A story worth reading and thinking about:
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/the-u.s.-middle-class-is-being-wiped-out-heres-the-stats-to-prove-it-520657.html?tickers=%5EDJI%2C%5EGSPC%2CSPY%2CMCD%2CWMT%2CXRT%2CDIA
Ronald Reagan (who I truly miss!) asked as he challenged Obama–I mean Carter, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” The answer was a resounding “NO!” and the Carter economic malaise was thrown out in favor of a free enterprise, pro-business era that lasted from 1980 until 2009 and included Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II.
As a coach to entrepreneurs and small business owners and an executive in the employment industry, I now look around and believe we need to be asking Reagan’s Question again. In terms of your career, earnings, discretionary money, taxes, security, and freedom to start or grow your business–are you better off than you were 2 years ago when an anti-business President joined forces with an anti-business Congress?
We are facing a critical election and the need to elect pro-business, limited government, free enterprise representatives in November or face a decade or more of this Carteresque economic malaise.
So as I watch the President talk and talk about the BP Oil Spill, I am more than ever convinced that rhetoric may be a path to political power or corporate position but it should never be confused with real leadership. Leadership is about action not words, about execution not elocution, about deeds not speeches. Leaders take note: action does speak louder than words. So, talk less and do more
I haven’t even finished it but I am ready to recommend Think Big, Act Small as a great read for business owners. It’s a quick cure for “executivitis” and arrogance. The book chronicles the best practices of a number of market beating companies (yes, they beat the Good to Great companies) and you will be delighted to find very usable ideas for your business regardless of its size. Available on Amazon in print and Kindle format. Amazon
Get ready for major SUTA increases in January–2-4X what your company pays now. Explore external staffing solutions–www.employbridge.net
You can only cut so much before you guarantee your failure; the answer is to focus on increasing revenue.
Why is it that airline customers are friendlier and more efficient than airline personnel? Inquiring minds want to know. Actually, it’s not just airlines (that happens to be the experience du jour).
I would posit several reasons:
1. They don’t like people
2. They are bonuses on how many people they can make speak first
3. They are sleep deprived
4. They haven’t been trained since the recession began 2 years ago
5. They were hired because of their introverted personality
6. They are worn out from dealing with rude people day after day
7. They quit caring
8. They have too many things on their mind
9. They can’t wait to get off duty
10. They don’t like bald guys
Whatever the reason, I do get tired of paying to be ignored.
There are 31 calendar days left in 2009 (a year many are ready to ne done with). There are even fewer business days and even fewer days where business will actually be done.
So why not coast in from here? Because that’s exactly what your competition is doing! It’s human nature and it makes sense to slow down at year end–it’s what we’ve always done. But not this year.
2009 has been the most unusual year in 55 years. Nothing is normal so why finish normally. Do something different: a new sales push, a new solution, a contest, whatever.
Get your team together and ask them, “How do we finish strong in 09?”
What risks are you willing to take for your business? How willing are you to act on your ideas? This may be the measure of your potential!
One chamber has chosen (by a majority of 5) to force substandard healthcare and its associated costs on America–especially the already struggling, job engine of small business. It’s time to think about strategies to deal with this burden and its cost. One near term solution is to n migrate from traditional employment to independent contractors and contingent (temporary) workers.
