economy – Dave Glardon

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a nice start.

Forty-five years ago today, I called my mom just to say hi. Anybody who knew me then can tell you I was a bit scatterbrained. That may or may not have been chemically enhanced. Five minutes into the conversation she said, “You’d better tell me happy birthday!” “Um, yeah … that’s why I called!” Doofus!

It’s been 28 years since I was last able to wish my mom a happy birthday, but she’s the one who first encouraged me to write, and I know she’s always the first person to read whatever flows from my keyboard. So, Mom … happy birthday! I sure hope I’ve made you proud.

In yesterday’s post, we talked about this glorious, booming economy. If you believe that, stop here and go read yesterday’s post, because it’s obvious you missed it the first time. I’m sure I didn’t make anybody’s day with that post, but this isn’t one of those times where plugging our nose will make the Brussels sprouts taste any better. No, Mom, that still doesn’t work.

We may not be able to change the direction of the economy, but that doesn’t mean we have to just go along for the ride. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. It worked for Janis Joplin. I’m sorry. God blessed her with a lot of things, but a singing voice wasn’t on the list.

Some people just know how to make the best of any situation. No matter what life throws their way, they always seem to come out on top. Not just that, they somehow find a way to raise the bar and climb even higher.

One of my earliest business mentors told me that if you were to take all the money in the world and divide it up evenly, in five years it would be right back where it started. As a young sailor with a bank account the size of a politician’s brain, that was depressing as hell. But there’s a certain truth in those words. So, the trick is to become one of them.

And becoming one of “them” is actually easier than it sounds. It all starts with the decision that we will not be defined by something we can’t control. The Wright brothers didn’t whine about gravity – they learned to overcome it. And they did that by applying the laws of physics that say if you put a big enough engine on a washing machine, you can make it fly.

But the airplane was just a by-product of something bigger. It was the end result. They built an airplane for one reason only – they wanted to fly. And nothing else, including jumping off the barn with an umbrella, showed much promise. Mom learned that the hard way. It’s funny now.

The Wright brothers would have built a Sherman tank if they thought it would fly. It was never about the airplane – it was about the freedom of soaring with the birds. Thankfully they never dreamed of pooping on freshly washed cars because that would have been simple once they learned to fly.

The point is, before they ever put a pencil to paper, they had the one thing it takes to succeed – the “why.” They knew why they were putting in all those late hours. They knew why they were spending all their hard-earned money on something that may or may not work. They knew why all those other people were laughing behind their back, and they knew why they didn’t care.

Your “why” needs to be something that excites you. If all you need is money, go make some. Jobs are easy to find. But it’s hard to get motivated if all you’re trying to do is avoid bankruptcy. “Take a look at this! I paid the electric bill. On time! Life is sweet!!!!” Don’t laugh. It happens every day.

Yes, paying the bills is important. And when that becomes a challenge, it also becomes a top priority. Even bigger than a new boat. But the boat needs to be there somewhere. Maslow’s pyramid, remember? All the good stuff is at the top. Unless you’ve got your sights set on something bigger, it’s that much harder to make the climb.

We all have a “why.” There’s something out there we want, material or not, that can drive us to do great things if we just give it a chance. I can’t tell you what that is – you have to decide for yourself. But once you do, Lord help the economy that tries to get in your way.

That’s all for now. I can’t promise a post every day, but I’ll do the best I can. Thanks for sharing this time with me. Have awesome day!

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a great start.

If you’ve been missing my morning posts, join the club. I’ve missed writing them. A lot. Sometimes life injects its own set of priorities and, like anything else, once you miss one or two days, it’s that much easier to miss the next one, and the next one, and the 365 after that.

I think, with all of us, there comes a point where you wonder if what you’re doing is really making a difference. And that’s important. If we do anything, we should do it with a sense of purpose. My purpose is really simple – I want to spread a little hope and inspiration in a world that seems hell-bent on doing the exact opposite. So, buckle up.

We talk a lot about dreams – things we’d like to accomplish, the lifestyle we’d like to enjoy. But it’s hard to focus on dreams when we’re struggling to survive. Ever heard of “Maslow’s Pyramid?” It’s a pretty simple concept. All the good stuff is at the top. And no matter how high you climb, one good kick in the shins will knock you right back to the bottom.

So, how is this economy working for you? It’s hitting us all pretty hard. And in case you hadn’t noticed, it’s getting worse. We can complain and point the finger of blame all we want, but there’s nothing any of us can do to change it. That leaves us with two choices – make more or spend less. And buy some shin guards.

When things get tight, our first instinct is to cut spending. And that’s probably the fastest way to get started. But there’s only so much you can accomplish by tightening the purse strings. If you don’t believe me, go to the grocery store. On your way there, swing by the gas station and fill your tank. Cursing is optional.

No matter how hard we try, the things we need to survive and get through life are becoming more expensive, and much faster than we are. Inflation in the US is currently 8.6 percent. That’s the highest in 40 years. How much was your last pay raise? I rest my case. The company calls it a “cost-of-living increase,” but somebody forgot how to add.

Granted, for most of us, there are certain things we could cut back to reduce spending. My wife and I travel around the country in a 38-foot motorhome, so I guess there are a few things we could do. I could also give up bourbon, but that’s not happening, either. And the bathroom scale says I could buy less food, but we all know the scale adds at least ten pounds.

So, let’s agree that cutting spending is a short-term strategy with limited scope. It may help pay next month’s electric bill, but that’s going up, too. And, I’m betting your mortgage and car payments haven’t come down, either. Cut expenses all you want, as long as they get their money each month.

So, why is a “motivational humorist” spreading such cheer? Well, the future is what we make of it. Unless you’ve got a suggestion on how to restore a vibrant economy, let’s focus on increasing our own income. That is within our control, and of the two options, it’s the one that offers the best long-term potential. But it can take time. The time to get started is now.

If a hurricane were coming your way, you’d take some precautions. You’d cover the windows, bring in the lawn furniture, and stock up on bourbon. You’re prepared. And what’s the worst thing that happens if the storm fizzles out? You’ve got a cozy house with extra seating and plenty of bourbon. Win-win.

This is one of those times when we have to prepare for the hurricane, a term quoted from the CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase, the largest bank in the nation in describing our economic future. Or, as you’ve heard me say in the past, it’s time to dig the well before you get thirsty.

There’s little doubt we’re headed for some tough economic times. We can keep doing what we’ve been doing and hope for the best. Or we can start digging that well now, before things get worse. If the economists are right, you’ll be glad you did. And if they’re wrong, whatever will you do with that extra money???

That’s all for now. Get started on that well. I’ll share some more ideas on that in the coming days. Meanwhile, it’s good to be back with you. Have an awesome day!

Tag: economy

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