In the Land of Small

Among the land of us ladies, big is rarely better. Take, for instance, big hair. Very bad idea in this time in history. Or how about big muscles. No, we much prefer “defined” and “lean.” And certainly God knows we don’t want bigger waistlines! No, no. For belts and buckles, small is better. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that in the land of women, small--not big--is often better.

A Big Hangover
In the case of community and economic leadership, however, Big often trumps the Small. Big corporations with big-time CEO’s are friendly with Big politicians and their Big constituencies. We know, of course, that all this...largesse...can lead to Big problems (aka the recession), which then lead to Big solutions (aka the stimulus), which might lead to even Bigger problems.

Perhaps what we need to recover from this Big hangover is a little bit of...small. Of course, as discussed above, we women understand the value of small. Being the smaller of the species, we know that sometimes smaller can be better. For instance:

Small Solutions:
* small is nimble. I think of it this way: it takes a fly a lot less time to turn around than a horse, meaning that in the business world, small companies or cottage industries can respond to changing trends and forecasts easier than large ones.

* small is sustainable. Growth and expansion is a natural process that should be celebrated. As we’re learning with our bodies, though, obesity should not. Likewise, communities with nothing but “overweight” business (aka big-box retailers) and governments (corruption/cronyism/despotism) would benefit from a serious diet of ma-an-pop shops and grassroots governance.

* small is family. Yes, our interconnectedness throughout the globe has been a boon. Truth be told, though, our recent obsession with globalism could stand to be tempered with a little bit of family. Because family reminds us that genuine relationships matter, and that closeness is an asset. It also reminds us that profit and policy are not always (not often, in fact) the most important thing.

Tipping the Scales
There are other attributes of smallness, but I’ll stop here. For the critical, I’d like to point out that “smallness” isn’t an adequate solution all by itself. It is, however, a good counterbalance to a culture obsessed with BIG. And because women live their lives among small things (families, friendships, neighborhoods, home businesses), I think we are particularly adept at bringing this much needed counterbalance. We can tip the scales back to center.

Just as long as we don’t tip our own scales, of course. We already mentioned how big is bad when it comes to scales...

Previous Recessionista Posts:
Now is Our Time
It's So Trendy!
The Two-Step Shuffle

Domestic Deep Thoughts

I have certainly enjoyed knitting and baking lately (obviously), but I promised that I wouldn't spend the whole week talking about yarn and coconut.  Because while I've been purling away and eating frosting, I have been pondering about the connection between what we are experiencing economically as a nation (and as families) and Nesting.

I recognize that on the surface these two things don't appear to have much in common--"making a home" and the very complex web that is our global financial system.  But at the most basic level, we respond to the global economy First through the way we manage our households.

Now, I love to decorate and bake and craft as much as the next person (well, probably more...), but behind all of these activities, I am making active decisions about my engagement with the outside world.  Where I buy my "stuff," for instance, influences the way businesses function.  How I manage my money directly influences how vulnerable I am to some of these larger-than-life trillion dollar corporate financial troubles.  Choices I make to repurpose things, or create them from scratch, invests resources into a specific type of economy (small, green, informal) and divests them from another type of economy (large, formal, corporate).  My decisions to live within the means of one income, and my choice to leave the traditional workforce--even those directly impact my relationship with the modern global business world--in some ways for better, and in others potentially for worse.

A few days ago I talked about Nesting as a pursuit of beauty--one of the hallmarks of civilization--and how creating safe and beautiful spaces, no matter how small or insignificant, is...well...significant.  The same applies here with home and the economy.  The small, mundane, unglamorous decisions that we make on a day to day basis from our households (verses the Very Large, flashy decisions being debated this week in Congress) have consequences and influence.

Obviously there is a lot more that can be said about this topic, but I'm just trying to grease my own mental wheels!  The overall point, I suppose, is that knitting and coconut cupcakes, and the choices that go behind them, matter.  

Who knew domesticity could be so deep?  

Related posts:

Nesting and the Pursuit of Beauty

Smarty Pants: the Federal Debt

Nesting is...Economizing

Grassroots Jobs--who can afford them?

