I think now is time to focus on what’s important. For our families and our businesses to thrive, we need to ask ourselves what endures for long haul and not 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 day.

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

I fully intend to be 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 bearers of hope.

© 2001 by Eileen McDargh. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright

(Example: One employee is great with web research, web design, and staying up on competition. She’s lousy on phone. Right now, she’s willing to cut back and work half-time from her house with a company-supplied computer and cable modem.)

If your job opened up today, would you get it? Are you consistently producing great results, solving problems and finding more efficient ways of doing things?

(Example: Take on a project no one wants and make it work. Can you persuade people to get onboard and achieve a goal? Now, that’s leadership—a quality that is in GREAT demand and therefore, recession-proof.)

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 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 http://www.eileenmcdargh.com.

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