"Probably the very best thing my earnings have given me is absence of worry. I have not forgotten what it feels like to worry whether you'll have enough to pay the bills. Not to have to think about that any more is the biggest luxury in the world."
--- J.K. Rowling
The constant bombardment of depressing economic news from the media is enough to cause even the strongest business person to throw in the towel. It is a never-ending stream of bad news that includes rising oil prices, possible inflation or stagflation (depending on which news network you listen to), increasing prices at the grocery store, and a decrease in home values.
If you hung on every word, you would be putting out the for-sale sign on your business tomorrow. But, what is really going on in the economy?
"A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life."
--- Suze Orman
If you've kept your debts under control and your stream of income is still pretty steady, you will ride through this storm. You won't have to worry about those who live to deliver the gloom and doom of the world to your living room.
The interesting thing about all of this talk about a "big depression" looming is that most business owners you talk to are doing just fine. They might have to tighten the belt just a wee bit in order to adjust to fuel prices, which leads to higher food costs, but overall most sectors of the economy are not doing nearly as poorly as reported.
"We had to be to the stadium at six o'clock for home games, and traffic was so bad it would take us an hour and fifteen or an hour and thirty minutes to drive. So now I'm sitting in a car for almost an hour and a half and I'm very tense. I'm worried about the traffic. So I started smoking a cigar going to the games."
--- Michael Jordan
Not that we at SI are economists, but we do talk to those in the sign industry every day. We are also consumers of household products just like you. We notice that it is still difficult to find a parking space in a Wal-Mart parking lot. We wait in line for a table at a Chili's restaurant, see people buying paint at a Home Depot, and witness full stadiums at baseball games.
"When you allow yourself to begin to dream big dreams, creatively abandon the activities that are taking up too much of your time, and focus your inward energies on alleviating your main constraints, you start to feel an incredible sense of power and confidence."
--- Brian Tracy
One of the best things you can do is to increase your marketing efforts during this lull in the economy. You can count on your competitors doing just the opposite. In fact, there is a direct correlation between bad news reported about the economy and the drop in marketing and advertising efforts.
But, think about it. A well-crafted advertising or marketing campaign designed to offer solutions for your prospects' worries about the economy will put you ahead of the game. You could capture a segment of the market that will stay with you long after this storm has passed --- and it will pass.
"The old saying that "success breeds success" has something to it. It's that feeling of confidence that can banish negativity and procrastination and get you going the right way."
--- Donald Trump
Ideas, Attitudes & Action
By Tim Markley
Make new ideas and change a fixture of your company’s culture. Set small goals and be relentless in pursuing them. Don't forget that people make it all happen. Good people can achieve great things. Find them, keep them and let the misfits go somewhere else.
Read the article...
Applying Vinyl Graphics to Aircraft
By Jennifer LeClaire
Are you ready to let your business fly high? Applying vinyl graphics to aircraft may be your next big opportunity.
Read the article...
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View the archive now
Outside of a craft shop in Illinois:
"Notice to all shoplifters: Please help us by stealing only the crap we cannot sell."
Sign at Daytona Beach:
"The shark prevention net was dismantled for maintenance on November 1st, 2004. We apologize for any inconvenience caused"
On an auto shop in Maine:
"Our motto is to give our customers the lowest possible prices and workmanship!"
We know those funny signs are out there. Take a moment and send them in to us and we'll share them with the world. Send all hysterical observations to: info@signindustry.com.
