Besides just hanging on for the ride, I am trying to learn new skills, both at home and at work. I have decided that I no longer want to be a digital dinosaur so I need all the help I can get. If history is any measuring stick, when things turn around, they will get good in a hurry and I would love to be a part of it.

I love that quote. So simple and so obvious and so empowering. Reading your blog is the “thing I’ve never done.” Great site!

I love the language that you’re using David. Too many people are “reacting” right now instead of responding! Now is the time to respond in a controlled intelligent manner with a game plan and action.

It’s not the resources that are important but you’re resourcefulness! When I started my first home business 8 years ago I deferred a car payment to the back end of the loan and had a yard sale to complete the start up costs. It was the best thing I could have ever done.

But imagine if I reacted and said, “I can’t afford to start a business.”

My life would be so much different and not in a good way.

Great message on your part and best of all great language! Our language reveals truly what our thoughts are and yours are dead on target!

Although the economy doesn’t affect me now, I am already thinking about 18 months from now. (I have a full scholarship, plus a monthly stipend. No children, no car, no mortgage, no debt.)

My plan is to acquire marketable skills, whether making money from the internet or not. It’s as you said: 1-) setting achievable, measurable goals; 2-) working like there is no tomorrow; and 3-) twisting plans if necessary.

And you, working on a Sunday? You are, indeed, off to a great 2009!

Cheers, D.

I love this quote too.
My game plan for the economy is much like yours. Learn new skills, apply them, deliver the best value I can and create ways to allow more abundance into my life.

Most of all, though, I believe in NOT giving in to fear-based thinking – what you focus on expands, so I’m deliberately not going to focus on lack.

I’m convinced that tough times are the greatest ever opportunity to create value, and that’s just what I’m trying to deliver – so why on earth would I hold back on account of what some economist says the LAST quarter was like?
“A recession is by definition only ever in the past.” (Mark Joyner)

2009 is my year to shine and stop working for a boss…which i aim to achieve by june. Have numerous niche blogs (sports, politics, business) that i’ll be launching this year, next is http://www.soccerwires.com followed by http://www.trucksmall.com

@Muzi Are you making any money online right now to have such a goal?

My plan is to try new things and see what happens (blogging, marketing) and keep my eyes open for new opportunities.

David, the economy IS as bad as it seems. What you see on the news is real. 500,000 people are losing their jobs every month. I work in the lending industry and every day I have customers calling in saying that they lost their job and don’t know how they are going to pay their bills.

Eric, you can say that now because it is self-fulfilling. When this whole economic meltdown was in its infant stages, it was the news media and the folks in Washington who made it seem dangerous and threatening. For Washington, its a votes and power-grab. For the media, it is ratings. And if enough people are saying things suck, things will suck.

The state of the economy is very much dependent on collective mindset. I choose to disagree with it and blaze my own trail.

Hi David, just found your blog via your interview with Yaro. Great looking site

As an armchair economist, I gotta say that the media, governments, IMF and the world bank have all been complicite in talking UP the economy. They all have a vested interest in a soft landing- a hard landing trashes everyone. I think this is dangerous, becuase a lot of mums and dads listen to these sources for investment advice.

This problem was caused by unproductive debt and excessive leverage. Wealth can only be created and sustained by changes in real productivity- we’ve just gone through 10 years of flat productivity growth. The increase in wealth we experienced was as a result of increased debt. One great big ponzi scheme. Has nothing to do with positive or negative attitudes, even though it may seem that way at times.

Make no mistake, this will be an economic event the next generation talks about. We’re only just seeing the leading edge of the decline in the real economy, wait for banks in China and Asia to start failing. They’ll drag everyone down further, just like US and UK did last year.

I am personally terrified that governments have started spending too soon. If they blow their cash, we could be stuck with flat or negative growth for a decade or more…

David, the collective mindset is a small part of the economy. Reporters on the news report what is going on in the world and if companies are not making sales and not growing, ppl lose jobs. It’s just a matter of numbers.

So I disagree with the whole “if someone says the economy is bad it will be” notion. The economy is just business (spending).

That’s fine, Eric. We’ll agree to disagree on this one, though.

Eric, I am making money online, though not enough…thus the need to spread my wings on other markets. Quitting my day job has been a long term thing, its not a new move…am working towards improving my revenue streams right now to justify my quitting a monthly salary.

I think for 2009 I really just want to concentrate on writing quality content for my blog such as helpful tips but everyday and builing back links.
Hey I read your “Future Blogging Income” found it very insightful but I find one thing you didn’t mention that I find is very helpful that is using wordpress to schedule posts so I don’t have to do anything when I am going to phases of nothing to write about. Excellent feature and I recommend it to all bloggers who usually just post (too soon) or write drafts(you need to publish yourself later.
keep up your good work, cheers to your success! ben

I feel as well I need to increase my digital knowledge and do whatever it takes. Be optimistic. These are historic times we live in just as our fathers and their fathers. We have to wake up the creative part of our brain and put it to work. It’s up to us because God help us if we depend on everybody else. People can only do so much. There is a lot we can do ourselves to make changes.

You have a great ideas about 2009, I have started to think the same not to let the economic problems effect me, I got some hits already and I lost some money, but lets say that I am fine and I can live with that!

It’s a very nice to share this kind of post with me!

Recessions are for economies – not for individuals.

YOU – can’t have a recession.

You CAN have your best year ever if you’re in the RIGHT market.

If you’re on a sinking ship – jump the hell off…

I have a site in a particular niche and someone asked me if my sales were off because of the economy…

I just shrugged because I had never thought of it that way – I’m continually doing link building, SEO and continual split testing to improve the revenue the site makes.

These improvements are meant to out pull any dip in sales.

Control what you can and the hell with the rest.

Interesting discussion. Thanks Hugh for very considered comment. I too think we are just at the beginning of a very deep trough. What we do about our individual problems is a matter for each one of us, but I don’t think internet marketing is a magic hole that lets us escape into a better world. If only!
If people are not buying physical goods they are also not buying information. I’m definitely rethinking my attitude to spending on courses etc. And I assume others are too.

I’ve been alright so far — I paint and work a full time job doing marketing / project management, and have decided to sticking with full time work for another year. Working hard on personal, potential money-making projects on the side, always. Everybody, hang in there!

I’m pushing forward and doing something that is sadly not promoted much anymore. I am taking personal responsibility for my life. I will determine if I succeed or fail.

2009 will be the year that sets the rest of my life.

I absolutely agree with you, David. The economy is in a mess, however for creative people who handle their resources well and bust their jacksy, you can still achieve.

You simply have to be more resourceful and smarter.

Here’s to 2009!

Hi David. Great post. I write something similar some time ago on my own blog for my LifePath Unlimited home based business. It is true that the 'downturn' effect is contingent on how you receive and perceive it to be. I think that for a lot of us, times of struggle are the same times that allow us to take stock of what we truly hold dear.

We tend to assess our priorities and choose what makes us happy. I was fortunate to lose my job in the downturn… and to be able to convert that 'loss' into a win by finally pursuing my own ambitions to own an online business. Like you, too, I have now turned my focus on blogging as my prime vehicle for personal fulfillment and financial satisfaction.

In resonance to your quote, may I add – “in life you don't get what you want, you get who you are..” .

Looking forward to building some trackbacks with you! ThrvingNotStriving.com