Tecoris

I watched with frustration and anger –  as you did –  as AIG executives took over $150 million in undeserved bonuses.  Then I watched in shock and horror as congress went about levying a “special” tax on the bonuses to “Get the American people’s money back.”

My Anger and frustration grow out of the fact that this is wrong on several levels — not out of the money paid.

First, congress was in such a big hurry to pass the bailout in the first place (remember, the world was going to stop turning if it wasn’t done in a few short hours) that they didn’t take time to debate the bill.  Many congressmen never even read it before signing it.  In short, it should have been spelled out FROM THE BEGINNING that those who took government money would be subject to government scrutiny and intervention.  BUT IT WASN’T!

Congress now, in an attempt to deflect and misdirect attention, is suggesting (aggressively pointing fingers at) a host of scapegoats (read whipping boys) that should be promptly whipped for sins that are actually those of congress.

Second, although I disagree categorically with the giving of bonuses to those whose failures resulted in catastrophic results to our economy, I have to believe we honor contracts and the rule of law.  Congress could have done something about this in the beginning and didn’t.  Whose fault is that?  The recipients of the bonuses?  Congress should never have doled out that much money in such a willy-nilly fashion.  No wonder it’s all hosed.

Third, now congress (in an attempt to cover its blunder) wants to levy a tax against those who received the bonuses.  I can’t believe that, and I have to say I am absolutely opposed to such a tax.  Taxes have historically been general, meaning they apply to everyone.  These taxes, on the other hand, are pointed squarely at one very small (ridiculously, incredibly small) segment of the population with the intent to take away what they are legally entitled to.  If they can do that to them,  where will it stop?  Who will be the next targeted group?

While taking this money back might look good on the surface, the precedent is extremely disturbing.  I have been wondering what small groups I belong to that could potentially be a target of a “special” tax in the future.  Now that we have a precedent it will be easier for them to do it to me.  I am absolutely opposed to a tax targeted at such a small group for those reasons.

What’s painfully clear from all of this is that if you feed at the government trough, you’re going to answer to the American people — no, that’s wrong.  You’re going to answer to congress, who may or may not represent the will of the American people.  That “answering” will take the form of increased, uncomfortable, — in some cases untenable — regulations, rules, demands that will likely change the way you’ve done business your whole life.

The only way to avoid such problems is to avoid — at all costs — the urge to take “free” money from the government.  NOTHING IS FREE.  There is a price attached to everything.  The price attached to this “free” money makes loan sharks look like school children.  This is about control, and when you take the handout, you are ceding control to our friends in Washington.  You make the call.

I had an opportunity to speak to a bunch of business students at BYU-I last week, and it was a great experience.   I had an opportunity to share with them what I think is the most important message we can share right now:  that is, that this is not a time for gloom and doom.  It is a time of re-defining how we do business.  It is a time of increased fiscal responsibility.  It’s is a time of improved customer service.  It is a time of changing the “rules of engagement” as we compete in the market place.  But it is certainly not a time of gloom and doom.

There are opportunities out there right now that only come along during a crisis like this.  And obviously, there are some of the old opportunities that have disappeared.  That’s okay.  Instead of saying, “Everything’s changed.  I can’t compete.”  You should be saying, “Everything’s changed.  What do I need to do to continue to compete.”

Just the fact that you’re willing to adapt predicts your survival during these difficult times.  Every bit as much as the fact that others doggedly stick to the ways of the past ensures their demise.  This is a time for creativity.  It is a time for enthusiasm.  It is a time for excitement.  Fortunes are not made and lost during the boom times, they’re made and lost during the busts.  You have an opportunity here that may never come again (at least not to this degree) in your lifetime.   Time’s a wasting.   Grab hold of the brass ring and start to swing.

I have watched with interest as business after business grinds to a crawl.  Sure, economic times are tough.  Sure, your customers are fewer and farther between, sure they make more demands on you than ever before, but that’s no reason (read excuse) for a slowdown in your business.  In every industry, there are businesses that are thriving.

I know a realtor who’s on track to do way more this year than last.  And last year he was one of the top producers in his office.  Real estate around here is about half what it was a year ago, and realtors are dropping like flies.  But they’re not all going out of business — just the ones who give up.

If you run a small business, consider this a call to action.  Get up and get moving.  Stop looking for excuses and start looking for solutions.  There are solutions.  Don’t look at your marketing budget as a sacrificial lamb.  It’s not expendable.  Your salary might be.  Some of your employees might be.  Certainly the frivolous stuff is.  But be very careful trimming your marketing budget right now.

I have watched in our local market as inferior companies take the superior position in the market simply by aggressively marketing their products and services.  Better companies have cut way back on their marketing budgets and and idly watching as inferior companies blow past them.

What have to done to adjust to the new realities in your area?  How have you made lemonade out of our current surplus of lemons?  This isn’t going to be over any time soon.  If you are going to survive, you’re going to have to learn how to do business in hard times.  It can be done.  It takes effort, creativity, a positive attitude, an unwillingness to accept defeat, an unwillingness to let circumstances (even those beyond your control) to be an excuse for failure.

This is your reality and it will be for the foreseeable future.  Get up.  Get moving.  Be successful.  Anything good that happens to you is entirely your doing.  Anything bad the same.  you are in control.  What are you going to do?