As a CEO, company president or business owner, you are always aware of costs and keeping costs down in order for your business to yield as much profit as possible.  After all, you’re in business to make money.

In these challenging economic times many business people are looking for ways to cut expenses. 

But how do you know what expenses to cut?

Cutting just to cut isn’t good business.

Many CEOs, company presidents and business owners make the mistake of making cuts in their business without being informed as to what those cuts really mean.

You need to get out from behind your desk.  Walk around your business.  See what is going on.  And think about what would happen if you made those cuts.

The purpose of reducing expenses is to keep the company profitable.  And in some cases, save the business.  But you can actually destroy the business by making the cuts in the wrong places.

You might even take the bold step of working in different departments in your business.  For example: sales, front office, shipping and receiving, accounting and any other significant area. Be the receptionist during lunchtime.  Go ride with your sales force for a day; then the next day go out and do sales calls by yourself.  Take off that suit and get into some work clothes and work the loading dock.  Even go to the extreme of cleaning the bathrooms. See what really goes on during the day so you understand that the actions you are taking will reduce costs without jeopardizing the well-being of the business.  You may get an entirely different perspective about how best to run your business.