You would never believe it given the drumbeat of negativity that passes as business news these days, but last month U.S. GNP regained all that was lost in the recession of 2008-2009 and now America stands once again as the largest economy in the history of the world.
Let's first take a moment and focus on being proud and of that.
Now of course not all is rosy. Above all else, persistently high unemployment, back up to 9.8% and 15 million jobless Americans as of Friday, continues to drag down the nation's morale.
How important are jobs? Well, quite simply jobs are EVERYTHING.
Even a cursory look at the deep and tragic social problems of some regions in Africa and the Middle East results in two conclusions - 1) that the lack of jobs there wastes the gigantic human potential of literally hundreds of millions of people and 2) poor economic opportunity is THE main wellspring of extremist ideologies.
Now, of course the problems in the U.S. economy are nowhere even near the magnitude of those in these fortune-starved places.
And more to the point we don't just want ANY jobs here in America. We want GOOD JOBS. I define a good job as follows:
1. A job that allows for a reasonably "worry-free" meeting of the base, human needs - food, water, shelter, and clothing.
2. A job that provides security from threats to health (yes, health insurance) and violence (making enough money to live in a safe neighborhood).
3. A job that is part and parcel of one's overall life mission, whereby the successful performance of it appeals to the best in all of us - self-respect, a sense of belonging and community, the inherent satisfaction of the work itself, and the satisfaction of contribution to a cause larger than our own needs.
So Where Do These Good Jobs Come From?
Well surprise surprise, they don't come from the government but more surprisingly they don't come from corporate America.
Rather, nearly all net job creation in the U.S. economy comes from firms less than 5 years old, or brand new (startups) and young (one to five year old) companies.
For perspective on this, 2007 was the last fully healthy "jobs" with 12 million new U.S. jobs created. And of these, startups and young companies created 8 million of them.
A few further points to illustrate:
* Since 1977, without startup companies, net job creation for the American economy would be negative (i.e. more jobs would have been lost than created) in all but a handful of years.
* Young firms - companies between 1 and 5 years old - over the past 30 years have accounted for the lion's share (more than 2/3) of all net job creation.
* And my favorite, companies between one and five years old create on average 4 jobs per year each!
Let's first take a moment and focus on being proud and of that.
Now of course not all is rosy. Above all else, persistently high unemployment, back up to 9.8% and 15 million jobless Americans as of Friday, continues to drag down the nation's morale.
How important are jobs? Well, quite simply jobs are EVERYTHING.
Even a cursory look at the deep and tragic social problems of some regions in Africa and the Middle East results in two conclusions - 1) that the lack of jobs there wastes the gigantic human potential of literally hundreds of millions of people and 2) poor economic opportunity is THE main wellspring of extremist ideologies.
Now, of course the problems in the U.S. economy are nowhere even near the magnitude of those in these fortune-starved places.
And more to the point we don't just want ANY jobs here in America. We want GOOD JOBS. I define a good job as follows:
1. A job that allows for a reasonably "worry-free" meeting of the base, human needs - food, water, shelter, and clothing.
2. A job that provides security from threats to health (yes, health insurance) and violence (making enough money to live in a safe neighborhood).
3. A job that is part and parcel of one's overall life mission, whereby the successful performance of it appeals to the best in all of us - self-respect, a sense of belonging and community, the inherent satisfaction of the work itself, and the satisfaction of contribution to a cause larger than our own needs.
So Where Do These Good Jobs Come From?
Well surprise surprise, they don't come from the government but more surprisingly they don't come from corporate America.
Rather, nearly all net job creation in the U.S. economy comes from firms less than 5 years old, or brand new (startups) and young (one to five year old) companies.
For perspective on this, 2007 was the last fully healthy "jobs" with 12 million new U.S. jobs created. And of these, startups and young companies created 8 million of them.
A few further points to illustrate:
* Since 1977, without startup companies, net job creation for the American economy would be negative (i.e. more jobs would have been lost than created) in all but a handful of years.
* Young firms - companies between 1 and 5 years old - over the past 30 years have accounted for the lion's share (more than 2/3) of all net job creation.
* And my favorite, companies between one and five years old create on average 4 jobs per year each!
Just look at all the turmoil over Groupon, they started only two years ago, employ over 3,000 people and turned down an offer from Google for six billion dollars. All a result of today's young aggressive, risk taking entrepreneur. I heard one person say, "well, that's not encouraging, a company worth that much only employing 3,000 people." I answer that with technology has changed the way we operate and two years prior those 3,000 jobs were not there.
But it is often missed that the companies that are creating jobs are the usually ones that earn investors the highest returns.
Why? Simply, job-creating companies are almost always companies that are growing!
So let's make it easier for our startups and young companies to create jobs.
Culturally, let's really put the entrepreneur where he or she belongs - on a pedestal as a modern day, real-life action hero.
And let's be one of them.
Because while we like to see the good guys win, it is even sweeter when we win with them.
Looking for Opportunities Now?
When you can start what could potentially change your life for under $300.00, you have to be thankful for living in this great country. Look at this at www.alwaysbselling.amanation.
But it is often missed that the companies that are creating jobs are the usually ones that earn investors the highest returns.
Why? Simply, job-creating companies are almost always companies that are growing!
So let's make it easier for our startups and young companies to create jobs.
Culturally, let's really put the entrepreneur where he or she belongs - on a pedestal as a modern day, real-life action hero.
And let's be one of them.
Because while we like to see the good guys win, it is even sweeter when we win with them.
Looking for Opportunities Now?
When you can start what could potentially change your life for under $300.00, you have to be thankful for living in this great country. Look at this at www.alwaysbselling.amanation.
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