Obama Embraces the Recession? Why I Certainly Hope So!

Set aside politics. What is the mindset of President-elect Barack Obama about the recession?

Last week, in my series on Embracing the Recession, I discussed four possible mindsets: denying the existence of the recession, fearing the recession, accepting the recession, and embracing the recession.

Now I claim no particular insights into the mindset of the President-elect. But, what should we all hope that Barack Obama has a mindset?

How would you feel about President-elect Obama taking Office at such a critical time with a mindset of denying the existence of the recession? I certainly hope that will not be the case!

Or, how would you feel about him taking Office with a mindset of fearing the recession? Do we really want our leader cowering in fear? I certainly don’t!

Or, how would you feel about him taking Office with a mindset of just accepting the recession? That would be painful and I, for one, certainly don’t want that!

What I hope, and expect, is that President-elect Obama is a leader who will embrace the problem and draw upon our country’s strengths and experiences to fashion strategies and tactics that will stop the snowball of the recession and create permanent improvements in our economy and our world-wide competitive position.

Now, President-elect Obama is extremely well spoken and is certainly not someone who needs others to speak for him. But, I was encouraged by the recent statement by his White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, when talking about the economic crisis:

“You don’t ever want a crisis to go to waste; it’s an opportunity to do important things that you would otherwise avoid.”

Our country has many fundamental financial problems that have festered for far too long. Let us hope that President-elect Obama rallies the country around taking the hard medicine needed to reduce our energy dependence, improve our global competitiveness, and to restore global faith in our financial markets.

Embracing the recession is not about being happy that the downturn has occurred. Instead, it is about using the downturn to accomplish what previously might have been thought of as not possible.

I am confident that the President-elect will embrace the recession. Let us hope that enough of our leaders in Congress do likewise.

And on a very personal note, let me hope that you also choose to embrace the recession...to position yourself to prosper in these tough times.

Next up: Over the coming week, I will be sharing examples of companies that are embracing the recession and contrasting these examples with companies - in the same industries - who don’t seem to be stepping up to the plate. First up, a look at how the recession is impacting the restaraunt industry.