I was originally going to theme this week's email 'Sect or Cycle', after common recession mistake #5. Then yesterday at the Shirlaws International Conference the final session examined paradigm shifts, in particular focussing on the positive (95.2% employment, 2nd biggest calendar year ever) rather than the negative (unemployment, 4th quarter contraction).

So my question for you is this: in your life, and especially in your business, are you focussed on the positives of this phase in a normal cycle, or are you wallowing in the doomsday sect of negativity? Which outlook will serve you better? Indeed, is your sector/industry actually recessing, or is it stable/growing/booming?

I would like to thank the several dozen business owners and managers attending the conference, particularly the client I spent much of yesterday with. Paul from The Fence Barn is among those committing to positive growth this year, and all the way into the next bull market boom. In your own way, I trust you are too.

What businesses did well in the Great Depression?

The current downturn, largely for dramatic affect, has gained many comparisons with the Depression of the 1930s. But then, as now, there were industries that continued to succeed. McKinsey's tells us the same was true during the recession in the '70s, the one in '80s, the one in the '90s, and the 2001 dot-bomb-9/11 fallout. (Note how frequently the cycle repeats? And you thought this was 'unprecedented'!) 

Business Start-ups in a Downturn

Within all industries, downturns provide opportunities, and history is full of businesses that started at a time when others unwound, and filled a market gap that grew and grew and grew. Some of these downturn start-ups (see Google and Twitter) may have forgotten the lesson now that they're the industry leader. What gaps are being created in your industry?

Teaching is attractive again

As with businesses, so too with some careers, as this New York Times article discusses. As an educator myself (all coaches are), I'd love to see teaching a more attractive career at all times.

Fancy an Architect for 5c

In a case of 'getting more than you bargained for' comes this interesting business exercise. I know from my own client base that even within the property sector, many Architects are doing it tough - here's how one professional is innovating. And that's not a misprint - The 5c Architect even has his own website.

Intranet Joke of the Week

A naval officer met a pirate at an inn, and couldn't help but noticing that the pirate had a hat-trick of wounds: a wooden leg, a metal hook, and an eye patch.

"How did you get the wooden leg?" asked the officer.

"Well," said the pirate, "we were in a storm at sea and I was swept overboard into shark-infested waters. I fought them off for six hours, but alas before me rescue one of the sharks bit me leg off."

"That's terrible," said the officer. "But what about the hook? How did you come by that?"

"Well," said the pirate, "we were boarding an enemy ship at dawn. Cannon fire filled the air, the colliding hulls made an awful roar, and in the heat of battle my right hand was sliced clean off by an enemy swordsman."

"How terrible," said the officer. "And the eye patch? What caused you to lose an eye?"

"Well," said the pirate, "That were a seagull dropping what fell into my eye while I were looking skyward."

"Amazing," said the officer. "You lost your eye because of something as simple as a seagull dropping?"

"Well," said the pirate, "It was me first day with the hook."

I'm now heading into Day 2 of the Shirlaws Conference. I believe spaces are still available in London or San Francisco - if today is as powerful as yesterday, then these events are worth it even if you have to fly from Australia!

Jacob Aldridge and the Shirlaws Team

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