creativeoptions.com

Talk of the economy is everywhere. It’s a major focus of the elections. It’s at the top of everyone’s head - especially those who have lost jobs - or are afraid they might lose their jobs. It’s a major concern for those who have lost homes and are very much concerned about how they’re going to get their children through college. And, it’s a sore spot for seniors who are desperately trying to survive.

The common thread that runs through too much of the talk is, "Someone’s got to do something!!!"

Well, that’s true. But, who, I ask, can do that "something" better than you and me? There’s so much work out there that we will never get it all done - not if we want to rectify all the troubles that beset us.

Why isn’t it getting done? What’s it going to take for us to get past all the negativity, pointing fingers and "can’t" thinking? Every single person has the potential to make a difference. It doesn’t matter if they’re yellow, orange or purple. It doesn’ t matter if they can only walk on their hands or peel onions. It doesn’t matter if they smile pretty and have perfect teeth. And it doesn’t matter if they know how to work on a PC  rather than a MAC. This old world needs every one of us.

it’s time to start thinking creatively. For those who don’t understand what creative solutions are, I share the following link: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~zeigleem/potatoes.htm I couldn’t have come up with a better example.

We have some serious challenges facing us right now (I think we can all agree on that). It’s true, right now, many are feeling impotent. But, for every challenge there is at least one solution. Usually there are many solutions, each when added up can make a significant difference. We can find those solutions when we start thinking creatively. The solutions may not be obvious and they may not be what we expect. That doesn’t matter.  What does matter is: Can we finally start thinking creatively and allowing everyone to contribute?

I am a bit of a media and marketing nut. As a writer, with a good deal of experience working with the media, marketing and real estate for a number of years, I have a tendency to read behind the scenes and I’ve learned to follow the money trail. My experiences has made me pretty much a contrarian.

I won’t go into great length here, it would take a book. But I can say, in my experience, the world starts to look a lot different when you look at it from who, what, where, when, why, how and so-what point of view. When we get past the sound bytes and the hype, a very different picture emerges. When we start asking who stands to gain by what’s going on, we begin to see another side of the story emerge.

We’re living in precarious times. That much is true. But for all the pain and suffering, wars and famine, you and I are experiencing right now, there’s a LOT of money being made. It’s not an accident. Inflation, foreclosures, job layoffs and the rest all happen for a reason. Those who ask the right questions and see what’s going on are making adjustments and will come out of this mess ok. Because, you see, everything is perception.

What’s the answer? Start asking questions and thinking for yourself.

When we start thinking like marketers, we can often begin to see solutions emerge. We start looking at what’s the psychological motivation, what are the hot buttons, who are the competition, who stands to gain, where’s the money, and what can we learn from those who have been this way before?

Real estate is a prime example. The market has been in a tailspin. Countless homeowners have lost their homes, countless more will follow. But wait!!! This is exactly the kind of market that fortunes are built on! Investors long for this kind of market because they can amass great wealth with very little investment. Right now, they can pretty much walk in and taken anything on the market for pennies on the dollar. And, they have lots to choose from at the moment. Are they worried about the state of the economy? Not much.

So, were does this leave us? Well, first off, we want to hold on tight. When everyone else is selling… buy. And, when everyone else is buying… sell!! That’s the wisdom of the ages, we forget when we’re busy listening to how bad the economy is. Those of us who act out of desperation will stand to lose the most. Those who get creative will weather the storm and those who make somewhat contrarian decisions will come out winners.

Many think they don’t have what it takes to buy right now, and that may be true. But with a little creative thinking even they can weather the storm. Market adjustments like we’re going through right now don’t last forever. The Great Depression did come to an end and this market will too. Good old fashioned creative financing might help. Looking for the win/win opportunities - where both buyer and seller will come out ahead - will solve many problems. Buyers and sellers, working together, can help stabilize this market and allow everyone to come back stronger than ever. it’s a good time to revisit concepts like sweat equity, owner financing, barter, and other methods that aren’t controlled by the money market, Wall Street and government. It’s a little bit more challenging to find solutions, today. But it can be done.

Forget the sound bytes. This is a GREAT market. You can profit from it too …

Buy, baby buy!!

Yesterday, we talked about taking back our destiny.

What now? Do we run out and start attacking the market, demanding that we be recognized, demanding our share of the jobs and the profits? Not by a long shot.

It’s true, for many the drama of the hunt - running out and stalking the prey, knocking on doors and begging for work  - may  be just the thing. And for many others, in the midst of desperation, having lost their jobs, dealing with foreclosure, and crushed by inflation, it may seem the only alternative. But, it’s not the only way for us to get where we’re going. There’s another tactic that can be highly effective…and a whole lot less stressful.

We don’t hear much about this tactic. But, if we just hide and watch, we see it employed effectively everywhere.

Gardeners and farmers are masters at this tactic…and outstanding role models for us, especially now that planting season is in full force throughout the northern hemisphere.  They’re out there, cleaning up the fields and flower beds, planting seeds and getting ready….

Do they expect to see harvests tomorrow? Of course, not. They do the preparation and then they go about their business…waiting and watching…and being available ….

Eventually the seeds do what seeds do naturally…and a harvest results.

On a more elementary level, we see the same behavior in the Venus Fly Trap and in the lowly spider. They gussy themselves and their surroundings up… and they go about their day-to-day lives… And they wait….

Eventually a fly is lured into the Fly Trap’s clutches and another is lured into the sticky web of the spider …and … dinner is served.

How do we apply this principle to our lives as we take back our lives? Simple. We define what we’re looking for and where we hope to find it…We put out feelers…. and, then, we get busy.  We write our memoirs, remodel our homes, get involved in a craft or a hobby we’ve put off for years. We learn a new language or build a website. In short, we get involved in things that interest us.

I have yet to see it fail. There’s something about a busy person - a person who is actively pursuing something they are passionately interested in  - that is irresistible. More often than not, even before you can complete that special project, things start to happen…surprising, wonderful things.

Sure, we can panic, rush out  looking for prey (er, work), complain and raise cain because things just aren’t right. All that does is put others on the defensive and make us all the more desperate (and vulnerable).

Given a choice, I much prefer to play Hide and Watch.