Out of the CrisisHow to Survive, Sustain and Grow Through this

Economic Crisis

The Crisis

“What we have learned is that the economy is in much worse shape than we thought it

was in.”VP Elect Joe Biden on ABC News December 2009

Home Foreclosures

“More than one million homes are now in foreclosure, the highest rate ever recorded,

according to a trade group which warned that number will continue to climb.”

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com)

More than 8,400 properties — a record — set for foreclosure sale

Atlanta Journal January12, 2009

Bank Failures

The 22 bank failures so far this year compare with three for all of 2007 and are

far more than in the previous five years combined. It's expected that many more

banks won't survive the next year of economic tumult. The pressures of tumbling home prices, rising mortgage foreclosures

and tighter credit have been battering many banks, large and small, nationwide.

Sunshine Mortgage Corp., one of the oldest mortgage companies, and one

of the biggest, remaining in the Southeast, is closing its doors and

scrambling to find a last minute buyer, Atlanta Business Chronicle has learned.

January 8, 2009

Business Closures

According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, about 148,000 retail stores will have closed in 2008

Macy’sLinen n Things

Circuit CityPep BoysGoody’s

Un-Employment

7.2

7.2

That rate, the highest in 16 years, translates into 11.1 million Americans without jobs

Associated Press

13.5

But 7.2 percent doesn't capture how many people are out of work. By another measure — from the same employment report — as much as 13.5 percent of the labor force is

either unemployed or underemployed.Associated Press

21 million unemployed or underemployed workers

13.5

Associated Press

What Does All of this Mean?

Change

•Change in Behavior

•Fear

•Suspicion

•Decline in trust of leaders

•Lack of confidence in business and government institutions

•More trust in family, close friends and social institutions

•Change in Lifestyles

•Lifestyle priorities

•Family

•Careers/jobs

•Leisure

•Migration to other areas

•Self sufficient

•Change in Consumption

•Consumer Propensity to Consume

•Consumer Choices

•Purchasing Patterns

•Priorities in Purchases

Can We Survive?

•“The Greatest Generation” learned to survive, sustain and grow

•Learned to accept and adapt to change

•Learned to improvise and work around to get things done

•Learned to overcome adversity

•Learned new stuff

Key Learnings from the Great Depression and the “Greatest Generation”

•Adapt

•Improvise

•Overcome

•Learn new stuff

What Is One Good Skill To Learn?

Learn to Solve Problems

“Organizations today suffer from a severe disability when it comes to solving problems. In virtually every organization, regardless of mission and function, people are frustrated by problems that seem unsolvable. Every attempt to resolve a problem results in unintended consequences that dwarf the original one. Relationships worsen as people harden into opposing positions, each side insisting on its own solution, unwilling to consider alternatives. Too many problem-solving sessions become battlegrounds where decisions are made based on power rather than intelligence.” Margaret Wheatley

Toyota Motor Corporation is famed for its ability to relentlessly improve operational performance.  Central to this ability is the training of engineers, supervisors and managers in a structured problem-solving approach that uses a tool called the A3 Problem-Solving Method and Report.

•Fundamental Steps to Problem Solving

•Define the problem

•Break the problem down

•Find the “Root Cause” not symptoms

•Develop solutions

•Test solutions

•Implement and sustain solution

Final Thoughts

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear

is fear itself...”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear

is fear itself... nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance”

Franklin D. Roosevelt