At Your Service by Maggie Inge

Suze Orman, Dr. Phil, Arianna Huffington and a host of other “experts” on almost every subject seem to agree on one thing: in order to survive the economic miasma, we (that’s you and me) must return to core values. It is sound advice for most of their audience. What it tells me is that none of those experts live here in the Catskills.

Animals, from the most feral to the human variety, when in the wild, sleep in formations that enable protection from predators; hence the phrase, “I’ve got your back.” Even in our most civilized forms, we still need one another to see that which we cannot see ourselves. Feedback is one of the most critical elements of community.

Is it intelligent design or evolution? In one instance, we must believe that in the process of creation all factors were considered; in the other, that success hinges on adapting to a changing environment. In reality, we must plan for those circumstances we can foresee and be willing and able to adapt to market changes when we want our businesses to succeed.

A page in history has been turned. Like so many transition points before it, the inauguration of America’s first African-American president marks the beginning of something new more than it does an ending. Moving forward calls for us to marshal lessons from the past and use old skills in new ways.

Last week it was a new year and already it seems we are back to business as usual. Business as usual, that is, if you have become accustomed to operating based on fear.