Smarty Pants: the Federal Debt

Last week I wrote that I was about to embark on a quest to educate myself about the current economic situation so that I would be able to at least comprehend what a trillion dollar stimulus means, and what an educated response to the economy in general should be.  Now, admittedly that goal is ambitious--if world-class economists can't agree on the appropriate approach, what makes me think that I can hone in on an opinion?  Nevertheless, as promised, I started reading up.

Well, several days later I haven't gotten that far.  Not because I think it's boring (although I will confess that my latest knitting binge has kept me otherwise occupied), but because there is so much information to process--so much to learn--especially for an economic novice like myself.  

So I don't have much yet to share, except this--you might have noticed on the sidebar that I have added, just for today, the National Debt ticker on the above left.  My reading, as you might be able to tell, started with budget deficits and the federal debt, hence the rather alarming clock.

Here are some of my initial comments:

1.  I had a physical reaction when I visited the debt clock for the first time yesterday.  A sort of rising panic in my stomach.  Seeing all of those zeroes, and the millions adding up so quickly, made me want to check my own bank account!  Which leads me to say that..

2.  ...it is so easy to hear the words "billion" and "trillion" and relegate them to some abstract concept of monetary value.  But seeing the numbers scroll by like that made it seem a little more real to me.  Not completely real, but a little more real.

3.  The basic fundamental truth behind the federal debt is that the government is spending a lot more than it is drawing into it's General Fund (funded by our income and corporate tax dollars).  And these numbers don't even include the stimulus package currently being debated in Congress!

4.  The government borrows money from the Social Security and Medicare trust funds to help offset this debt, but that money only covers about half, which still leaves the country about $5 Trillion in the hole...

5.  ...and where does the rest come from to fill in the gap?  Foreign countries.  Like China, for instance, and the United Arab Emirates.  And they are charging interest.  Let's hope they don't come calling to collect anytime soon!

I read recently that people tend to dismiss things they don't understand.  Well, I certainly don't understand the complexities of our modern global economy.  But what I do understand is that spending more than you make year after year leads to one inevitable end: bankruptcy.  And I have no idea what bankruptcy would do to our nation, but I can't imagine that it would be pretty.  

I hope I haven't frightened you all into never returning.  I promise I'll take the clock down tonight (mainly because I can't stand watching it for too long).  But I also promise that I will keep routinely writing on this issue of the economy, because it is too important to ignore.  And I can't in good conscience write day in and out about the home economy and entrepreneurialism, or even spending money on swing-arm sconces, without paying mind to some of these bigger issues.  

note: Smarty Pants posts are my routine reflections on current events.  My hope is that we will all become smarty pants.

For Previous Smarty Pants posts on the economy, read below:

Econ 101

the Bailout

Election Exercise: Tabulating my Taxes

Nesting is...Economizing

Last week I wrote about how nesting is often an act of creativity.  Creativity that seems to be particularly (though not exclusively) female.  Like cozy decorative throw pillows, for instance, which are lovely and a must-have home staple.  The same pillows, I might add, that defy my husband's utilitarian reasoning--why do we need these if we don't sleep on them?--as he begrudgingly puts them on the bed.  It must be a girl thing.

But nesting is not just about creativity.  It is also about economy.  They don't, after all, call it home economics without reason.  There is a certain resourcefulness (often a creative resourcefulness) that accompanies securing a nest.  Like keeping a well-stocked pantry in the event of an unexpected potluck that your 7 year old forgot to tell you about until...oops...two hours before.  Or taking advantage of the space under your bed to stash extra toilet paper rolls when they go on sale.  Or having a freezer full of meals in the off chance (okay...often chance) that you don't feel like cooking dinner.

These things are hardly glamorous, for sure.  Throw pillows are way more fun.  But the economic side of nesting is one of its best features.  Because I know myself--when I head out to Target to "pick up a few things I've run out of"...say...several times a week, I spend A Lot more money than I planned (BTW--have I mentioned my new pink patent leather peep toe pumps?).  Having things on hand at home keeps me out of the stores and thus keeps money in my pocket.

Another great example of this is food.  How many times have I ordered pizza when the fridge was empty and I didn't feel like cooking?  Many.  And how much does pizza cost compared to a few frozen meals?  Um...for us, about the equivalent of four day's worth of homemade dinners plus lunch leftovers.  You do the math.

