It’s often said that a
‘recession’ is when your neighbor loses his job and a ‘depression’ is when you
lose yours. I hope that makes you smile just a bit because this column is
devoted to the brighter side of the drab economy we’ve been muddling through.
As the media bombards us with every negative spin imaginable, it’s time someone
offered a glimmer of hope-or at least puts things in perspective. For the many of you who are floor covering
veterans, these cyclical downturns are nothing new. You have seen long lines
and soaring prices at the gas pump. You likely know the sick feeling of seeing
a neighbor’s home go into foreclosure. I am not trying to depress you. Just the opposite-I want to remind you that
we have been here before. As with any dip in the road, you will navigate this
one. And the best of the best will come out of it even better positioned than
ever.