Businesspeople all over the world pay continual and close attention to those firms that are managing to stay one step ahead of the recession.
This is in part fuelled by intrigue and in part by a keenness to know how the downturn can be best thwarted - a successful case study can be more than just a heartening read.
CNN Money recently published an article entitled 'Entrepreneurs create their own recovery: Hardy business owners are running uphill, growing their companies despite the recession' revealing how three firms have beaten the economic downturn.
While the three companies in question are obviously all in secure positions (hence why they are the subject of the piece), they will only have benefitted further from the positive online PR gained as a result of appearing in the story.
The first of the three featured companies is Evolve IP, a firm that manages computer networks and VoIP telephone systems.
During the downturn, Evolve IP has signed $30 million in contracts. Its success lies in the fact that it deals in efficiency, or more particularly the cutting of unnecessary costs.
Those companies that need to downsize in order to make it through the flailing economy turn to Evolve IP to help them trim their tech staff.
The second firm is Alpha Software, a company that assists other firms in automating tasks such as insurance-quote generation.
An anticipated revenue increase of ten per cent this year has come as a result of most of the company's contracts lying outside of the US.
The third firm is Commercial Flooring Systems, a flooring seller and contractor.
Before the onset of the recession, most of the firm's contracts (80 per cent) were with corporate and high-tech clients, but following a 27 per cent business interest decrease in quarter one of 2009 things needed to change.
Company President Scott Coll moved a number of project mangers and salespeople to source contracts from the government and healthcare areas.
In the second quarter of 2009 the firm saw a 13 per cent revenue growth thanks to 60 per cent of its contracts lying in the government and healthcare sector - the change of direction had breathed new life into the company.
While the three companies have survived the recession in markedly different ways, US businesses can take a great deal from each of the examples as they too look to ride out this financial storm.
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