Despite all of the economic news that says the worst is behind us, let\u2019s face it: the economy isn\u2019t exactly back to full health. Unemployment remains near 10%. The stock market stumbles once it seems it has legs again. No one feels recklessly confident.<\/p>\n
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Why isn\u2019t the economy taking off? Wasn\u2019t there supposed to be \u201cpent-up demand\u201d that would put people back to work?<\/p>\n
Well, I have observed things in multiple aspects of life that are showing a disturbing correlation.<\/p>\n
First, at home\u2026In February, we had a blizzard here in Pittsburgh. Record snowfall that month. Unfortunately, the insane weather took its toll on a number of homes, including mine and several of my neighbors\u2019. Insurance companies declared it a catastrophe, so we were written out checks for repairs and our rates didn\u2019t go up.<\/p>\n
Sounds like it would be easy to recover, right?<\/p>\n
Wrong!<\/p>\n
Neither I or my neighbors can get a contractor to complete the work! And it is four months later!<\/p>\n
We have had people make appointments to give us estimates. Many times, the contractors don\u2019t show up. Those that do show up won\u2019t get back to us with estimates or to schedule the work.<\/p>\n
There is a ton of business there for a contractor. But they are all too busy with their status-quo labor force to accept new business.<\/p>\n
With nearly 10% unemployment, it would seem like a ripe time for these contractors to recruit good quality workers who will work cheap, but these companies seem to have no ambition to grow. They would rather turn work down than grow their business.<\/p>\n
And this is not just in construction. My second example comes from Next Level Purchasing Headquarters. Our business is growing and we are ordering more from our suppliers. However, one of our suppliers who stands to gain from our growth told us that they \u201cdon\u2019t have the manpower\u201d to handle our increased requirements.<\/p>\n
Well, that\u2019s simple, right? Acquire more manpower! Our volume of business would justify it.<\/p>\n
But, just like the construction contractors, this supplier has no interest in growing her business.<\/p>\n
I know that I\u2019m not the only one seeing this trend. Where is the entrepreneurialism? Where is the hunger? Isn\u2019t anyone motivated by the opportunities that are out there for the taking?<\/p>\n
Unless we, as a business community, get more ambitious, I can foresee the return to 4 \u2013 5% unemployment being a very, very slow journey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite all of the economic news that says the worst […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":4090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement"],"yoast_head":"\n