Thanks to plummeting property values and a deeply corrupt local school system, my wife's job was cut in half recently. It will be eliminated next year completely.
That dark cloud rained us into a bright new day, as she just landed a position after school and all summer long at a magnificent little family-owned and operated Tae Kwon Do Academy two miles from our house! We found the job on Craigslist, after two months of no luck whatsoever, and we feel truly blessed to have bounced into the perfect spot.
The whole thing reminds me of a great Thursday Thirteen I read this week. Ten more, obviously, after the fold.
13 Good things about the economic downturn.
- People are unconsciously becoming more green. I see people bringing water from home instead of buying bottled water. And packed lunches. And taking fewer plastic bags because they are buying less.
- People are getting more exercise. Best way to cope with stress is to sweat it out.
- Bargains galore! If there's something you've been hankering after and you can afford it, now the best time to buy!
- Conspicuous consumption has taken a backseat. Yay! Buy only what you need. Is there a need to be showy?
- Consumers finally know the extent of retail markups. I thought I knew...now I really know.
- (Hopefully) Better service everywhere. We all want this.
- A deeper appreciation of FAMILY and FRIENDS.
- A desire to find REAL MEANING in life. There has to be more to life than working to feed consumption.
- People are finding CREATIVE ways of spending their time. Using things they already own or just taking a walk and appreciating nature.
- Businesses that add genuine value to the supply chain will survive.
- Best time to be a creative entrepreneur. Especially if your value preposition is cost efficient.
- People will realize that it does not take a lot (of money) to be happy.
- We will really see the BEST COMPANIES IN THE WORLD TO WORK FOR. A corporation is nothing without its employees and this is the best time to demonstrate its appreciation. Some transparency will help. It would really suck to go to work everyday worrying about what's going to happen next.
So anyway, I hope this short diary gave you just a bit of hope in the middle of these scary days. May your dark clouds have Silver Linings FTW.