Some thoughts on cooking your own goose.

This holiday season is going to be challenging. That's an understatement. With the economic woes broadcast 24/7 it is no wonder that spirits (and business) are down. Now I have written a couple of blogs on the subject, and more than a few articles on advertising in general and marketing in particular. In fact, a recent article urged retailers to "Stop Advertising". But before you take it too literally, understand that the message was directed towards improving your advertising. Often times many retailers get stuck in a rut with an outdated message to an un-caring audience.

They say that fear is a great motivator; for some it drives them to find new solutions in tough times, but for others it stops them dead in their tracks. But it always a matter of choice. The irony is that bad news can become addictive. Each day you are drawn to the evening news, the online fix or even the morning paper. It's all you think about. Pretty soon it becomes a fearful obsession. I know, I've been there. I feel like I am spending way too much time with Chris Matthews, Wolf Blitzer, heck maybe even Campbell Brown.

Recently though I have sought intervention in the form of ESPN's SportsCenter and the guys from PTI. I have had enough with bad news. I am boycotting the blues. Not that the stocks will stop their nosedive, or that the Big 3 from Detroit will pull themselves up by their own bootstraps (that's what I have to do everyday, maybe it might build some character), or even that the Christmas retail season won't suck. It probably will. Times are tough. But to curl up into a ball and wait for the end is nothing short of business suicide.

When the options are to do or die, then by all means 'do'! Like every other small business owner I am trying to anticipate the future and adjust accordingly. What's important is to make good decisions, but by all means do all that you can to drive business to your store, your site, whatever. It is tough to face down fear everyday, to manage payrolls and go on with business as usual. I know it feels lonely some times, so I thought I might share some inspiration.

So when I was shaving the other morning I got caught up in a sing song rhyme from Charles Osgood - the Osgood Report. It made me smile so I hope you will like it too.

So inspiring was the message I thought I might give Suessing a whirl. So when I was finishing this blog I decided to juice the Seuss.

"Well, the water was running so I couldn't quite hear, but when the talk turned to advertising it gave my heart cheer.

So I turned off the water so I could hear better, and his rhyme made me smile as I put on my sweater.

(What, you have a better word that rhymes? Well then don't listen to me then, you do it next time)

Well a day or two passed when my wife said she heard it. She couldn't say where, and she couldn't say when, so I googled and found it and we listened right then.

Well, we listened with rapture, we listened with care, so it was right then and there that I thought I might share.

I hope it brings solace, I hope it brings cheer, but most of all lately, may it drive away fear."

The Fromherz file.