Turn off the World

This past weekend, I came down with a devastating case of the flu, which laid me up and kept me close to the house and the throne room. I didn’t feel much like doing anything except vegetating, so naturally, I turned to the favorite vegetation tool we all have – the TV.

I noticed however, that as the day progressed, a kind of depression settled over me. Not only was I sick, but it appeared that no matter what station I turned to, the entire world was sick. Since the weeks after Sept 11th, the entire structure of the news has been to keep us informed. Not about the good stuff, but about everything bad that has happened.

I found myself wishing that we didn’t live in such a state of high communications, so that I could more or less shelter myself against the negativism that was welling up inside of me. Why should I continue to keep trying? Why will I worry about who and what I was gong to do the next day.

The entire world was falling beneath my feet, and I was powerless to stop it. Perhaps it was time to become the secret recluse I always wanted to be. Actually - it was time for me to take some more medicine and go back to bed. The flu really puts you in the dumps

And then I did the smartest thing in my life. I shut off the TV. It was simple. I hit the remote button and shut off the constant negativisms. Then I did the next smartest thing.

I got my little girls book off of the table and started reading out loud. Soon this little blond head came from out of her play tent she had made behind the couch out of a large blanket and a very vivid imagination, and sat next to me on the couch. And there I read to her.

Simple books, funny books, books about nonsensical things that had no logic, rhyme or reason, just topics that appealed to kids of two and a half years old. A little bit of escapism during times when we need to escape. She would laugh as I made my funny voice, and I would smile as I remembered why I needed to keep my spirits high.

In her, I see the future, and why I, as a father need to do my best to keep things going. If it was just me, then I am sure it would be easy to give up. But it’s not. Its her and all the people who depend on me to keep going.

As I finished reading to her, and she quietly fell asleep in my arms, I begin to think of what other people could do to keep the momentum going during times when it appears all people and companies are doing is pulling their heads into their shells. Here is what I came up with.

Maintain a minimum investment in the project you have ongoing. Don’t just stop them. You can budget back, but maintain the activities that are going to make you money. Sure enough, as the economy turn north again, you will have these already in the works and not have to play catch up.

Look to collaborate. Make alliances with people who are also doing the best to keep the marketing and sales going and who have a positive outlook. Just make sure you don’t contact them when you are sick. It’s hard to keep up a positive attitude with a 101 temperature. However, when your fever comes down, you need to toss around a few ideas. In one afternoon, I and three other members of the business community came up with a mess of ideas to keep the momentum going uphill.

If you belong to a leads group, contact the most positive members and get together over lunch. Explain the purpose of the meeting and then let the ideas flow. Make sure someone takes notes.

Reach over to your bookshelf. Pull down you marketing or business related books and magazines. Sit your butt down in the middle of the floor and thumb through them. I am sure you will find a creative passage for your next marketing letter hidden somewhere in these volumes.

Last but not least – turn off the T.V. Turn on some soft jazz and write your plans out. No one is expecting a Hemmingway, just write.
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Copyright 2008 - Gary A. ClarkGary Clark is a Freelance Commercial Writer and Web Content writer who for 25 years has been both a Consultant and instructor of Small Business Entrepreneurship. He can be reached by e-mail at GAClark@Write4me.net, or by phone at 719-536-0505- Mon thru Fri / 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (MST)