ADVICE FOR THE LOVEWORN AND THE MONEYSHORN…

The Author rarely gives advice in The Desert of the Real. No money in it, and it is often wrong. But with the economy in a powerdive, it might be time to share some thoughts.

The Author’s personal economy has been in crash mode for the last five years since he moved to New Mexico, the Land of Disenrichment. Except for nine-months in Indiana working on a lucractive project for an upstanding organization, he has made far less here than elsewhere. And the decline of income has aligned with a conomiitant loss of wealth. The Author has lost more money than many people will ever see. But that is past.

The Author ain’t broke, but he ain’t gettin’ up to dance.

In effect, the Author suffered a pre-recession depression and he has kept his head above water and has made progress.

HERE’S SOME ADVICE FROM A FORMERLY SUCCESSFUL MOFO THAT CAN STILL PAY THE BILLS.

A. Do Not Automatically Rely on What has Worked in the Past. What Worked in the Past Is Probably no Longer Working. Rely on What you Did to Make it Work.
That is a mouthful. But look at what you did to make a former job, a former business, a former deal, successful. Was it relentless work? Was it superior marketing? Was it special skills that you possessed that made the venture successful?

Suss out the underlying basis of success. If you made a fortune in the VHS tape market, you must change the game. But pull out what made things work for you. Lots of other MOFOs sold VHS tapes. What made you better at it?

B. Peel Away the Needs from the Wants. Pull in the lines. Throw out the sea anchor. Ben Franklin was probably right that “A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned.” Ironically, this advice is bad for the economy as a whole. In recessionary and depressionary times the economy needs all of the economic spending it can get. But don’t worry, there are plenty of other SOBs that will spend what they don’t have.

C. If You Need Help, Get It. If these economic times have triggered depression or substance abuse issues, get help for it. There is no shame in doing so. And these conditions will exacerbate your efforts to navigate these dour days.

D. Adopt a Dog, Volunteer to Help Others. Pets are a great stabilizer. And pets suffer disproportionately in bad economic times.

And volunteer at the homeless shelter. Visit people in nursing homes. Get out of yourself and give to others.

HOPES THIS HELPS.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO KICK IT “OLD SCHOOL” IN THE DESERT OF THE REAL!