The Unemployment Domino Effect
By Adam
Radzik
Marketing & Sales Coach
(Scene: Adam Radzik, sales and marketing expert, is part of a panel of four business leaders who are being asked questions by a packed auditorium of MBA students about the economy of the United States.)
“Mr. Radzik, the stock market has been climbing all week and many economists are saying that the recession is over. Is the bad dream finally behind us?”
 “I would not break out the champagne just yet, and I believe that it is way too early to make positive pronouncements. The unemployment rate has risen to 10.2 percent and more than eight million Americans have lost their jobs since the recession began. What we must realize is that the loss of employment causes several negative domino effects.
The first to suffer are the unemployed themselves. Their savings quickly evaporate, and even with unemployment checks, there is no way that they can afford to continue paying their bills. Their buying becomes vastly reduced. This is the first unemployment domino effect.
The second group to suffer is the families of the unemployed, as their relatives turn to them for help. These good souls dip into their savings and their limited means, and they find themselves writing out checks every month and offering to pay for this and for that. Their buying becomes significantly reduced. This is the second unemployment domino effect.
The third group to suffer is the bystanders, who watch as the people they know are let go, and they tremble with fear at the rumors that their own companies are considering more and more labor cuts and plant shutdowns. Their buying is also substantially curtailed. This is the third unemployment domino effect.
The fourth group to suffer is the retailers, who account for approximately 60–70 percent of the economy. As people become more frightened, they spend less. The retailers offer one dramatic markdown after the next, but they fail to spur on sales in a significant manner. There is a projection that 79,000 stores will fail before this drought ends. This is the fourth unemployment domino effect.
The government, in an attempt to prevent widespread suffering, extends unemployment benefits and finds itself embroiled in deficit spending as a result of a variety of business failures. Dramatic deficit spending erodes the confidence that the world has in the dollar, making it more expensive to purchase many commodities. This impacts all Americans and is the fifth unemployment domino effect.
Unemployment also means that the businesses that previously were able to employ the effected men and women are not able to continue employing them. What this means is that unemployment also points to business weakness and business failure.
As far as the stock market is concerned, the financial markets are often the first to drag us into recession, and some say the first to pull us out, but as far as I am concerned, it is the unemployment number that is paramount, and we are continuing to bleed.”
“I am surprised at your answer, sir. I thought you were more of an optimist.”
“Young lady, I am an optimist. I am optimistic about the ability of the American economy to heal itself, but as I often say, healing and recovery are gradual and refuse to be rushed. It would be a mistake to fool ourselves into thinking that the patient could be released from the hospital while he is still ill and requires treatment. And America will require several more years of stemming the hemorrhaging.
We need to improve the quality of American products and services, significantly strengthen our competitive advantages, overhaul the curriculum of our educational system, provide retraining for those whose industries have suffered long-term damage and work like the dickens to promote a genuine recovery.”
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Excerpt from CD Set: Quick Advice on Improving Our Relationships
Partners who violate the rules of the relationship believe there will be no consequences.
Sometimes a partner breaks a rule because the partner assumed it was okay to do what he was doing. The defense presented is, “I didn’t know that this was a rule of yours! How could I have known? I never would have thought that this was a rule!” This position might be believable if the rule is an uncommon one and not a rule that every reasonable person would understand.
More often than not, however, one can assume that the partner who broke the rule knew that a rule existed and believed he or she would get away with it.
A young teenager who broke into a liquor store in the early hours of the morning was asked what went through his mind as he stood in front of the store contemplating the burglary. Smiling at the detective, he answered, “I wondered, what is the chance I will get caught? Very small. What is the chance I will be convicted? Very small. What is the chance I will actually go to jail, since I am a minor? Very small. What is the chance I will get a long sentence, since this would be only my third offense? Very small. What is the chance, even if convicted and sent to jail, that I will serve a long sentence (’cause I’d get out on good behavior)? Very small. “Once I figured all that out,” the delinquent grinned, “I ran toward the window of that liquor store with my crowbar swinging!”
Many a violator of rules believes he or she will not be caught, and even if caught will be able to lie and manipulate to find a way out of the crisis.
The Power of Meditation: Creating Balance In Your Life
Results to Expect
Two major global trends have been gathering momentum over the years and will continue to grow. They are increasing stress levels and the interest in spirituality. Meditation profoundly addresses both of these trends.
 In meditation you are, at will, consciously experiencing a fourth state of consciousness. The other three states of consciousness are waking, sleeping, and dreaming. This fourth state of consciousness is a state of “restful alertness.” While your body is experiencing a rest deeper than sleep, your mind remains alert and awake.
This state of “restful alertness” releases stress, just as sleep does, but at a much deeper level. This deep rest is preparation for dynamic, successful activity. When you get a great night’s sleep you are better prepared for a fulfilling day. Meditation releases deep-rooted stresses and prepares you to dive into your day and evening with greater energy, a clearer mind, and richer emotions. The ultimate purpose of meditation: a greater enjoyment of life!
Balancing profound rest with dynamic activity is one of the most powerful balancing acts you can perform in life.
The regular, daily practice of meditation will help you achieve the following:
- More energy
- More creativity
- Peace of mind
- Enjoyment of life
- Improved health
- Fewer colds
- Improved job performance
- Less stress
- Reduced anxiety
What Is Meditation?
Meditation is a simple, easy, effortless mental technique performed while sitting comfortably with your eyes closed.
Personally, I have been practicing and teaching meditation for more than 40 years. In those more than 40 years, I have never missed a morning meditation. Why? Because it works!
If you are interested in learning more about meditation, contact Mark Riesenberg at 973-736-8112 or mark@hrugoals.com. You can also visit his website at www.hrugoals.com.
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