(Business 2.0) – The economy is looking up--finally--but let's face it: A rebound only changes the kind of problems you encounter. Competition doesn't stop. Neither do cost pressures, disruptive technologies, or the endlessly fascinating challenge of getting other people to do what you want. In good economies and bad, it never hurts to ask for advice.

This year we took our questions to business leaders and others who have prospered through one of the meanest cycles in memory. Michael Dell used that stretch to break into nearly half a dozen new markets. Continental Airlines's Gordon Bethune capitalized on competitors' austerity to widen his lead in customer satisfaction. John Chen of Sybase, faced with shriveling demand for his compilers, created a new market that was both larger and much, much smaller. In the next 10 pages, you'll find plenty of similarly creative solutions and, we hope, no shortage of inspiration. Even in a good economy, you're going to need it.