Watching a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Come True

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Bruce Keener

We have almost talked ourselves into an economic depression. Sure, there are real fiscal problems in some sectors of the economy. But it is fear that has dragged the markets to their lowest level in 11 years, not the value of corporate assets.

We are witnessing a self-fulfilling prophecy come true. All the talk of gloom and doom has worsened a bad situation and is continuing to do so.

I have lived long enough and known enough people to have seen self-fulfilling prophecies fulfilled many times, and to know that our thoughts and attitudes do impact what we have and don’t have.

There are people I love who have virtually nothing because their attitude is that “something will always go wrong,” and, for them, it does. I can do very little to help them (and I have tried), because their attitudes have such a great impact on their lives.

And, of course, I know and love people who have an opposite situation, in part because of their attitudes that things will always work out.

Zig Zigler used to say “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” I love that saying because it sums up such a powerful truth in such a succinct way.

Something to think about as you go about your business.

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  • John

    Man, you are so right.

  • Michael Watson

    The candidated blamed Bush for all the problems. The candidate promised change. The people cheered and chanted, “We want change!” Obama was elected and in less than 100 days he has delivered change. How many of you are planning to buy stock, a new American made car or home in the next six months. How many are afraid of losing your job? How many like the changes so far and really believe Obama can buy his way out of all our problems? How many of you believe you can buy your way out of your problems? Get out your Visa card and start stimulating the economy yourself. Don’t worry when the bill arrives. Pass it on to your heirs when you are dead. In the meantime, continue to stimulate the economy. IT is the only way to prosperity. Spend, spend, spend.

  • http://www.zen-moments.com John Rocheleau – Zen-Moments

    It was fascinating watching this recession develop. I saw retired people with stable pension income shift into survival mode and cut back, even though their own spending power would not change. Their buying power would actually increase due to lower prices. You would think these people would celebrate the projected economic downturn. I saw corporations cut back their marketing efforts to save costs in anticipation of an event that in fact they could have taken advantage of.

    I wonder what would have happened if the media took their job seriously. The power they have over the public is profound. What would have happened if they acted on the premise that people are equally motivated by fear and greed, or put in a nicer way — by fear and positive potential. If the news media had the smarts and the social conscience — would we still be in this mess?

    Don’t get me wrong; I am sure the news media are doing well and they no doubt interpret that as meaning that they are making all the right decisions, but they are leaving money on that table. They could be doing so much better, not just for themselves financially, but also for the global economy — by simply telling the truth and going the extra mile.

    Another attitude problem that relates here is that lazy-minded corporate thinking now has an excuse: “We’re down because the market is down.” Never mind that your lazy thought processes precipitated your downturn. In fact, you lead the market; your unwillingness or inability to follow even basic good business/marketing practices has caused you to fall before the market did — how savvy was that?

    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of lazy thinking management people. It’s almost like they occupy a different world from the world of sharp business practice. Their world is one of ego, inner-circle mentality, and a “we’ve always done okay (read: in a strong market); why should we stretch ourselves; we’re comfortable as we are?” Then the market tightens and of course all the weak links start snapping. And still they don’t grasp the cause and effect. Oh how I detest that thinking.

    There is always a formula for making any type of business work, but it requires that people have the work ethic to learn it through experience and discipline, then apply it with inspiration. Everything in a business is critical. If one person is promoted beyond their abilities you contaminate the pool. These people will usually “hire down,” and the disease spreads like cancer throughout the organization.

    Lazy, limited thinking, is responsible for this recession. It didn’t have to happen — and it doesn’t have to continue!

    John