2% - How Does 2% Impact You?

The USAToday newspaper recently, and then again today, had a headline that indicated the "plunge" of retail sales in the US. Now when you see the word PLUNGE what kind of a decrease do you think of? I thought of 20% or 30%, maybe even a 40% drop. A huge reduction that must be catastrophic! Then I went on to read the article and it said that sales were off 2% over 2007's Christmas and holiday season. It didn't mention that 2007 was a record year, which it was, or that we were still ahead of 2006 levels. Sorry, did you miss the amount? 2 percent change.

If your rent went up 2% would you care? If your income went down 2% would it crumble your world? If the price of gas fell 2% or rose 2% you would never notice! Where would 2% make a big impact on your life. Maybe on a LSAT exam or an SAT score. Maybe on a calculation of the number of days you had left to live ... I'd want that extra 2%.

In general economic terms when there is a 2% change in an economic condition they round it off to being a flat growth or recession period. Plunge ... wow, that is misleading and that is really what disgusts me with media. Their inability to give you a real representation of what is happening in your world.

Each of us has the ability to participate in this type of hype and the fear mongering that drives it. I bring up the example here to make a point. Otherwise I don't listen or participate. 2009 is going to be a year of substantial growth for my businesses. Why? Because I will make it so. No one has control or influence on me like I do. While someone else is watching for the next 2% change I am going to go get their businesss. I am going to push for growth and aggressiveness.

How are you going to be the largest force in your own life in 2009? How are you going to change your focus? What steps will you take? What will you participate in or avoid? Set a plan. Stick to your plan and ignore the 2% that anyone wants to talk about. Let them own that 2% and the overhead that comes with it.