Creating Optimism!

[balsimon]

Hi everyone,

As the financial markets rock and roll (mainly roll it
seems), I thought it would be good to post a few
thoughts on this here.

There have been numerous discussions of late about this

Recession, what recession?

Dow Goes Below 10,000!

How Will The Current Economy Effect IM?

to indicate just a few...

And why not? The times, they seem uncertain; perhaps
perilous. We're in an American election cycle with some
of the highest stakes I've seen in my lifetime. And
with 24 hour news strumming the "worry wires," who can
blame us for feeling a little apprehensive?

The last time I started to feel this way was just after
the barbarians took down the World Trade Center - 911.

Back then we had an enemy-certain. We knew who to go
after and I felt good knowing that we were giving them
what they had coming.

Very quickly, the economy was rocked. And I knew that
Boeing was going to be one of the companies most
affected by the ripples from the atrocities. After
all, no one was flying airplanes and certainly no one
was buying airplanes. One of the Boeing old-timers told
me that all the airplane inventory was being moved for
long-term storage in the Arizona desert while waiting
for conditions to improve.

I worked as a contractor at Boeing at the time. So I
knew that it was likely that I would also be heavily
affected by the unfolding events. Sure enough, word
came from upper management that all contractors would
be let go within 14 days. My gig was up; and we were
not exactly living high on the hog at the time.

I had a choice (and we always have a choice): I could
let the bad guys win; cower under a table and play the
game "Poor Bal."

Or...

I could suck it up, accept that these were uncertain
times and do the best I could to not let negativity be
my, or anyone else's, last word.

I chose the latter. I found myself walking through the
corridors in the 40-87 building in Everett, quietly
whistling Proud to be An American. I couldn't help
myself. It was a kind of "whistling in the dark," but
more than that. It was a melodic reminder that I
wasn't about to let the bad guys win.

As I whistled, I also tried my darndest to make sure
that when I was gone, that the people remaining in my
group weren't left with a lot of gaping holes from
projects I left unfinished. I approached my manager. I
could see the look on his face. I knew what he was
expecting: the question: what can I do to save my job.

But I surprised him. I asked instead: What can I do to
make sure you're not saddled with a lot of extra work
when I'm gone?

We mapped out a list of priorities, and I began working
them. Cheerfully. Not because I was happy that I was
going to be out of a job. But because I was doing
things to help people that I cared about AND I wasn't
letting the bad guys have the final word.

About 10 days later, with just 4 days remaining, Kevin
came to me and said, "I can't let you go. We need to
get management to let you stay."

The long and short of it is that I stayed on - as a
contractor - until I voluntarily left in January of
this year.

Fast forward to the present day.

I have skin in the market these days. And I know there
are people who can empathize when I say that I feel
like a cork on the ocean in the middle of a hurricane.
The waves feel big and strong, and they push my emotion-
buttons like crazy.

But I have a choice (and we always have a choice): I
can let the times and the bad guys win; cower under a
table and play the game "Poor Bal."

Or...

I can be out here - giving it my best shot. Talking
with optimistic people like a lot of the Warriors (who
are about the most optimistic bunch "in the wild" that
I've had the pleasure of getting to know), and learning
to grow my business.

I can again whistle Proud to be an American... I can be
helpful to any who need it, wherever I am competent to
be of help.

And I can make darned sure that negativity isn't *my*
last word and do what I can to help make sure it's not
anyone else's last word either.

Onward! Hurricanes do end and we do rebuild.

Optimistic regards,
Bal Simon

[getsmartt]

Fantastic post!

I applaud your optimism, and you are right, things will get better.

[dvduval]

I still look forward to each day, and there is always something new. I don't see problems. I see challenges that will lead to improvement. This is both true for me personally, and for the World as a whole.

[ShayRockhold]

Thank you for this incredible post!

[Diana Lane]

I love this post. It's always been my feeling that if you're standing in a shadow, it's because the sunshine's not far away.

[balsimon]

I have a friend who's part of my local mastermind group.
She's in the inception of her business, too. And she's
by no means moneywise rich (not yet - but she will be).

I received a mailing from her, where she's beginning to
expand her business.

This in the middle of a supposed recession. No "victim" or
"woe is me" mentality. Just an abiding faith that she's
doing the right thing and making it work.

A real inspiration to me, and I think to many others who
know her.

You don't have to be rich to not be a victim. You have
to say, "What am I up for?" And then you have to take
the actions that lead to making it happen.

Regards,
Bal

[jcmentor]

Those who have a hidden desire to fail will seize on the current financial mess and use it as a reason to justify why they could not succeed.

Those who are going to succeed regardless of external circumstances will find a way to succeed in the middle of that, or any other mess.

I think that it is called making lemonade out of lemons, or finding a pony in the middle of all that horse poop!

And what would you like with your lemonade?

All the best,

[tommygadget]

I am also optimistic. I constantly work and work with the expectation that everything I do will bear fruit sooner or later. I would prefer sooner, but I refuse to stop plugging away.

TomG.

[balsimon]

Originally Posted by jcmentor

And what would you like with your lemonade?

Ahh - the salesman cometh forth! I'd like a sandwich please. By the way, I like your virtual cafe.

Originally Posted by tommygadget

...but I refuse to stop plugging away.

= not letting negativity have the last word?

Thanks for the nice comments and adding to the
breadth of what I originally tried to say.

Kind Regards,
Bal