And how about the economic advantages of creative resourcefulness?  I posted on Monday about a cute set of baby quilts I made as part of this Nesting season.  I didn't mention that 100% of the fabric was recycled from thrift store and closet castaways.  Nesting this way was kind on my pocketbook, and also kind on the environment and local economy.  They didn't teach me about that in home-ec class!

So in this season of nesting (for those of you who are joining me), consider embracing the economy of it along with the creativity.  And next week we'll get into the enterprise of it!  I can't wait!

Still to come this week--my first free giveaway, a very belated Marketplace post, and more nesting.

Previous Nesting Posts:

My Domestic Renaissance

Nesting is...Creating

The Personal Side of Nesting

Smarty Pants: striking my fancy...

We've almost reached the entry.  You know the one--the weird vortex of holiday festivities where every week is filled with office parties and potlucks and gift exchanges and shopping trips and travel.  During this hyper-social, super busy time of year, it is often easy to pay no mind to the events in the nation and around the world.  And who can blame us?  During the time of year to be jolly, who wants to listen to some decidedly un-jolly headlines? 

Well...okay, so maybe I do, but I'm weird like that.  Read ahead to be weird too...

The headlines that have captured my attention thus far this week are:

Somolian pirates successfully hijacked a GIANT Saudi oil tanker on its way to the US--the largest capture ever.  This is second time this week I've encountered stories on Somolian pirates, and it's forcing me to pay attention.  Though the headlines seem to be straight from a James Bond script, I regret that they are very real.  Please join with me as I learn more about the plight of the Somolis--

California staged one of the largest ever emergency drills in an attempt to prepare citizens and emergency workers alike for the possibility of a cataclysmic event (like an earthquake).  My first thought?  Way to go, Cali!  I hope that the prep is never put to the real test, but I sure admire the effort.  And I think we should all take a cue from the Golden State and do some preparation ourselves.  Click here to learn more.

I confess that prior to most recently, I've been tuning-out the food tainting scandals coming out of China.  But again this week I've run into a number of articles on the subject, and I think it deserves more of my thought.  My initial impressions are that these troubles are a symptom of a dysfunctional global food system, of which the US plays a large part.  This issue of food safety, security, and provision is actually on my list of top issues that I think every woman needs to be informed about.  How it took me so long to connect the melamine conflict with the larger picture is a mystery!  Duh!

Finally, I read this article on slumping retail sales, and the forecasts for lower holiday spending.  This will be, I'm sure, only the first of many times I address the issue of spending during this holiday season.  So, to kick off the discussion, for the record I think that an economy that is so heavily reliant on holiday consumer spending is imbalanced and unsustainable.  I'm not against spending during the season, but I think there has to be a better way to keep the economy afloat than to charge up the credit cards so that Junior can have the latest and greatest toy.  

What do you think?  Which headlines are jumping out to you today?  What are your thoughts on holiday spending?  And what perspective do you have on the global food chain?  I'd love to know.  Email Me today and share!

Coming up on Smarty Pants:  I think a bit of background might be in order.  After all, some of you might be wondering why a blog on domestic affairs and entrepreneurialism has a regular column on current events?  And why I choose to highlight some headlines and completely omit others?  Some explanations, I know, are in order.  Stick around this season to hear them!

Meanwhile, in other News

note: smarty pants posts focus on current events, and not the celebrity kind.  Sadly, the events of late are...well, a bit sad.  So if you prefer "ignorance is bliss," read no further.

The end of a presidential election race is kind of like a tornado--it sucks up everything in it's path.  Meaning that it consumes the news, the commercials, and the internet.  Who can escape it?  

Meanwhile, the rest of the world keeps on turning.  So for a bit of perspective, here's what is happening outside of the election:

*  We aren't the only ones struggling with economic troubles.  Read about how interconnected our global economy really is through this account of monetary woes in Eastern Europe.  If you don't have the stomach for more economic articles, here's the skinny: Eastern European countries borrowed a lot of money to spruce up their nations in order to be accepted into the European Union.  Their bankers were Western European countries, which are currently under the same credit crunch we are experiencing.  And with currencies suddenly dropping like flies, everyone is feeling the squeeze, and the IMF (International Monetary Fund--aka Big Bank) is shelling out some bailout money of its own.

