Nothing Can Take the Place of Persistence!

March 11, 2009

Hi All:

     With the economic downturn in full swing and the pundits forecasting more gloom and doom and saying this thing is gonna get worse before it gets better, we need to remember those that came before us in the Great Depression of the 30’s.  Granted, some threw in the towel and literally gave up-both figuratively and literally- but the vast majority tightened their belts and “rode out the storm”.

      The key point here is not to get stressed out and give up.  As a country, we have been through worse than this.  As Warren Buffet points out in a recent issue of Newsweek, ” Our country has faced far worse travails. In the 20th century alone, we dealt with two great wars (one of which we initially appeared to be losing); a dozen or so panics and recessions; virulent inflation that led to a 21 percent prime rate in 1980’s and the Great Depression of the 1930’s…”

      I have found in my own life that, individually, people are far bigger than their problems and collectively, we can surmount virtually ANY difficulty together.  The key is to not go it alone.  Teamwork and interdependence are crucial in any adversity.  Reach out for help.  Ask for what you want and need.  In my speeches I do a whole piece on the importance of asking for what you want.  I’m a middle-aged man and have found that I still can’t get through this life alone.  I need help on a regular basis.

      Now, don’t get the impression I’m looking at this whole situation through rose-colored glasses.  I’m not.  I fully realize that some people are having their houses foreclosed and don’t know what they are going to do to feed their families.  I truly understand the seriousness of this recession.  It’s ugly and it’s heartbreaking.  It’s tough on all of us, some more than others.  But we WILL get through this.  And we WILL come out stronger because of it.  Don’t be afraid to lean on people to get through it–emotionally, physically and financially.  But above all: DON’T GIVE UP!

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