Recession? Or opportunity to increase market share?

Posted on | April 3, 2009 | 2 Comments

You think we’ve got it bad here in the United States?  You think the recession feels like the end of life as we know it?  Do you think this is as bad as it can get?

Hogwash!

We’ve got it made in the USA!

Hard work and intelligence go a long, long way in this country.  This is truly, absolutely and without doubt THE land of opportunity.  Unfortunately, it’s also the land of complainers and whiners.  We’re spoiled.  We have an extremely high standard of living, ready credit (even now!), free primary education, tons of governmental services, social safety nets, and opportunities every where.  Yet, most of what you hear these days is doom and gloom.

I just got back from the Caribbean, Panama and Costa Rice.  I can tell you from personal observation that we are very, very lucky to be in the USA.  The fine folks living in Central America do not have the infrastructure, markets, education, credit or opportunities we enjoy here in the USA.   It’s not even a comparison!

Yet, all I hear these days is how bad things are, and how people are suffering.  We’re suffering?  Really?  Tell that to 90% of the World’s people.  THEY are suffering.  WE are just feeling sorry for ourselves.  I know people have lost jobs and income in this country, but we have it GREAT here compared to what the rest of the World has to endure.

If you want to end the recession, then GET MOVING.  Stop waiting for Congress (which helped to screw this up in the first place!) to solve our problems.  If you own your own business, grow it faster.  Hire more workers.  Order more materials and parts.  If you manage business operations, get better at it.  Do something to make your operations better and better and better.  Get better every day, and your business will grow.  You’ll have to hire more workers.  You’ll create more jobs.  And, you’ll make more profits.

If we all stop listening to the bad news, the media will stop reporting it.  So, turn off the TV and stop reading Yahoo’s news on line.  Instead, get busy!

92% of us are employed.   Interest rates are still incredibly low.  Credit is hard to find, but you can still find credit or credit substitutes.  Try building strategic partnerships and alliances in lieu of financing.  Consider trades and exchanges with other businesses.  Talk to your customers, clients, vendors, suppliers, employees and even your competitors.  You never know where you’ll find opportunities. . .  especially if you’re not looking.

So, stop worrying.  Stop complaining.  And start making it happen.  The sooner we all get busy, the sooner the recession will end.

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