Staying Focused

On July 19, 2008, the New York Times published an opinion editorial by Peter S. Goodman entitled, “Uncomfortable Answers to Questions on the Economy.”

The gist of the article is that we are deep in a recession and the question we should be asking ourselves is whether or not it will take two years or ten years to work our way free.

For almost ten whole minutes, I thought about breaking my piggy bank and running to the hills to learn to live off the land.  I thought about searching EBAY for a pickle barrel and suspenders so I’d always have something to wear.

Then I realized that despite the variety of pending crises; Housing, Inflation, Unemployment, Oil, Deficits, Bailouts, Credit, Stock Markets, Dollars, the Padres line-up, Chinese Judges at the Olympics, etc., there are far more important items upon which to focus.  Like a Nebraskan in a tornado, I can do nothing about the macro activity going on around me, but I can do a heck of a lot to minimize my own exposure.

I can’t change the nation’s unemployment rate, but I can make sure I work hard to keep myself employed.  I can’t help the federal budget deficit, but I can sure cut costs on the home front to decrease my personal deficit.  I can’t control the fact that banks won’t lend money at the moment, but I can work with my clients on finding alternate sources of financing.

By focusing on those things I can change and accepting those I can’t, I’ve not only managed to mimic a prayer of some sort, but I find that I feel far less stressed and thus far more productive.

The result? Several new opportunities for TGG Capital that I am confident will contribute to our entire team’s effort to ensure that our company continues to grow despite the buffeting of volatile economic winds.

--Greg