Last weekend, our family was sitting around the living room, talking… and in the background, The Wizard of Oz happened to be playing on TV. We happened to turn it on just after Dorothy’s house-turned-aircraft made a crash landing on the Wicked Witch of the West. The munchkins, of course, broke out in a celebratory dance and song. We should sing that song, too. TODAY.
It is December 1, 2012. And that is a very important date for the United States. It was five years ago that we officially entered The Great Recession.
But here’s why I think the fifth anniversary is so important, and why we should be talking about it. Of the past five years (60 months), the recession made up 19 months, and the ongoing recovery has been underway for 41 months.
I realize that not every city or region—and not every business category—can lay claim to a full and complete recovery. But if you’re in the sales business, it’s your job to amplify the optimism whenever you can… and there are several optimistic facts that you can be pointing out when you’re “on the street.”
The election is over, and there is much less negativity in the press. That’s good. It doesn't really matter if your candidate won or lost. What matters is that voters (consumers) now know where they stand. And that's good
Automotive is having its second consecutive banner year. And 2013 looks even better. That’s good.
Housing, in many markets, seems to be turning a corner. That’s good. (Especially if you sell to companies that provide home furnishings, home improvements, or anything else that goes into those homes.)
The stock market has, for the most part, recovered. That’s good.
The chatter about the fiscal cliff—the last remaining “unknown” surrounding our economy—will conclude one way or another within the next month or so. That’s good.
As we head into the last month of 2012, I hope you move forward with optimism, and share that optimism with your prospects and clients. As of today, two-thirds of the past five years have been in recovery, not recession.
Ding, dong, the witch is dead. And that’s good.
Mike Anderson is VP of Consumer Insights and Communication at The Center for Sales Strategy.
