Got this great question about the economy:
“Ben I was reading through one of your older blog posts where you said you believed we would be hitting a major economic depression and that the government is doing nothing by spinning numbers right now. Can you write more about this and what you think this will mean for those of us still stuck in corporate America?”
Sho’ ’nuff.
Let’s put it this way:
Many moons ago the late marketing genius Jim Straw claimed:
“The next depression
will be a ‘white collar’ depression”
Meaning:
The economy has become too “top heavy.”
There are FAR too many overpaid (and under qualified) managers, pencil pushers, ass kissers, supervisors, paper shufflers and, yes, office politicians running around in the average American corporation today.
There’s also a revolving door of CEO’s.
And, a lot of money being paid out for no real value.
What that means is this:
When the big hit happens (and it’s not a matter of “if”, it’s now a matter of “when”) the first people to be SOOL are going to be the very people I mentioned above. While the people who bring the most value to any company will be way better off — like top producing sales people (they’ll be treated like gold), the manual laborers, and those who have so-called “lowly” blue collar skills the ivory tower college grads turn their noses up at.
These are the people who can fix stuff.
Who can build stuff.
And, who aren’t “above” doing manual labor.
All the rest (managers, supervisors, pencil pushers, etc) will be out on the streets, with their hand out to Obama asking him to deliver on his bullshit promises.
There’s no other choice for these companies.
Money doesn’t grow on trees.
And it’s more cost effective to eliminate (or severely cut) bloated higher earning management (who don’t technically “produce” anything) salaries than it is to let the lower paid production and people on the floor (who do produce) go.
It was the exact opposite in the last depression.
But, back then, you didn’t have top-heavy companies.
So anyway, it’s either that, or companies go bust.
Now, this REALLY makes white collar workers bristle.
They simply do. not. want. to. hear. it.
(Not that I blame them, necessarily…)
Example:
I used to date a girl who was otherwise smart and had good sense (she was a financial analyst with a Masters degree in accounting — and naturally good with numbers)… except when it came to her new customer service manager job.
It was like talking to someone in love with an axe murderer:
The facts didn’t matter.
The (many) historical precedents didn’t matter.
And sound logic, reason or rationality didn’t matter.
She was in sweet, blissful denial that her “job security” is paper thin at best (they’d already tried screwing her out of money when she started the new job), that the company didn’t really “need” her, or that they’d sell her down the river in a second if/when it becomes expedient to the right people.
(Amusing how everyone thinks “their” job is different.)
Don’t get me wrong.
She’s FAR from being the only one.
I have talked with many an ostrich like this.
Both friend and family members.
And they are (mostly) all the same way — they shoot the messenger and take it personally, instead of as a warning. (It’s a thankless job trying to save the world…)
They are also, quite frankly, screwed.
They just don’t know it.
But, soon the party WILL end.
The game of musical chairs WILL stop.
And the ones standing with their pants down won’t be the independent entrepreneurs and business owners, or the blue collar workers, or those who can sell and produce.
It’ll be the managers.
And the supervisors.
And the bureaucrats.
And any other middle management job holders.
Hey, I take NO pleasure in saying this.
And amongst my non-business friends, I’m like a lone wolf howling myself hoarse in the wilderness trying to get them to NOT rely on one source of income — especially a job (as Dan Kennedy loves to say: “1 is the most dangerous number”).
But, like I said, they don’t want to hear it.
They assume the government will take care of them.
And, they get irrationally combative if you bring it up at all.
So anyway, that’s my opinion.
Do with it what ye will.
I know what I’m doing to prepare.
But what about you?
Do you have a plan if it all goes to hell?
Are you prepared?
Do you have a product to sell online, or know how to write simple emails you can bang out in 15 minutes or less, to make enough money each month to feed yourself and your family if you lose your job without severance?
God help you if you don’t.
Because nobody else will.
At least, not if the LAST depression is any indication.
On a lighter note…
I recently got this other email from new “Email Players” subscriber Martin Stellar about how he’s preparing (whether he knows it or not):
I’ve received two issues of the Newsletter now.
And man, you are a wizz.
Email players is not just a system. It’s more than just a marketing strategy. It’s a way of looking at business and learning, and it has had a massive impact on my work. I’m brimming over with ideas and more importantly:
It’s now become incredibly easy and fast to write daily emails.
Usually it take me 10 or 15 minutes, just like it says on the box.
That’s how good Email Players is.
But it gets better:
People LOVE the emails I’m sending, they even take the time to email me and say so.
There you have it:
More proof I ain’t just whistlin’ dixie with this.
My system works.
But, you have to be willing to work it.
Subscription info at:
Ben Settle
