Global Entrepreneurship Week

November 17 - 21, 2009 is Global Entrepreneurship Week.

In the US, increased economic trouble has sounded the trumpets of the small business cavalry to save our country and the world.

"Wait. There's a small business cavalry?" you ask.

Yup.

But instead of riding in to save the day, they actually have been here working the whole time. Contrary to what the politicians and media want you to believe, businesses of all sizes and make ups are churning away, as they have always done, to the betterment of the global society.

That's really why we are here right?

I feel for the folks who are currently getting laid off or downsized because of the recent economic downturns. It seems that all I have been hearing about, though, are the people with 20+ years at their jobs getting the axe.

OK. If you have been at your job for 20+ years you must have some sort of expertise in your field. Why then, were you still working for someone else? How many people fought and died to preserve your right to go out and use your expertise, your competitive advantage, to secure your position in the market place?

Did they lay their lives on the line so that you could have a cushy, over paying job, working for a large conglomerate with a company car and tons of clout just so you could be like, "Why me?" when times get tough and companies do what they must to stay alive?

Uh...no.

This a wake up call. For many of these "blind executives" or "skilled laborers" this is their chance to capitalize on their skills. I bet dimes to donuts that most of them have entertained the idea of going out on their own. The human spirit is entrepreneurial. Why else would we have all this technology that traces back to rocks and sticks?

MAKE YOUR SOCIETY BETTER BY MAKING YOURSELF BETTER! ...Jeez....

Perhaps they didn't create their enterprises for personal reasons; I know, I got a baby on the way and I find myself thinking about preserving and providing a certain type of lifestyle. However, I have been at my job for 6 months and not a day goes by that I don't converse with my wife about our need to start something for ourselves. All those times that our downtrodden, newly unemployed citizens told themselves that the time wasn't right because they needed to stay put to pay for this or that, or provide for their kids, I understand the notion.

But, what about their lifestyle now? In hindsight, I bet it would have been much easier to start up back when the job provided income and then by now you would have made the transition to full time. But sometimes, NASCAR and NFL and World Series Baseball is so much more gratifying in the short term.

Ok. Enough of the tough love. Sorry bout that.

I have heard it said that when you close one door, another will open. Carpe Diem, folks. Join the cavalry. It is worth it. Put aside all your fears.

"There is no greater illusion than fear." Lao Tzu, Tao te Ching.

Instead of asking what you stand to lose. Focus on what you and the global society you live in, stand to gain.