It's Not Too Expensive...I Just Don't Make Enough!

It seems that all I heard last year is how bad the economy had become. It seemed that everyone was scrambling--not so much to get more, but just to keep holding onto what they already have. It was like the frantic fever I see in the local grocery stores when it is announced that there is a "possibility" of a severe storm in my area. The shelves start emptying and the checkout lines get longer as a sea of people ruthlessly grasp for that last gallon of milk like the last lifeboat on the Titanic. I have to admit that there are days I would like to be a fly on the wall of those homes when the occupants realize that the "storm of the century" turns out to be nothing but a spring shower.

There was a time I would have had to ask myself what was the source of all of the great anxiety, but no more, I have found in the majority of cases the source tends to be the same place--our television.

Now don't get me wrong, I like television. But I learned years ago that the vast majority of the things I see on that box (and now on the internet) are not there because of being news worthy but because it makes good business sense. After all, mass media is a business and business can only continue to be fueled by the money it generates.

No, I don't have anything against business, after all, I'm a business person. But let me put it this way, when I go to see a horror movie I expect to be scared. That's why I choose the genre to begin with, and that's what sells. Same thing about mass media, I expect to see "doom and gloom" because that's what sells. A simple equation.

Okay, my point.

In all honesty I cannot say that our economic situation is the same as it was, let's say, 5 years ago. Frankly, I wish my situation was doing as well as it was then, but what i want to be cautious about is the fact that our present economic issues didn't just spring forth out of the blue unexpectedly. There have been signs for years. Most people were either chose to ignore them, were too ignorant of them, or believed that the government would solve any problems that came up for them. Is there any surprise that most of us are in the spot we are? As a friend once reminded me: No, things are not too expensive, I just don't make enough money! And he right.

So what is to be done?

In general, there's only two choices. Make the little you have stretch or make more money. Now, I don't know about you but my "belt" can only be tightened so far, and beans and rice can only sustain so long. My choice for the year 2010 is to make more money. And the best way I've found to do this is by being in business for myself, because I am visually handicapped, I choose to do that from home.

Over the next 12 months I plan on doing just that and documenting it as I go. If you are interested in joining me in the journey then come along. You can even do as I do if you would like. I choose to succeed in 2010 but even if it takes a little longer, at least I know that I will deserve everything I get because I am willing to work for it.

Happy New Year!