how not to focus on what you don't want to happen. My advice is that you see it from an objective point of view so if that scenario ever comes for whatever reason, you are ready to implement your plan and have some answers ready.

Claudia Juarez is an author, entrepreneur, university professor and coach who teaches people from all over the world how to change their realities by changing their minds. Find more and discover the 2 Things that will help you to recession-proof your life and business at http://www.MotivationEmergency.com