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How To Succeed in 2003

Business 2.0 Staff, Business 2.0, Dec 10, 2002
Commentary by Stephen Downes

The recession that has afflicted the United States has led to no shortage of advice. Taken separately each bit no doubt sounds sensible, but taken collectively it resembles psychobabble: "Start over, build buzz, create a real-time company, order great wine, pack up and move, bet on the next big thing, lead your employees through Hell and back, shake up a calcified industry, survive the unthinkable, stand up to Microsoft, do time, invent amazing things, build a better website, keep cool in a crisis, cook for the boss, make your employees love to work for you, keep the customer happy, stage a monster hit, and see the future."

While you're at it you should also maintain world peace, create life, discover the meaning of existence and cook better pies than Martha Stewart. I mean, come on. Is this the best the business gurus can do? Here's a better plan: find something you're really interested in, learn as much as you can about it, and start working on it. Don't worry about the money, the money will come. Invest your time and your energy in your passion, not your job - reinvent your job if you have to, or plan to leave it if you can't. Then you can ignore the vageries of the economy, because in boom time or bust, you will be doing something that really matters to you and that you are good at. A failing economy only affects those who have compromised their vision, not those who live it (now why can't we see more of that from the business gurus?).

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