NFIB

Think HappyThoughts
10/ 17/ 2003

by Harvey King

Now, let's all say it together: The economy is improving, the economy is improving. Okay, I'll be the one. Since no one else seems willing to step out on a limb to declare the exact moment the nation's economy will turn around, I will.

It's starting today. And it's starting precisely at 10:30 a.m.

The turnaround will be a little slow for the next three weeks, but then it will explode.

Things are going to be great. In fact, in 10 minutes, one of your old customers is going to pick up the phone to call you with news about that purchasing decision he's been putting off for the past six months. And I'll go ahead and tell you the good news: he's decided the time to buy is now. In fact, if you don't believe me, call him yourself.

Also, get ready for a blockbuster of a holiday season. I mean huge. You'll want to go ahead and reserve a caterer for that big New Year's Eve party you'll be throwing to celebrate your record 4th quarter sales.

That's right. Call me Mr. Visibility. Call me Mr. Exuberance. Call me Mr. Rebound.

But first, I should warn you: don't call me an economist. I didn't even take economics in college. Nor do I have any rational support for my wildly optimistic predictions.

And I'll admit, my small business optimism index is not based on the scientific approach of the much-more reliable survey found elsewhere in these pages. My declaration of coming recovery is based solely on my belief that the only thing standing between us and an improving economy is for someone to announce that it's time for us to get on with our lives and leave this indecisiveness and doubt behind.

No more of those wishy-washy "maybe next quarter, maybe next year" pronouncements on CNBC. No more relying on those tea-leaf-reading congressional testimonies from Alan Greenspan.

What I want is for someone to dramatically declare that we can all stop biting our fingernails and get on with building our businesses. I want Ronald Reagan standing in front of the Statue of Liberty talking about "morning again in America."

I want Orphan Annie singing "Tomorrow" while dancing on the top of FDR's cabinet table.

Up to now, no one seems willing to step forward and shout, "Enough already." But if that's all we need to kick-start things, I will gladly step out front and say: The economy is turning around today at 10:30 a.m. Go ahead, say it with me: The economy is turning around today at 10:30 a.m. Spread the word to everyone you know.

And when people ask you how you can be so sure, don't give them logical reasons like tax cuts and rebates, low interest rates, budget surpluses, lower gas prices or historical data related to the length of past recessions. Just tell them you read it in a magazine.

Harvey King is the pen name of a real small business owner. You can write him in care of MyBusiness or at hking@mybusinessmag.com

---

This article originally appeared in the September/October 2001 issue of MyBusiness Magazine, NFIB's member magazine.

Small Business Sound Off
Does this story hit home?  Share your story with us