I spend lots of time in airports. And today I saw genuine concern and random acts of kindness all over.

A man helped a 30-year-old woman get checked in. It was the first time she had flown, and she didn’t know how the bag check system worked.

People cheerfully stood aside to allow two frenzied and stressed airline workers get to their plane.

Three people in a completely full flight helped to organize the overhead bin to fit in the bags of perfect strangers.

People actually held their coats in their laps like we are supposed to.

People applauded when uniformed military personnel boarded the plane.

At baggage claim, two older gentlemen lifted the bags of others who had trouble getting their bags off the carousal.

People got out the way for each other at the escalators.

People held the doors for others at the elevators.

People behaved the way we are supposed to.

Current economic times call for innovation, flexibility, a change of focus, and adaptability in business. And all of this can make a company stronger and better able to compete in the coming years.

1. Nobody likes to see their friend, neighbor or family member lose a job, and certainly rising unemployment is disheartening for many. The recession, which started in 2008, and will probably continue through 2010, is anatural part of a progressive economic cycle (regardless of the initial catalysts). That doesn’t mean much when you are having trouble paying bills, in danger of losing your home, or worried about your finances.
2. A recession can be difficult to endure. However, there are positive aspects as a result of this recession that we need to remember.

   It is forcing both companies and families to look hard at their finances. For the first time, sometimes in the course of a marriage, husbands and wives are sitting down and talking about their financial situation. They are figuring out the terms of their mortgage, the annual percentage rates on their credit cards, and they are taking a hard look at their expenditures. Families are prioritizing what is important to them, and they are spending money based on thosepriorities. They are finding that they need fewer high-end and duplicative products.

3. Companies are doing the same. Responsible companies are looking at where their resources are allocated and making decisions based on company priorities and profitability.

   Companies, like families, are reducing waste, being mindful of their spending, and making adjustments. Companies are discovering that if they do not provide value, patrons will go elsewhere. For businesses that are flexible, responsive, and value-oriented, this is a great opportunity.

4. Entrepreneurs who started a business and struggled with it for years and finally closed the doors this year should be encouraged. Without a recession, maybe they were just going to continue to struggle for 20 years. Maybe it really wasn’t the right business. That is an advantage great in a capitalistic society. The “invisible hand,” the term coined by Adam Smith in 1776, ensures that people have the opportunity to engage in businesses where they can either succeed or not, but the market determines ultimate profitability. So, if you develop a terrific product, it will probably be terrific in any economy. If you have a product that is poor or mediocre, it is probably not going to survive a recession. The good part about that is that is then you get out of a business or product that is poor or mediocre, which opens opportunity for a successful endeavor.
5. Both families and companies are being creative and innovative. What we implement during tough times is going to make all the difference in how well we succeed when this recession is over.

I love that the universe has a prize for people who promote peace. And just 11 days after President Obama took office, the Nobel Peace Prize submission was due. He won. The prize money is $1.4 million. Not bad work for 11 days of work. Of course, it is a mere pittance compared to Bank of America’s CEO severance package of $53 million.)
I know that President Obama intends to donate that $1.4 million to a charity. I am sure there is a team of lawyers who are now wondering how to choose a worthy charity that doesn’t offend somebody. I was pondering how much bank bonus money was going to charity.
If it is true that we “vote” with our pocketbooks, what does this say?
Very interesting how money gets allocated.
Mary Kelly
www.ProductiveLeaders.com
www.Organize-You.com

I am daily reminded of the importance of wonderful friends, mostly because I have amazing people who allow me to come into their lives.  I regularly invade the homes of my friends when I travel, and they very cheerfully put up with my crazy schedules.  They also allow me to sleep with their dogs.  So I am very thankful today for my amazing friends.