Morning Folks!!
I said in my July 4th post that I could clearly see where we are going now. If you compare that to my posts of 2008 and 2009 then you will see we have come a very long way. Clarity! While the fog is very real for many, I only see clarity coming.
But clarity does not mean life and business without turmoil and challenge. Clarity simply means you understand the turmoil and how it will come out, when it will lift and what the fallout might be. While others focus on one point in time or even yesterday, focusing on a period of time after that is much more meaningful and useful. So that is why I would call this summer the eye of the storm. Things are quiet on one side, but percolating on the other side with the ammunition and mood to explode at any moment. A very quite and tense situation worldwide.
This recession or downturn is different than any other in history because while folks may not have a steady job and thus no steady income, they do have income. That is much different than the recession of the 1970's or the depression when folks did not have any income whatsoever.
Poverty today does not look like poverty in the 1950's and 1960's. Without seeing that and understanding that, then you are dependent on the media and they have their own agendas. They have 'Dumbed down the news' on broadcast TV. They don't paint an accurate picture of where we are. Lindsay Lohan leads the news.
In the 1970's my dad was in his 60's and unemployed. I was in high school. One of my brothers just got out of college and looking for a job. The 4 of us lived in a 21ft trailer in Van Nuys, California. I took my showers in the mobile home park bathroom. I had no car. I had what I was wearing and my heart ached for my friends in New Hampshire.
I got a job a Taco Bell and learned how to make Taco Shells. And then refried beans. And then work at the counter. And that was after being rejected by Jack in the Box, McDonald's, Norms. I guess I was either too stupid to know how bad it was or I was too scared of life not getting better that motivated me. I also knew I wasn't going to get many dates without a little coin.
A computer, cell phone and a strong desire to succeed along with a work ethic that understands 18 hour days and 2 or 3 jobs is the way to vault over the masses that REFUSE to do that TODAY. Work creates self esteem and self esteem makes you want to do better and better and better. Mediorce or excellent?! Or CREATE your own path with those 2 tools that no other generation was fortunate enough to have or even dream of. Star Trek shit and folks still wallow in self pity!
That does not mean it is not tough out there. So what?? A REAL job is almost never advertised. You got to go in and get it! Create it!
There is no neon sign for opportunity. You have to learn to recognize opportunity when it crosses your path. It is invisible!! Train yourself to see the invisible. To pick out opportunity when it is there. That is what every successful person does. Period! And many create their own opportunity. But if you are not doing well and playing video games, time to toss the games!
Folks make a living of excusing failure. We spend more per capita in the USA per student than any country in the world and we are not even in the top 20 worldwide. That's a crime! That means something is broken. I don't want small classes of 30. I want large classes of 30 million. I would rather see the Steve Jobs of the world teaching those 30 million something of great value compared to somebody less qualified teaching 30 and hiring 1 million of them. One costs 1 MILLION times as much and gets a fraction of the result. DUH!!
Sorry, but I see a recession of minds and attitudes and dependence and integrity. I don't see a recession of opportunity.
Capitalism is on trial. Or so some think. But Capitalism will sustain an overwhelming win over dependence. Overwhelming! And when that event happens or perceived to have happened, then an avalanche of business will be unleashed. Scared money will make a 180 degree turn around.
I could point to many things to support my argument but I don't want to go all political. All I will venture to say is that I believe Romney will win by an 'electoral' landslide, the Senate will flip and the House will not look much different then it does now. A new course will be set and it won't look like the last administration or this one. If you don't agree with me, fine, but I guess we can look back at this prediction come November.
But between now and then, some of the most volatile months you have ever seen may be in store for us and will likely carry on into next year before it finally calms down and we begin to get on track. Nothing happens overnight but there will be a point that things will turn. If you wait for that point, you are already way behind. Anticipating when we hit that point is the way to score and score big. Get it wrong, it could be costly. Hope we get through London without major incident.
In times like this I look for a parallel in history and I have found one. Actually several. And in the few years I have been following these parallels, they have only gotten more intense. I guess that is only if we survive 2012.
The best news that I hope and expect will emerge is that sales and profits will once again be in vogue. Sales will be the driving force. Finally!! Profits will be paramount. Finally!! And that is why important and meaningful domain names will emerge as perhaps the #1 investment asset in the world. It's rightful and long awaited place! The foundation and brand of every future business.
Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz
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