IFA:
America has always been a nation of entrepreneurs. My grandfather was the original type of entrepreneur––a farmer. He had customers who followed him until the day he died. Together, he and my grandmother earned a living for their family and created a legacy for generations to come. They didn’t have a lot, but they never went hungry.
Back then, they lived on optimism and hard work. Going through those tough times made our grandparents and parents strong and shaped a generation that knew how to work hard and complain little. They weren’t seeking a handout from anyone; in fact, they were likely giving the little they had to help a friend. When I think of today’s entrepreneurial climate, I remain bullish on America. Don’t count America out. The strength of America is in its people. I saw my grandparents and parents live through some tough times and come out strong. It is adversity that builds strength and character, and it is this very recipe which fosters ingenuity and creativity. John D. Rockefeller said … “These are the days when many are discouraged. In the 93 years of my life, depressions have come and gone. Prosperity has always returned and will again.â€
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said recently that the economy should begin to stabilize later this year and the economic recovery will come early in 2010. We can only hope so. But even as today’s economy recovers, we’re emerging into a much different world than the one in which our parents and grandparents lived. Gone are the days when individuals will work for one or two employers, receive lifetime benefits and retire boasting double-digit service time from one employer. Full article.