*  More talk and action on the "Green New Deal" concept.  If you follow environmental news, and wonder where the headlines have gone since the economy and elections have taken the spotlight, read this analysis published in Britian's Guardian for an update.

*  On a side note, I found that some of the Guardian's sidebar headlines read like a morbid menu: "Um, yes--I'll have the 'recession special' with the 'week of wrath' and a side of the 'banking crisis timeline.'  And for fun I think I'll order the 'credit crunch in cartoons' for dessert.  Thank you."

*  To remind us that the Middle East still has it's share of turbulence, read this article about a recent US strike in Syria.  Also, the Iraqi political leadership is sandwiched between the US and Iran as it tries to decide whether to allow US troops to stay in the country past the end of this year.  Can you guess Iran's opinion on the issue?  click here to read more.

*  And the US isn't the only one with an election looming.  Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, forced to leave his post due to accusations of corruption and scandal, will vacate the seat, with contenders Binyamin Netanyahu and Tzipi Livni dueling for the post.  Elections are likely to happen in early 2009.  read more here.

*  Back to the economy, it is important to remember that currency and credit crunches here equals food crises in the Southern Hemisphere.  Read this article to learn more about the growing global food crisis.  (I know--yet another crisis.  We're apparently crazy for crises these days...)

Okay...so I didn't mean to make you depressed by the headlines.  But the truth is that there really is a lot more going on in the world than Obama vs. McCain.  And if we don't know what is going on, how will we know how to respond?  

Did you miss my Election Exercises, designed to help me prepare for the coming vote?  Click here to catch up!

Marketplace Mavens: Hannah Breshears of Red Tandem Studio

note: Marketplace Mavens is a weekly column highlighting the spectacular talent of women entrepreneurs.  Whether they are hobbyists, full-powered business owners, or somewhere in between, these ladies are sure to inspire you to venture into the marketplace yourself!

I had the privilege of recently sitting down over a cup of coffee (well, I had tea) with Hannah of Red Tandem Studio, and am very excited to showcase her business as this week's Marketplace Maven.

Hannah specializes in graphic design and letterpress, creating custom imaging, stationery and invitations for her clients.  It is easy to see why she is successful--her designs are great!  They have a mix of whimsy and sophistication all rolled into one (especially her signature tandem bicycles).  

After leaving a full-time job with a local newspaper to pursue her own business, Hannah shared with me some of the in's and out's of operating your own business.  Here are some of the best tips I tucked away from our conversation:

*  When taking a leap into your business, be prepared to continue working a "conventional" job while your venture is still young. Hannah, for instance, works part-time so that she can continue earning but still have time to pursue her new business.

*  Word of mouth is a gold mine for any business.  The majority of Hannah's customers find her via word of mouth--she hasn't even had to pay for advertising yet!  In other words, relationships and good customer service mean everything!

*  Eventually you have to get into the nitty-gritty-business-stuff, like taxes, licensing, etc.  I got an education about sales tax just in the short time I talked with Hannah, which means that she's done her homework.  Mavens don't let the technical aspects of operating a business hold them back--rather, they dive in and learn as they go.

*  Sometimes small is best.  Contrary to the "bigger is better" mantra that is preached in business circles, small can be a good goal.  Hannah wants her business to grow--but not too much.  In other words, like many Mavens out there, she wants to find enough financial reward in her creative talents to support a flexible, family-friendly lifestyle, but isn't interested in building an empire.  

As with all the Mavens who are featured on this blog weekly, Hannah values the support and encouragement of friends, family, and women like you.  So please take a few minutes to visit her website (click here), her online stores (click here and here), and her blog (click here).  Know a friend who is getting married and in the market for beautifully designed custom invitations?  Pass on Red Tandem Studio to her!  Or consider sending Hannah an email to thank her for being a Marketplace role-model!

Have you missed previous mavens?  Then check out these ladies:

Jenn Ski

Heather Davis of Pink and White Designs

Marketplace Mavens on stephanieHillberry.com

Interested in reading about more Marketplace Mavens in the weeks to come?  Then don't forget to subscribe to this blog to receive automatic updates!  (click here to learn more)

In A Time of Economic Proposals, Here's Mine

After reading the news this morning, I realized I couldn't go another day without at least talking out-loud about what's going on in the world. Frankly, it's scary. Or at least I have a knot in my stomach, wondering what is going to happen next.

