Missing Bags

A walk up 5th Avenue in New York on Saturday provided telling evidence of the state of the economy. The sidewalks were completely jammed with people as mid-town normally is during the holidays. Good.. right?.. but further observation found something missing… Shopping Bags. Of all of those would-be shoppers, very few were actually carrying colorful signature bags from the various retail brands that normally punctuate the crowded sidewalks and crosswalks. Stepping into a store or two… Façonnable and Hugo Boss were on my list.. revealed huge sales of 30-50% off nearly everything.. and virtually no customers. The sales associates of these upper-end stores, normally scriptedly aloof.. seemed hollow-eyed and nearly desparate to help.  So, did I buy anything?? Yes.. after all somebody has to stimulate the economy! But I must confess that those 30% off tags at Hugo Boss were some incentive.. not to mention the additional 20% friends and family coupon from my neighbor… Thanks Kerstin!

Who is on your Transition Team?

The country now prepares to inaugurate new leadership, the transition team is in overdrive, and our new President is quickly assembling his inner circle of staff and advisors. With the ever evolving and uncertain state of world politics and the economy, it begs the question “Who do you want to surround yourself with?”. Family and friends should always be first on that list in good times and bad. And as we move into a period of change unprecedented in our lifetime, your “inner ring” of close business associates, strategic partners and employees becomes more critical than ever. Choose them wisely, make sure they share your core values, and disengage from relationships that are not healthy and productive. Make sure that your Transition Team going into 2009 is the right one!