Patience Not Panic: Survive and Thrive Through Economic Turbulence

From 28,000 feet, snow still spots parts of Michigan, Illinois and other states further West. The earth looks brown and barren, dark and ugly from this vantage point. But I know that if I could walk the fields and wait patiently, Id see signs of new growth inching out of hardened earth. Id eventually find dead-looking tree limbs swelling with rising sap, pushing buds into blossom under the warming sun.

But what if I opted NOT to be patient? What if I panicked, burned the dead-looking trees, cut off limbs, and retreated in disgust within my cocoon? Spring might NEVER come because my shortsighted actions jeopardized the natural course of events.

Thats what has happened with the stock market and many of our companies. It concerns me that such actions can create a rippling self-fulfilling prophecy. Im concerned that departed talent and trust might not be regained within the workplace. Im concerned that customers will retreat because quality and service could suffer as employees attempt to fill the shoes of a thinned out workforce. Heres a hard pill to swallow but perhaps all of us - myself included-have become greedy for the amazing returns and astounding growth of the past eight years. Perhaps weve grown fat and lazy instead of prudent and thoughtful.

I think now is the time to focus on whats important. For our families and our businesses to thrive, we need to ask ourselves what endures for the long haul and not the short gain. Innovation, engaged and talent-focused employees, customer-focused products and services and a deeply shared commitment to find ways for meaningful contribution carry the day.

By historical standards, weve been through far more dramatic financial times. Once the U.S. had 20,000 phone companies and 2000 auto companies. General Motors was once a tech stock. As we say in the coaching world, "from breakdown comes build up."

I fully intend to be the voice of reasonable optimism. Now-more than ever-we need to meet, to talk, to vocalize our concerns and legitimize our fears so we can figure out a passage through this blip in business history. Philosopher Howard Zinn said that to have hope one does not need certainty, only possibility.

Let us figure out together how to be the bearers of hope.

About the Author

Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE, is an international speaker, author and seminar leader. Her book Work for A Living and Still Be Free to Live is also the title of one of her most popular and upbeat programs on Work/Life Balance. For more information on Eileen and her presentations, please call 949-496-8640 or visit her web site at eileenmcdargh.com.

(c) 2000 by Eileen McDargh. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.

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