Yesterday’s Crisis is Today’s Opportunity? - by Dorothy Eckes, USA
 I’m always thrilled to see evolutionary thinking reflected in mainstream reporting! The current issue of Philadelphia Magazine makes consistent references to opportunity and possibility related to the current economic picture. It’s nice when a long-recognized source speaks the language of creativity, so there’s less chance of it being dismissed as magical thinking by another whack-o who’s overdosed on sunshine.
For example, Walnut Street in center city Philadelphia has long been the up-scale shopping scene, home to exclusive boutiques and designer showrooms. During the last decade it has fallen victim to suburban malls and inner city discount mega-stores, leaving vacant storefronts and a deserted atmosphere. The decline of the historic shopping mecca was apparently not enough to cause rents to decrease, but the current climate is! And so, young designers and established fashion trendsetters alike are taking advantage of attractive rents and it’s being reported as part of a growing trend to take a risk for potential!
There’s also report of a big name, trendy home store whose owner has created an eco / fair trade / sustainability grading system, just for the sake of integrity! Many retailers seem liberated to offer last year’s leftovers at much reduced prices, and a party atmosphere has emerged with sales being dubbed “Spring Cleaning and Indoor Yard Sale”. This underlying shift from fear to excitement has also sparked would-be entrepreneurs to turn their daydreams into reality. There’s both permission as well as championing for people and ideas with a sometimes unconscious knowing that “now is the time”.
One of our local television stations did a feature on Making It (the sewing school that I sold in 2004). They explained that you could learn a new skill or revive one, socialize, and spend less on clothing and home décor by taking sewing classes. Let me explain that again. The television news supported a local small business while encouraging the audience to creatively self-express and talk to each other. Light the sparklers!
We can count on Ode Magazine to speak to us from potential. This month Dave Pollard explains Natural Entrepreneurialism, the logical extension of doing your own thing when chaos replaces your comfort zone, and even gives six steps to help make the transition. Read the full article on Natural Entrepreneurialism.
Optimism is, undoubtedly, contagious.
Dorothy Eckes, a transformative coach, works with leaders, change-agents, and all kinds of relationships, both personal and professional. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA with her husband, Steve.
Email:
|