"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory."
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States during his first Inaugural Address (4 March 1933); part of this is often misquoted as "We have nothing to fear but fear itself".
The year President Roosevelt spoke these words, the unemployment rate in the United States was 24.9% as measured by Lebergott and 20.6% as measured by Darby. Darby counts WPA workers as employed; Lebergott as unemployed.
Our economy remains challenging; however, our current challenges pale in comparison to 1933.
Are you operating from a place of fear... "unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance?" Or are you operating from a place of courage?
I believe those that remain persistently courageous will recover stronger than ever! Choose your strategy wisely.
Over the weekend I watched an interview with James Ray, author of Harmonic Wealth. He was being interviewed by Mariel Hemingway.
James made a point that really resonated with me. He used the analogy that if you think of the economy like seasons of the year, we are in winter right now. Sometimes we have short winters, sometimes we have long cold winters, like the economic winter we are experiencing right now.
Here's the part of his message that I liked best. If you study history, there has never been a winter that was not followed by spring.
Here in North Carolina I look forward to that day that always comes near the end of winter when magically I notice daffodils appear one day. The daffodils are a sign that even though winter is not over, spring is near.
I think the daffodils are going to show up in our economy soon!
Jeff Simpkins, Book Yourself Solid Certified Coach
Community Bank Consulting, Inc.
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