Time for the Tough to Get Going

Okay, I don't know about you, but all this economic gloom and doom is getting on my nerves!! Maybe everything will magically change after the election, but just in case it doesn't, here are some tips for dealing with tough times:

1. Realize if you did it before, you can do it again. Remember when you first got out of high school or college and had no job? You had to start with nothing and managed to survive? Well, you are much smarter now - and if you could do it before you can do it again. Likewise entrepreneur, if you built a business from nothing, you can do it again. We can come back from anything. We cannot be defeated unless we defeat ourselves.

2. Most people I talk to are actually better off than they were last year - their companies are doing better. Sure some industries got smacked and some people living beyond their means also got smacked. But it is definitely NOT the Great Depression. Keep things in perspective. It's hard with all the messages of fear - but remember - the only thing to fear is fear itself. If we are afraid we don't invest, we scale back, we don't make the sales call, we lose our fire. Refuse fear.

3. Time to get back to basics. When times are good we get slack, we get sloppy. Now is the time to do all the things you used to do - make cold calls, show up on time, dress nicely, take better care of customers, etc. You know exactly what I'm talking about. We tend to get slack in the good times.

4. Quit whining!! I never heard so much crying and whining over the price of gas! Ever been to South Africa? Seen the shanty towns? The people who live there will NEVER be wealthy enough to own a car. We buy huge gas guzzlers then whine when we have to pay more to drive them out to eat! Maybe we have too much and we take it all for granted. Next time you find yourself complaining about the price of something, think about what it would be like if you couldn't get it at any price. Be grateful.

5. Use this opportunity to realize what's really important to you. Maybe having the latest fashion item isn't that big a deal anymore. Maybe security is more important to you than you realized and you need to re-examine how you're living. Maybe you want to start teaching your children about saving instead of spending. Maybe constantly trying to earn more doesn't matter when you see how fragile it all is. Or maybe it matters more. Step back - don't let the media freak you out. You get to decide who you are.

6. Man up. Wherever you are today is where you are. Accept it and figure out where you want to be tomorrow. And realize one person will get you there - you. Not President McCain or Obama. Not Palin or Biden or Wall Street or Main Street. You. You are the President of your own country.

(In my country we are eyeing the Christmas candy.)