Connected-Women.com is a social networking site for women entrepreneurs from around the world. Women from more than 50 countries share thoughts, ideas and feelings in a variety of forums pertaining to everything from leadership to communications to global business ideas. Connected-women will share some of the most interesting points of discussion for you to use in developing ideas, inserting into stories you are working on and including the voice of the largest growing sector of business—women business owners.

The responses below are from the Connected-Women forum:

Economic Downturn—What Did We Learn?

“It is a time to “risk” strategically, even though the route may not be totally clear or the results certain. We are all faced with the reality of “re-inventing” ourselves and forming new alliances that a few months ago would have been unthinkable. The large company base, which has been our mainstay for years, is just not there anymore. The bottom line is that we need to keep moving and to reach out for help and collaboration. Through membership in organizations like the National Association of Women Business Owners, of which I am president of Miami Chapter, and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, you can find practical education and a sharing of ideas, expertise and emotional support. Now is the time when you will find out who your true friends really are.” Anne B. Freedman, President, Speakout, Miami, FL

“I find when the word recession turns up again a lot of people immediately think of ‘doom and gloom’ and usually go into reverse. The other type of person sees it as a challenge and actually does something different. Sometimes its ideas we had maybe 10 years ago which we pull out of our hat and use for today’s situation working it into a further 10-year plan.” Fazila Sciberras, Director, 1WE.com, Utrech, Netherlands

“History tells us that difficult economic times can stir up our spirit to think in a new way, to re-evaluate our contributions, to connect through meaningful discussions and above all to take strategic action. Life is really in between the trees, according to Tarzan. This is a good time to have a family meeting. Children must learn how to manage global stress. They need to discover that a recession offers opportunity to learn and to turn inward. As a family you can pray, meditate, or set an intention to NOT be swallowed by the news media. Your children will respond to how you feel about this experience. Let them know they are loved, will be cared for and protected.”

Sanna Carapellotti, Healer, Pittsburgh, PA

“I think that this economic time in our life is a wake up call for being conscious about how we are spending not just our money but all our resources in all areas. Not necessarily to cut back but to be conscious about where we are putting our energy. I think it is also important in this time to ‘be out best selves’. So, what will you do today to be YOUR best self?! By doing this we spend our energy in vastly different places.”

Lorin Beller Blake, CEO, Big Fish Nation, Austin, TX

“We have lived through much worse than this and we are extremely blessed in many ways. We need to see every turn as a challenge, an opportunity to develop new skills. Remember that more millionaires are created during an economic downturn than at any other time. This is a moment of opportunity – reinvent, innovate and if need be, diversify. In other words, do what every good business should do – never stand still.”

As Chair of the Midlands World Trade Forum, a regional network of some 700 businesses in the West Midlands region of the UK, I am pleased to say that many of our members both from manufacturing and the service sectors appear to be standing up well. In fact many have said business is on the up and that whilst in some areas people may be taking slightly longer to pay, on the whole business is good.” Deborah Leary, CEO, Forsenthic Pathways, Tamworth, UK

“I am looking at this time as an opportunity to evaluate what is most important. When living in the high times, we often spend so much time dreaming about what we will have that we forget to appreciate that which we do have. The dreams should be the icing and we need to focus on the cake. The greatest gifts that we can offer one another are sometimes the easiest and carry no cost. Connecting people is precisely one of those things. I now spend a half hour every morning looking through my business cards of all the amazing people that I have met and try to think of a way to connect each of them to someone or something that they would find, useful, helpful or just fun.” Heidi Öste, CEO, 2BalanceU.com, Malmö, Sweden

“Yes, we are facing a time of economic uncertainty. However, let’s not lose sight of the fact that more than 70% of our economy is sustained by small business. Wall Street is only one piece of the puzzle. Reach out to the areas in your circles that you know will work for you. Stay positive, minimize your exposure to the negativity in the media and focus on HOW to grow your business. Keep focused on your own goals and how to achieve them. Keep up with your networking and look for ways to keep your spending flat. This situation will pass.” Michelle Bonn, President, Expedient Trade, Amherst, NY

“Keep your name in front of the public, in front of your clients–let people know your value–value to them as clients, value to the community, value to your industry, to the business world…..etc. This is a great time to focus on your current clients. Small business owners are inherently optimistic and we go out there and get them. We are the ones that will keep this economy going and get it back on an uphill slope. Spread that word. Let your voice be heard!” Mary Schnack, President, Mary Schnack Media Services, Inc., Sedona, AZ

“My world today as an investor and an owner of an international restaurant chain business is turmoil. I feel specially blessed for fact of being a woman through times like this. If I can manage to go through pregnancy and to give birth there is no job I can’t breathe my self through. Opportunities are always around the corner in economic recession due to the fact that too many people miss them with closed eyes and ears and get stuck in the flow of negative news. So again my mindset will be my guide out of this and my strategy is to stay focused with my vision and not panic.” Thordis Loa Thorhallsdottir, CEO, Pizza Hut, Iceland and Finland

“I address the situation that every woman entrepreneur think about the current, global economic crisis. This is what I encourage everyone to do:

1. Turn off the TV for one week. Concentrate on your business for that week and see what phenomenal things you can do. Those who survive this, should be those who have decided to put their oars in the water and steer in the direction of prosperity and success. It is tremendously easier for small business owners to change directions than large corporations. We are like small speed boats that can maneuver quickly compared to large ocean liners that are not as agile.

2. Do not cut back on your PR and marketing. This is not the time to be an ostrich and put your head in the sand but to strut those beautiful plumes and let the world know what you are great at and how you can help with their challenges and problems.

3. Take massive aggressive action for your business. Go find it whether it be on line or in person, network for new clients, keep in touch with old ones, ask for referrals from satisfied ones. You may have to make additional phone calls to find those who are still spending money, but they are out there.” Joanne Quinn-Smith, TechnoGranny, Pittsburgh, PA

“Coming from all sectors, including the financial, the meeting inevitably turned to collective soul-searching: would the mess the world is in now have been different if there had been more women on the boards of financial institutions? The multiple reasons for the current crisis have one thing in common: ego-driven behaviors that get rewarded, thus repeated. Research has proven that only with three or more women on the board, the quality of decision-making improves, more ethical behaviors are developed and the company’s bottom line goes up. For the sake of business and society as a whole it is time for the many qualified women out there to start laying a new foundation, which will prove to be sustainable in the long-term.” Debbie Ducic, Training Consultant, Pueblo, CO

“Like many said – be givers, not takers – BUT I would love to tell all givers/especially women in Germany, if you give, please learn that you also have to take. Not going too deep into political assumption that women and men are equal but behalf of their social education in Germany women are closer to the “social” givers and hardly learn to take. The result is an imbalance between women (givers) and men (takers). I would love to see all women in here being the “bridge” between the givers and takers. But do not forget to take. If not, the influence of takers will only be in politics and the economic market.” Britta Linnemann, Artist, Hamburg, Germany

“Large corporations need to promote change within the economies of our countries.” Maria Eva Gonzalez, Entrepreneur, Pilar, Argentina