Thanksgiving

Here is the United States we are celebrating the annual Thanksgiving holiday. Like most holidays, this one lost some of its meaning over the years. Nevertheless, it is a helpful reminder to be thankful for all that we have. Times of late are trying to us all. Nevertheless, there is a lot that we have which we take for granted.

Most of us in the Western world do not know what it is like to truly suffer. Lately, we hear how horrible the housing market is with people being foreclosed upon, how stocks are getting destroyed, and how people are facing the loss of their jobs. While acknowledging how bad all these are, it is best to remember that many in the world would love to have these problems.

We need only look at the continent of Africa to realize how blessed all of us are. They are struggling with some of the basic necessities of life. Diseases like aids is running at an incredible rate, most countries suffer from famine, and tribal wars are commonplace. Everyday is truly a life or death situation.

As you go through the next 24 hours, remember all that you have. If you find that you are presently lacking some of the things that this society has to offer, then be grateful that you live in a place where there is an opportunity to create your life as you see fit. At this moment, you have more opportunities within 10 miles of your house than most of the people in Africa will ever dream of.

A spiritual adviser of mine would say "we live in the land of milk and honey". How true he was.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
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Opportunities In Chaos

The world is coming to an end. This is the impression that we are given by the media. Each day, the market drops another astronomical number. At the same time, the government commits another $100 Billion to alleviate the recession. It seems that there is bad news on every front.

Recently, I was discussing the business climate with a friend of mine. He was telling me that his company is in position to grow next year. This was an astounding statement to me considering that the company is over 40 years old in an industry that most consider to be mature. For anyone to have growth in this environment, let alone double digit which my friend claims, astounded me. Of course, I asked him to explain how.

To begin with, this company is debt free. It owes money to nobody. The banking crisis is entirely a situation that revolves around debt. Nobody was upset with Lehman Brothers sales or revenues. It was their debt that caused the panic. Being debt free is a ticket to success in this environment.

The debt issue is affecting a number of his competitors. Many of them are starting to fold. This is a situation that is also starting to play out in the automobile industry. The largest Chevrolet dealership in the United States closed their doors. My friend mentioned how his industry became too saturated the last 5 years. Now, there is a thinning of the competition.

Finally, there is consolidation occurring within his industry. A number of the national companies were bought out by manufacturers. This is reducing the number of companies in each market. Recently, the largest dealer was purchased by a manufacturer, a move that will eliminate one in each area. This is the second time this year, and the third in the last two, that this occurred. My friend mentioned how three big competitors were eliminated through this process.

How does this apply to you? I write this to show you there are opportunities regardless of what is occurring. In fact, the more upheaval, the greater the potential for one who is looking. Warren Buffet bought into GE for a song because they were desperate. The financial chaos presented him with a buying opportunity. Therefore, stop fretting about how bad things are and getting creative. There is a silver lining in all that is going on if you are willing to seek it out. Those who do stand to profit substantially.
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