Are You An Optimist or Pessimist for 2010?
Do you see the glass as half full or half empty? The photo of the glass is a classic truism, I wonder who came up with it.
Now that we are nearly two months into 2010 and spring is a month away, I thought this would be a good time to measure your confidence in the US economy, personal spending and whether you think 2010 is going to end up better, the same or worse than 2009.
You are an optimist if you think 2010 will end up better than 2009, you are more excited to buy stuff and services and your expectations of what 2010 will bring are good.
You are a pessimist if you think 2010 will be equal to or worse than 2009, you are still not in the mood to buy stuff or services and you see a bleak future ahead of you.
Personally, moving into 2010 I was a mild optimist. Oh yeah, there are levels of each but for today, I’m not going to get into the levels. I think Americans are born optimistic and want to believe in good. Enduring pain is difficult at best and we have always found a way through the decades to feel good about ourselves even in crisis. I’m still on the + side but I am watching international developments in Greece, Spain and Italy and how the euro community, specifically Germany, handles the current mess they are in. This can have negative implications for the US if handled poorly. On the other hand, if they manage this properly, my optimistic meter will move up a notch.
So what will it be for you today? Are you an optimist or pessimist?
Happy Tuesday!
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:09 am
I think it has to get better in 2010. That must make me a optimist.
The birds woke me up Saturday morning. They though it was Spring and had me believing it until yesterday’s snow. But I know it’s right around the corner.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:28 am
I consider myself a cautious optimist. I have hopes for 2010 being better than 2009 but do not spend accordingly. I still weigh every purchase, erring on the side of frugal. What I am doing is saving for a new car that I am able to pay cash for so I do not have to make car payments.
We Americans are a hardy bunch and will weather this economy. We have before and will again.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:28 pm
I am optimistic.
Though I do feel the need to clarify. I believe gone are the days of “I deserve to have this, I’ll figure out how to pay for it later…” The world economy is adjusting to reality as the consumer adjusts. As such, businesses must take a hard look at themselves and decide who they are, and what business they are really in.
The keys for business success is to understand who you are and where you are going. Creating a plan for the future that is both realistic and executable. Businesses need to know “What business are they really in?” There’s a great book “The Discipline of Market Leaders” that breaks strategy into value propositions:
Most businesses focus on Operational Efficiency, Customer Service, and/or Innovation. While all businesses usually have a degree of all 3, they tend to dominant in one successfully.
Operationally Excellent Companies will focus on taking costs out of the supply chain, to ultimately pass the cost savings onto the consumer.
Innovation/Product leadership focused businesses have an insatiable desire to always deliver the “best product, period.”
Businesses with a thriving company culture built around customer intimacy initiatives sell “the customer a total solution, not just a product or service.”
If you are a Salon owner – which are you? If you are a chain like Fantastic Sam’s, the answer is probably Operational Efficiency. If you are a high Salon and Spa – you are probably Customer Service/Intimacy.
LG- Where do you feel TNG Worldwide falls? I could see the operations group falling into Operational Efficiency (as all ops groups should) and the training group falling under Innovative. But is the corporation overall Customer Service?
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:37 pm
ummm i don’t even see the glass. LOL (no picture)
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:35 pm
I am just grateful and appreciative for each and every day. It is very difficult to predict the future, you can only predict what is within yourself.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Weather the glass is half full or half empty, depends on who’s serving the beverage.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Jill- TNG has always been focused on customer success (service). We still see this relevant today but also understand innovation in both services and products are critical to remaining relevant is a global environment.
February 23rd, 2010 at 5:15 pm
I am a true optomist! I am a firm believer if there is a will, than there is a way!
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:41 pm
remember tough times don’t last, tough people do!
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Optimist all the way however we are being wise about about purchases no credit cash or nothing
February 24th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
optimist!!