Don’t Panic – (It Won’t Help!)

With all the news that is swirling about the economy and the debt ceiling and the S&P’s downgrade of the US credit rating, what should you do? I would definitely say: Don’t Panic! Think clearly, logically and have a plan. If you react instead of act you could suffer greater consequences in the future than you are now.

I read an article in June titled, “Boeing’s new jumbo jet touches down in Paris.” Is this the same Boeing that shut down several plants in the last decade, stopped production on many different types of planes and sought bankruptcy protection for various divisions within their corporation? My first thought was, “The airline industry is a dying breed. It’s not fun to fly anymore. There just seems to be so much to be worried about every time you step into an airport. Why build a Super Jumbo plane? Who would fly on it?”

Then I thought, “Wait, flying is with us to stay. How else will we be able to get across the world in such a short amount of time? It is essential to international business executives. Fed Ex moves more packages internationally through air travel than we move in the entire United States by truck?”

My thought would have been to panic and give up. However, Boeing acted instead of reacted. They thought about the future of their company and created a plan to move past the difficulties facing their industry and re-invent themselves to survive. People are still going to fly despite all of the risks involved and Boeing decided that they were going to be one of the companies to provide that service.

That is something each business owner needs to do. Logically look at your situation and how the economy is affecting your business and what you can do to stay in the game and “beat the system.” Remember you started your company, and you can keep it going through tough times.

Montrose, as far as all of us that live here are concerned, is definitely here to stay. New businesses are opening up and old ones are weathering the storm and doing it successfully. That is very positive.

The Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber had a great business mixer on Aug. 3 at SIG Property Management in Montrose where we welcomed seven new members to the Chamber: Maron Atala, the new owner of the Montrose Quiznos; Andrew Prim from Casinos in Motion; Dawn Levine and Angela Young from the Pampered Chef; Gary Gobikya from Next Door Cleaners; Tony Chahine from La Cañada Eye Care; Greg Jolley from Viking Electric; and Kathy Armstrong from Cecil C Armstrong Bail Bonds. Welcome!

A thought to leave you with: “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”– Abraham Lincoln

Upcoming Events:
August Business Mixer on Wednesday, Aug. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Embroid Me, 3435 N Verdugo Road., Montrose.

Tri-City Business Expo on Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Verdugo Hills Hospital. Find out how you can promote your business here.

Artwalk on Saturday Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Honolulu Avenue in Montrose.

Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 1 from noon to 10 p.m. in Old Town Montrose.

  melinda clarke