This news means that it may be a while before most people can look to large employers for jobs that will help their personal recessions end. Instead, we should be looking around us to see what needs are not being met in our local communities. Providing some needed service that is currently missing in the local area is going to be the best thing that any of us can do to get something going right now.

As individuals, family members, and small business owners (or prospective and hopeful small business founders), we have to stop telling ourselves that some large, out-of-area corporation (LOOAC) or government agency is going to save our bacon. It is going to be you and your family (and any employees) working together to meet your individual and collective needs, not big corporations, big banks, or big government. While the government is telling us that the recession may even have already ended, the data does not agree. Unemployment is rising, as are foreclosures. Almost one in seven homeowners is in the foreclosure process or behind on payments. In addition, there are a lot of commercial rental properties that are considered in danger. If retail sales this holiday season do not recover from the depressed levels of last year, landlords (who typically get a percentage of gross from tenants as part of their rent) will have even less money to pay their mortgages. The first half of 2010 could see a wave of bankruptcies, foreclosures, and bank failures. Recession ending? I wouldn’t bet on it.

When I say this, I am not taking a political stance. I am not for or against any politician. I am for smaller, locally-owned businesses (SLOBs) and against whatever I perceive to be against SLOBs (and their owners, managers, employees, and investors). The government is not really going to advance the needs of small business over those of LOOACs and big banks (LOOABs), nor will it subordinate the urge to pull more power and funds into each agency to the need of smaller businesses for less control and lower taxation (or at least less complicated taxation).

As with any other LOOACs, we cannot depend upon the MSM (mainstream media) to give us accurate information about what we need to do to survive the crisis. It is my suggestion that you develop a network of information sources, individuals and smaller, localized organizations (SLOs), including SLOBs, which are “on the ground” in the areas that interest or affect you. You will surely find, as I have, that whenever I know about a subject or event, the news media consistently gets it wrong. How are you supposed to decide when to invest, when to expand, when to hire, when to relocate, if your information comes from biased and controlled outlets? Answer: You cannot do so with any expectation that your decision is based on the best information. Instead, turn off organizations like ABC News, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. Get yourself connected with those who are most likely to supply accurate and timely information.

Finally, do not be a knucklehead. One of the things America did in the 1930s and 1940s that helped our nation survive the severe hardships of those years was pray. Get to know the God who is in control, the one who made you and the universe in which you live. Depend upon him to give you the intelligence to properly use the information you obtain, and the empowerment that enables you to actually perform the tasks you need to do in order to get through. Do not waste your resources on Cadillacs and expensive living. Try to live for the long term.

I have discussed the Econolypse over on Owner-Managed Business several times this year. You can find that content on that blog.