This guest post is part of our ongoing Small Business Perspective series, and is written by Theresa Gould, owner of RobnT Business Solutions in Chicago, IL.

It seems that some small businesses are thriving in the current economy, yet there are others are barely making it. You could say that I am one of those just barely making it. However, I am trying to beat the recession by helping others, then hope they can help me.

When you have marketable skills, passion and drive, dismal reports of the recession getting worse should not deter you from your goals. Take me for instance.  I am hardworking, dependable and honest, possessing administrative skills that include a background in office management and writing. I could wallow in the fact that clients are not beating down the door to hire me as a virtual assistant and allow my specific skill set go to waste, or I could create opportunities to better myself.  I have chosen the latter.

I have been keeping in touch with two potential clients over the past year, both of whom were interested in my services, but were not quite at the point of being able to hire additional help.  Nevertheless, both of them allowed me to contact them every few months to reconnect. About a month ago I contacted them both, who expressed a desire to take me up on my new offer to assist them. Sometimes things just seem to fall into place at the most uncanny times, and that is what happened to me.

Client A led me to Client C and Client B needed more time, but definitely wanted to pursue a working relationship. Client A and C created work outlines for me and I am now busy checking each item off the list each day.  The thing is I am “interning”, which is the college way of saying I am working for no pay; though there are paid internships out there. My goal now is to work hard, hone my skills, gain reputability and help my clients accomplish what they would not otherwise get done without my assistance in the 2-3 months that I will be serving them.

Now, my clients are pure gold and are in no way taking advantage of me. Quite the contrary, they desire to see me succeed in the process, so this is mutually beneficial to both parties. We are helping each other.

In the low valleys, we need to be willing to do whatever it takes to get to where we want to go. During the slow season, the idea of internships or bartering services is one way of beating the recession and helping others beat the recession too. When you were a new start up think of how you would have felt to have someone come along side you to help carry the load of building your business. That would have been an incredible gift! Why not try giving away your services short-term to see where it takes you; you never know what might be around the next corner.

Have you given away services or worked on an “interim basis” for free to gain business down the line? Is this something you would consider doing in today’s economy?

Theresa Gould is the owner of RobnT Business Solutions, a virtual assistant firm in Chicago, IL.   To learn more about Theresa and all of our Small Business Perspective Authors, click here.