Thursday, May 7, 2009

Stop Eating Worms!



The signs are there if you look very close. The economy is waking up … a bit. We’re not out of the woods by no means. Yet, those joining the ranks of the jobless are a tad fewer. Hiring is starting to pick up.

And if you drive around the Greater Charlotte area you’ll note more “SOLD” signs on the lawns throughout many neighborhoods. The economy -- it’s slowly coming back. But no doubt it will be a long, long struggle.

And not all the jobs will return. At least not in the form we might know. The American auto industry, for example, is a wild card. No one is quite sure how it will emerge from the end of their hellish tunnel. We’re all praying it will be more robust and competitive.

An earlier blog talked about the importance of reinventing yourself. Now I encourage you not to submit to the temptation of throwing up your arms, sitting back and eating worms regarding your situation. Latch on to the glimmers of hope in our economy and take courage with the signs of an American renewal that appears to be developing.

Now’s not the time to lose heart. With spring comes hope. And it is your time to embrace the new day before you. Sure, easy to say, but I’ve been there and will say that allowing the eating of worms to take over does nothing but set you back in the awesome task before you.

So, vow right now to renew your commitment to yourself and your family. A new job or new way of making a living might be right around the corner. Do yourself a favor. Leave the worms for the birds and get back in the game!

(Incidentally, if you’re reading this and are interested please check out the LinkedIn Group I started - “Job Seekers-Charlotte Metro Area”. I welcome you to join and get involved.)

Ken Caputo is a marketing professional who relocated his family to the Greater Charlotte area from Central New Jersey a little over a year ago. He is currently consulting with Cristina Cassidy Video Productions of Charlotte, NC on a number of exciting projects.

One of his first official acts upon moving down was to join and get involved in the Charlotte Chapter of the American Marketing Association. He’s delighted he did.