February 16, 2010
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A bit of good news and a bit of bad news grabbed headlines last week. It appears the economy is finally getting its sea legs with a healthy growth spurt during the fourth quarter--a whopping 5.7 percent. That's good news and surely a testament that we will avoid the much-feared double-dip recession. Phew. But, before you go out and pop the champagne, it's not all rainbows and bunny rabbits. While the economy was performing a happy dance, unemployment remained unchanged at a staggering 10 percent. Well, folks, it's here: the so-called jobless recovery.
Here's the thing about that situation: Someone needs to do something about the term "jobless recovery." It's awful and does not instill a high degree of entrepreneurial spirit. Those two words together are hopeless, demoralizing and more than a little conflicted.
So here's what I propose: Let the policy wonks and bureaucrats spin irrelevant terms like "jobless recovery." You and I know what's really going on. This is the Entrepreneur Economy--and you're at the helm. You create the jobs that drive the economy--65 percent of the jobs to be exact. Beyond that, more than half of this country's greatest success stories started during an economic downtime. So don't let anyone (or any ridiculously annoying terms) drag you down.
The jobs aren't coming back yet, but the opportunities are already here. This is a great time to be your own boss. Tremendous talent is out there. Technology is cheap and mobility is easy. Corporate fatigue is at an all-time high, and big lumbering corporate cultures will not resuscitate the job market anyway. You will.
Who wants a job any way, right? Go out and start something. That's what this culture and this country are all about: ingenuity, innovation and creativity. Forget the jobless bit. This is your moment--your economy. Now go out and own it--jobless recovery be damned.
Check your balance, review recent transactions and pay your bill on the go.
TJ McCue 2 years 3 months and 19 days ago
I just listened to Amy Cosper at the action-packed Entrepreneur event in Miami. If you need a jumpstart, tune in to her twitter stream and Entrepreneur mag, of course. It isn't easy to be your own boss, most startup types know that, but there's nothing sweeter. Whether you're building a micro-enterprise or a company you plan to run for 25 years or sell in 5, it ain't easy but the music is worth listening to.