So much has already been said with regard to the horrific incidents in N.Y. and Washington that I am hesitant to even broach the subject. While I thankfully did not have anyone close to me killed or injured in the blasts, I offer my sincerest condolences to those who have.
I do however feel a personal assault in that I spent quite a bit of time in these buildings when I was working with the consulting firm Walker Group International. My client, American Express, had offices at One World Trade Center. I would ride the elevator to the 76th floor and marvel at that incredible structure. I remember the folks at American Express teasing me the first time I felt the building sway. They told me it was going to tip over and they got a big laugh out of my reaction.I am saddened by the loss and like many others, angry enough to take up arms and fight back. But I’m sure our military will do just fine without my assistance. After thinking about this however, I have come to the conclusion that there is another way that we can fight back.Our enemies are expecting us to cower, cringe and shrink. Their goal is to destroy our economy, crush our way of life and show the world the folly of Western civilization. But we can deal them a powerful blow. We can push this economy up a notch. That’s right, we can turn our depressed economy and somber demeanor into a time of unprecedented prosperity. How confident are you in America? Are you confident enough to put your money where your mouth is?Up until Tuesday morning many small businesses and entrepreneurs had plans of expansion, reinvestment and improvement. As a result of the events this week some may plan to delay expansion and take a “wait and see” attitude. This may appear to be prudent at first glance but the impact on our economy would be even more disastrous than this week’s horrific events. This would be caving in to these fanatics. It would be granting them the provocation of “terror” that they so deeply desire.DON’T LET THEM WIN!Make the decision to fight back.How?1. Plan even greater expansion of your business. Small business drives this economy. Your positive actions will fuel economic growth and confidence.2. Don’t cancel planned initiatives. Go to those trade shows. Buy that new software. Hire those people. Launch that new marketing campaign. Place those new ads. Push for greater market share.3. Speak confidently about our future. Tell your clients, vendors, employees, colleagues, friends, neighbors and relatives that everything will be OK – nay in fact – BETTER than before. Let the words you speak be evidence of your confidence and determination.4. Buy stocks. Support every company you believe in. Execute those trades early and often. If our markets soar on Monday, we will stun the world and prove that we are serious. That message will be very clear: If you want your fortune to be safe, invest it in America and its industry.My small business friends, this is the clearest message Americans can send the world. It says that we are determined not to be pushed around. We will put our money where our mouths are and stand up for our economy. We will stand behind our way of life, which is exactly what the enemy aimed at when they flew those planes into the World Trade Center buildings.We are not helpless! Let’s support our military in their fight with their weapons of destruction. But let us fight with what we have: our wealth and determination. This may be as close as we can get to pulling the trigger on our enemies.