This economic downturn has affected, and is still affecting, so many people. There are plenty of people who have kept their jobs and businesses and have not felt effects on their standard of living, but we know that people at all levels of society have experienced the sometimes crushing reverberations.

I don’t think that any industry in our country has been hit harder than the construction industry. I have not seen anything like this in thirty years in business.

Any hardship or disaster can challenge us to find new ways to deal with things and also reassess our priorities and our very lives. A friend of mine talked about how her neighborhood came together in a spirit of fun survival last winter after a rough snow storm. Power was out, and people shared fireplaces and gas grills to have warmth and food. Their road was not plowed out for days.

This economic crunch for many people is also certainly a time where it can hit home much more dearly about taking care of one another, doing with less and actually finding unexpected richness of the spirit which has no price. These are positive experiences full of spiritual potential.

Yet paying bills and sustaining a workable life in these times can loom large and want to overshadow inner calm, the power of connection together and spiritual/character growth. It may be true that such challenges can push us to find levels of depth, fortitude and creativity we never knew we had, AND the reality of surviving amidst the challenges can seem overpowering.

I think that service and connection with others in business are more important than ever, yet so many businesses, especially large ones, appear to want to limit human connection as much as they can. Electronic phone answering systems abound. Frequently it is awfully difficult to connect to a live person. Frequently the options allowed do not cover your question or issue. Pretty frustrating! Such practices may appear to save money for the companies and control the interactions, but I think that in the long run these companies are really shooting themselves in their feet.

For a small business owner having anything to do with any aspect of construction and/or design, sincerity and commitment to high standards and solid communication are more critical then ever. Given two companies with the same skill level, wouldn’t you hire the one with the superior level of communication, clarity and warmth?

The people I know who are still busy in any field related to construction do a great job and give great service. They take care of their customers. Typically, too, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, they are grateful for their customers.

Wishing everyone a fine holiday…