"To equip and serve business owners and CEOs to enhance their business progress through the application of 'best business practices' and Christian principals, and to help them grow spiritually as they seek God's will for their businesses and personal lives"

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• First quarter 2009 unemployment is now approaching 8% (sti ll below the customary
  level of many western European economies) aft er being fairly stable at roughly 5%
  for the prior dozen years. But consider that we averaged roughly this same level of
  unemployment between mid-1980 and late 1986, with a peak unemployment rate of
  10.8% in late 1982. Even this pales in comparison to the 23.6% rate of 1932 and the still high 13.9% rate experienced in 1940 prior to WWII!
• Our annual economic growth as measured by real Gross Domesti c Product (GDP)
  has, in the past year, become modestly negati ve (i.e., zero to -1%) aft er years of 2-3% annual growth. This is far less severe than the recessions of 1974-75 and 1981-82 and a far cry from the Great Depression's 1929-1932 real GDP decline of 26.5%!
• Inflation and interest rates remain at attractive, low levels. The year-to-year Consumer Price Index has remained essentially flat (after years of bouncing between 1.5% and 3%) and interest rates have actually fallen to historically-low levels (e.g., 3.25% Prime Lending Rate). This compares favorably against runaway inflation of 1974-1981, averaging nearly 10%, and a Prime Rate of 10+% for essentially the entire period spanning late 1978 to early 1990 (peaking at 21.5% in late 1980).
• The S&P 500 stock price index has dropped roughly 47% since late 2007. This is certainly a massive drop in value, but nothing like the 87% drop in 1929-1932. For most American families and businesses, the real issue pertains to their ability to sustain high levels of indebtedness and spending in a soft ening economy. The resulting liquidity crisis has tumbled our real estate, construction and banking sectors into a bit of paralysis while everyone anticipates an activist federal government's every move. An unhealthy contemporary sense of entitlement, greed and self Christian CEOs & Owners Building GREAT Businesses for a GREATER Purpose ©2009, The C12 Group, all rights reserved 2 WORKING 'ON' MY BUSINESS B0309.75 indulgent habits - further fueled by big government promises based on deficit spending - has been clearly exposed. It's easy for us to watch the media reports and join in with our peers in bemoaning our economic plight. This is a mistake. Let's turn the TV off and focus on leading our teams through the storm with the realizati on that our available markets, even when contracting, dwarf the small share we currently enjoy. Taking actions now to reset our breakeven point, improve our team, and sharpen our processes will serve us well even when our competitors and market return to health again! It's axiomatic that the best-run companies improve their competitive position when the market's down and others are distracted by worries. For Christian CEOs called to lead with diligence and excellence, as stewards of the resources and people placed in our care, the current highly-leveraged economic
  environment has led to many diffi cult and convicti ng situati ons. Before we join the
  parade of those shouting 'crisis,' we're reminded that:
  
  1. Our sovereign God reigns with our eternal well-being sti ll fi rmly in His hands.
  
  2. He is just and always provide everything we need to do everything He asks.
  
  3. This economic period, however traumatic to our current habits, isn't nearly as difficult a crisis as God's people have often endured over the centuries.
  
  4. Compared to many living off-shore, and certainly those who have preceded us in
  history, we are amazingly blessed with the provisions God showers on us.
  
  5. We have a great opportunity during this time of national fear and turmoil to transparently speak the truth in love, while modeling responsible, God-honoring leadership. More on this in next month's Ministry Segment.