When I was in Business School at Kellogg, investment banking and getting a job at a company like Lehman Brothers or Merrill Lynch meant that you had succeeded. The thought that Lehman Brothers has gone bankrupt is mind-boggling.
Today, I flew from LA to NYC and watched five hours of dire news on the state of the economy. Endless sound bytes of McCain saying the "fundamentals of the economy are strong" were contrasted with Obama proclaiming that McCain doesn't get it. The reality is that this is a complex situation, and my very limited understanding of economics makes me feel incompetent in understanding many of the nuances of what could have, should have, and should be done.
What I do know is this.
When the market crashed in 1999, I had a good company that did not survive. Today, I believe I have another good company -- Intent -- and I am raising money in a difficult climate. (That said, this time around I will make sure we survive!)
While my husband's income is stable, others in my family are being faced today with trying times in their work. As the founder of Intent, I may not have an income today, but I am responsible for a team that relies on me, which personally only makes me more committed to succeeding.
I think my money is safe, but I ask myself -- should I just spread it around hoping for the best? Should I invest abroad?
There are difficult times ahead for us as a nation, and I for one want to be prepared. I want my family in a stable situation, so I will be minding our financial commitments for some time. I want my employees to have stability, so I will focus on milestones that position us for success in the short term, as well as the long term.
But this will not just be about the U.S., millions of people around the world are now affected by a global economy. We must lead by example in finding a new balance.
In challenging times, great companies are built. If we believe in what we are doing and we can manifest our intentions, we can and will succeed.
But then, I ask you, what can we as individuals and as a society do to help one another in this time of stress? What is your intention? How do we support each other, and create optimism and prosperity for the the years to come?
- Mallika Chopra,Intent.com
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