alstin communications

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of hearing, “Things will get better in 2010!” Really? Why? Because 2009 was so absolutely dismal that it couldn’t possibly get any worse?

According to the Mayo Clinic’s web site, “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) starts in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.” That sure sounds like the 2009 economy (“jobless recovery”) to me. (Sounds like some people I know as well…but that’s a different blog post all together.) The Mayo Clinic also goes on to recommend that SAD isn’t just the case of the “winter blues” and that treatment (in various forms) can help you keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year. Well, I’m all for that—right 2010 economy?

I’m seeing blips on my radar of recovery. My colleagues are seeing blips as well. But, I’m not detecting the colossal tidal changes I’d like to be seeing. I know, I know it’s only three weeks into January but, come on! I was chuckling back in early December at posts and articles like GL Hoffman’s Jobs Summit comments.

But now, I’m wanting some of these recommendations to come to life.

Our 2010 economy needs some serious therapy. I work for a small business, heck I even had my own little web design business for a few years, and as I’m sure all of you know—it’s tough out there. Even if the calendar is saying 2010, I’m still feeling 2009. Except for executives at large banking institutions (don’t get me started on that one), margins are still thin, profits and losses are still being monitored daily down to dollars and cents and the budget restrictions aren’t loosening up quickly enough.

I think the 2010 economy needs a serious ‘therapy plan’ to get out of this SAD funk. Just off the top of my head, I’m envisioning the following:

• Create a “Re-investment Plan” of every single bonus dollar a banking executive would receive in 2010 directly lent to small businesses across the US at zero percent interest for the first three years. I think that would help loosen up some budgets and increase spending and ultimately hiring.
• Create tax incentives for companies that create new jobs. If we can push through and market the “Cash for Clunkers” program—why can’t we launch and market a “Job Recovery Tax Break” to promote job growth? We’re all doing way more with WAY less—if an employer could see the value of rehiring talent because the advantages out weigh the risks, don’t you think they’d take that chance?
• Create tax incentives for entrepreneurs to start their own business (and hire people to work). Have we lost sight of our roots and forgotten that the entrepreneurial spirit is what has made the United States so successful?
• Provide funds for state and local governments to assist unemployed workers to find employment. I’ve never seen my local library so busy and so overwhelmed!
• Remember the New Deal government public works program in the 30s? Maybe we should take a closer look and morph its basic concepts into solutions that makes sense for the 2010 economy? Perhaps, invigorating and investing in green technology?

Are you seeing any signs of the elusive ‘2010 recovery?’ Supposedly it’s going to surface in the spring/summer…

For now, I’m thinking of spring—warm, sunny days with lots of green. It’s already staying lighter later…a daily sign I see for good things to come—one extra minute or two at a time.

Author Bio:  Jennifer Greenfield, Director, Interactive Services, seems to have coffee, not mortal blood, running through her veins. Juggling her bags (laptop, spinning stuff, cool purse, projector) and array of web-based duties with professionalism, composure and a random assortment of funny faces, Jen, has been with Alstin for more than 13 years, lives and breathes the 'net.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 11:35 am and is filed under The Daily Update. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.