While visiting existing clients and meeting new ones, I have the distinct pleasure of traveling from one end of this picturesque landscape to the other. My time in the field lately is leaving little doubt about the impact of the current economic downturn on this area and its effect on our collective psyche. From Pensacola to Destin and back to Niceville and Pace, many of our once bustling storefronts now stand vacant. The countless “for sale” signs tell us we have a long way to go before noticeable economic improvement comes to the gulf coast. If you listen to any form of media, the relentless negativity is everywhere. Local or national tv news, radio, internet, newspaper you name it and the story is the same. If you internalize this constant onslaught of negativity, it can get you down if you let it. I choose not to participate in the recession or group think. Here is a thought…What if we viewed this time in our lives as an opportunity. An opportunity to become aware of our surroundings. A chance to spend more time with loved ones. An opportunity to grow, learn, improve, adapt, exercise, overcome, persevere, change direction, re-focus. Anyone can continue to point out the problem, it takes true leadership to propose a solution. If you find yourself in a hole, put down the shovel. Be aware and receptive to change and a new path will be revealed to you.
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