You don't need me to point out that consumer confidence is still one of the biggest challenges we have to deal with in our daily business. I have found more and more clients just plain afraid to make a decision. The fear is that any decision will be a bad one. This certainly has a paralyzing affect.
I don't claim that these fears are unfounded. I truly believe that in the recent past there has been a false sense of security we all felt (ignorance is bliss?). We're kind of living through the shock of an economic 9/11. Before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11Th we all were mentally protected in our safe little bubble with the rest of the world held at ams length. That safe place no longer exists and I guess it could be argued that it never was real to begin with. Innocence lost. Since then, no American who remembers that day will ever be the same.
And so now we stand stunned - looking at the fallout, digging through the financial rubble, and wonder if this is it...or is there more to come. Will another shoe drop? Is another financial "attack" imminant? Is my 401k a casualty of financial war or just MIA or wounded? Questions galore for everyone....
Now is the time when professionals can reveal their true colors. The difference makers will be successful. I try to take all the time a client needs to answer questions...lots of hand-holding. Folks are just a little more hesitant and I think that's a good thing. Taking personal responsibility for our individual actions and dealing with the results is honorable. I think that may have been missing for the past 10 years in our country. Help your clients, hug your kids, kiss your partner, thank your God.
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