In the constant interviews about No More Mondays, it seems inevitable that the question about being in a “recession” comes up. I wish I could convey that whether or not we are in a recession is much like whether or not we believe the sky is falling.
Remember that famous children’s fairy tale? One day Chicken Little was scratching in the garden when an acorn fell on her head. She decides to tell the King, and on her journey meets many other animals who join her in the rush to share this startling news. “How do you know the sky is falling, Chicken Little?” asked Henny Penny. “I saw it with my own eyes, I heard it with my own ears, and a bit of it fell on my head,” said Chicken Little.
There are many version of this story, but the basic premise of the happy version is not to be like “Chicken,” but to have courage and don’t believe everything you are told.
I think believing we are in a “recession” is very similar. If you experienced a little piece of a layoff, a real estate downturn, or the increase in gas prices, you can easily confirm that “I saw it with my own eyes, I heard it with my own ears, and a bit of it fell on my head.” And thus you share the news with your closest friends. And certainly now would be a poor time to start something new or to leave the “security” of a real job.
But what if you recognized that the fear of a “recession” is going to immobilize most people, leaving you multiple opportunities for separating yourself from the pack and moving ahead. You can counsel, coach, teach, or speak to those who are stuck in life. You can come up with better solutions for economic transportation, reduce fuel consumption with efficient housing, improve health care, education, or provide methods for spiritual growth. You can invent a better dog leash, or a more nutritional energy bar. Many of our 212Connection members have created fulfilling opportunities in the midst of this “recession.” You can provide encouraging men’s conferences in 36 cities like member Brian Doyle has done. Or offer more economical pharmaceuticals like West Conner is doing. Maybe you can find beauty in everyday settings with photography like Deby Dearman does or bring hope to struggling parents of unique kids like Theresa Lode is able to do.
Of course in the unhappy version of the fable, the fox eats the chicken. I like to think that the moral of that story is if you have nothing but bad news; just keep your mouth shut.
Tags: chicken little, fable, recession
Dan Miller's Blog 
June 3, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I believe that people are so used to sitting back and letting life happen to them. It is not their fault that they cannot afford the gas in the SUV, it is not their fault that they were laid off, etc. You have 2 options to if you are not happy with the situation you are in. You can either take action or you can sit back and be tossed around in the ocean of life. If you choose the latter you may come out alright but if you choose to take action you will have a better chance of getting what you want.