Details In Business Blog

Paul Bensman
President and Founder
Details In Retail

As we start a new year and a new decade, we all must look forward and make changes in our lives. These changes will effect our personal lives, our families, and our nation. On a recent business trip to China, I was truly amazed by what that country has accomplished. While China amazed me, the contrast to the condition of our country truly outraged me. China’s growth reflects the growth the US had in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s.

We must ask ourselves, what happened to our great country? Why is our middle-class becoming a non-existent class? It’s easy for each political party to point fingers at one another – it’s always easier to blame the other guy. Well, let’s stop this BS and take a deeper look into this problem.

Greed was the number one problem. Many Americans lived for today and never really thought about tomorrow. Millions of Americans used their homes as if they were ATM machines. One big problem: the machine ran out of money and the value and equity in these homes became negative. Americans borrowed money and charged their futures away. Charge card companies cut credit limits – then raised rates to give the consumer a second slap in the face. Payday advance companies popped up everywhere. It wasn’t bad enough that Americans were living paycheck to paycheck – we had to take an advance on our next paychecks.

Americans must step up to help themselves and this great country of ours. During the Olympics we cheer on our American teams. Whatever happed to cheering on American companies? Whatever happened to supporting local merchants and local products? Whatever happened to customer service - why do we have to call a foreign call center to bitch about an American company? What manufacturing companies are left in the United States? America cannot survive just by our service industries alone. We must manufacture goods in this country. Many younger Americans have little or no work ethic at all. Many get out of college and expect to receive a big fat paycheck for sitting in front of a computer screen.

Here are a few of my thoughts. First, each and every of us has the ability to change our lives. Bitching and living in the past gets us nowhere. Let today be the start of a new beginning. America is still a country where you can become anything you want to be, and you can start up and build any kind of company you want to create. Corporate America is broken. Try to name one company that can guaranty you a job for life. The first cuts companies make to reduce expenses are the employees – both white collar and blue collar – that helped these companies reap their fortunes.

We must all take a look back to the past to find the solutions for the future. Start thinking about our parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. What did they start with? Many came to this country with nothing more than a suitcase. One thing they did have was a dream, and they knew that America was a country that allowed them to work hard and make that dream a reality. This opportunity is still there today.

There are over 15 million Americans on the unemployment lines. Sorry to say, there are not enough jobs to cover this number of unemployed people. But let’s take another look at this number. Let’s adjust our attitudes, and think of the opportunity that lies out there for these unemployed Americans. There are currently 12.6 million Americans considering starting a new business venture of their own; as simple as a small home based business, or as large as a manufacturing business. Large or small, the opportunity still exists in our country. People need to take advantage of this economy before it’s too late. Yes, you heard me right, take advantage of this economy. Adjust your crappy attitude; look at the opportunities that lie out there. Many of America’s largest corporations started in a down economy, Hyatt Corp, Burger King, IHOP Corp, The Jim Henson Company, Fed Ex Corp, Microsoft Corp, CNN, GE, and HP, to name a few. These companies all started with a dream. We hold ourselves back by not dreaming, and if we dream we may dream too small. Americans must start dreaming again. Americans must adjust their attitudes. Americans must look forward , but also take a look back and remember what built this great country of ours. Open your minds to the opportunity that lies out there.

Today is the day to start thinking and dreaming. Today is the day to take control of your life. If you hate your job or your career, you have the ability to make this change. I’m not saying quit your job today. I’m not telling you to go tell your boss to go shove it. I’m saying open your minds, adjust your attitude and explore all the opportunities. Start your own new venture, buy an existing business, or even buy a franchise. Don’t make up excuses like “I have no money” or “I don’t know how to start”, and don’t listen to the naysayers around you. Where there is a will there is a way. Don’t be afraid of failure – over 40% of the world’s successful businessmen have gone bankrupt in business at least twice. Each time they fall, they pick themselves up and learn from their mistakes. The only way to succeed to is to try. I would rather see someone try and fail, than have never tried and then wonder, “what if?”

Today is the perfect time to start a new venture. If you need an office, warehouse, or a retail store front, rents are very affordable. If you need employees, the talent pool has never been better. When the time comes to market your business, advertising rates are at a very affordable rate, and with social marketing, even the little guy can afford to jump into the marketing race. Social marketing puts the little guy on the same playing field as the large corporations. Many large companies have failed – opening up opportunities for new and small companies.

America was built by small business and entrepreneurs. It will – and must – happen again. Let’s all start today! Call your local newspaper, your local TV station, your local radio stations and ask them to highlight a small business in your area, to report more upbeat stories, to bring us more information on business start ups. Stop showing long lines at job fairs, where thousands of people are in line for just a couple dozen jobs. Start helping America and Americans dream again. Our great country is down, but not out. Please share this message to all your friends. Let’s start growing America and the American spirit again! Let’s adjust our attitudes – and the attitudes of the people around us. Let’s tell our families that everything will be OK. Let’s make the next decade a decade that will change America’s future – starting right now in 2010. Let’s rekindle the great American spirit. We have no choice but to make this change.

May this year be the year that starts bringing smiles back to American faces. Let Americans and America lead the world to a brighter future. May this be the year and decade that allows anyone, no matter what age, race, or religion, the opportunity to better their lives. May the world’s economy grow. And most of all, may there be peace on earth.

Happy New Year,

Paul Bensman

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