Their export prospects, he added, are being dampened by everything from dismantled marketing networks to production breakdowns.

Today, prices are still close to the record of more than $55 a barrel reached in October after a series of production breakdowns in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, while markets remain concerned about the stability of major oil producers like Iraq, Venezuela, Nigeria and Russia.

If a key client pulls his business or you fail to land a substantial order or you fall short of budget because of internal production breakdowns, you've got to work your way through the immediate reactions, whether they be anger, self-pity, or depression--and then do whatever study is necessary to help prevent a repeat of the failure.