From the Publisher: How the Event Industry Can Bail Itself Out
I think we all would like to DO something to help the economy, but most of us are several trillion dollars short
by Pat McCarrell | Published in January 2009 economy | From the Publisher | networking | Departments
Happy New Year! How’s your resolution list holding up? Mine never really got off the ground this year. I found it difficult to convince myself that my usual resolutions were weighty enough in these economically troubled times.
I wondered if it was really enough to spend more “me” time, read self-improvement books or organize the bottom right drawer of my desk, where some potentially important stuff is still hiding today. I quit smoking in October, so that stalwart stayed on the
sideline Jan. 1.
I kept trying to think of resolutions involving something impactful to help the country out of these worrisome times. After President Bush told us to continue spending after 9/11, I frequently joked when making any semi-large purchase that I was doing my part to stimulate the economy. Now I’m thinking seriously that if my buying a new computer will help the economy, how bad could it be?
But, either because Bush said it (making it a verboten concept today) or because we as individuals really can’t hold the economy up on our own, just resolving to indulge in some reckless consumerism doesn’t seem to be enough.
Frankly, I think we all would like to DO something to help the economy, but most of us are several trillion dollars short of solving the country’s economic problems single-handedly. So do we just throw up our hands? Obviously not.
I think the answer is that we have to act collectively in the world of small business. Come back from the ledge and keep doing business. By simply continuing to do what we do, we are providing economic stimulus. By all means, find ways to cut costs. But we can’t stop spending entirely. We can’t stop DOing business.
Keep networking for yourself and your business. Keep marketing yourself and your business whenever and wherever possible. And keep doing business with others who are in the same boat and doing the same thing.
There will come a time soon when we realize that “these economically troubled times” has become cliché. The times are only troubled if you allow them to be.
About the author: Pat McCarrell
Pat McCarrell was formerly the publisher and editor of Event Solutions magazine.
Contact: editor@event-solutions.com