Generally speaking, I'm a fairly faithful person, believing that good things can work themselves out, even in bad situations. But I'm also a realist, and I recognize that we are in for a bumpy ride.

Now, I'm no social scientist or economic expert or policy wonk, but instinctually I know that the solution bantered about daily in the mainstream media and presidential debates aren't going to be enough. Billion dollar bail-outs are fine and well (okay, maybe they aren't so "fine" and "well"), but we're probably going to need some strategies on the ground, too.

So, I've been thinking about what my "economic proposal" would be during these times. What things would I propose, if I were giving a campaign speech or sitting in a boardroom? Here are my thoughts, at least for my own life:

1. I will seek shelter in community. I need my friends, family and neighbors for emotional support, so this is no time to isolate! Furthermore, they are a great resource for, well, resources. We might be able to share more to cut costs, or trade tips for making the dollars stretch, or just offer a helping hand in sickness or stress.

2. I will invest in small and local businesses (including locally grown food). Now, I'm like everybody else--I love big-box retail stores. They're convenient and cheap and on every corner. But in times like these, small business owners need the money! Plus, dollars that I spend on them "multiply" through the community in a way that dollars at Target never will. And it's clear that we could use some of that multiplication right now!

3. I will be financially responsible by living within my means, meaning that I won't take on any more debt (if I can help it), and I'll earnestly seek to pay down the debt I currently have.

4. I will take care of my health. Healthcare expenses are the number one reason people go into bankruptcy, and they are a huge financial burden on our government. Ironically, many of the top health problems are preventable. I, for one, can take my health seriously, and practice the basic principles of nutrition and exercise.

5. I will be seek to be prepared. I can't foresee everything, but I can make wise preparations the way previous generations have. I can make sure my home has food medical and emergency reserves. I can contribute to my savings account. I can properly store my important documents. I can talk with my loved ones about "just in case" situations.

6. I will be a good steward of what I have. I'll reduce waste when I can, and think of creative uses for what I already own, and use up my resources before I purchase more. And I'll share, too, since generosity is an important part of stewardship.

I think that basically covers it. No doctoral degree or sophisticated financial instruments required. Just good old-fashioned common sense with a dose of community support. Will this plan fix what ails us? In the short term...no. But it certainly can provide shelter from the storm. And in the long term--if we all practiced it--it might actually be more sustainable than those billion-dollar deals flying about these days.

Sometimes the simple things can actually make a difference.

Smarty Pants

Smarty Pants posts are my regular musings on current events.

Become a Smarty Pants yourself by reading the links below:

Smarty Pants on stephanieHillberry.com

Introduction to Smarty Pants

Election 2009: 

intro to Exercises

Exercise #1: Reading my Ballot Book

Exercise #2: Planning Ahead to Cast My Vote

Exercise #3: Tabulating my Taxes

Exercise #4: Knowing my Candidates

Exercise #5: Avoiding End-of-the-Stretch Election Traps

Election Musings: the Small Things

On the Economy:

The Bailout

In a Time of Economic Proposals, Here's Mine...

Econ 101

The Federal Debt

International Affairs:

The Middle East: steps to forming an opinion

General Thoughts and Comments on the Headlines:

Meanwhile in Other News

We Interrupt these Messages (thoughts on NPR)

Dirt, Money and the Globe

Striking my Fancy

Fits like a Glove

Have you ever tried to wear a pair of gloves that were too tight?  I have a pair that was given to me one year for Christmas.  They were a stylish brown leather, slim and attractive.  I wanted them to fit, but every time I put them on, I could slowly feel the blood to my fingers wane.  

I bring this story up because sometimes I feel like the modern economy is too tight.  The four philosophies that I wrote about yesterday--the ones that I think are pulling the economy out of balance--feel constricting to me.  Perhaps they make you uncomfortable too.

The expression, "fits like a glove," is supposed to mean that the fit is just right.  Not too tight, not too loose.  This is how I want to feel about the economy.  Unfortunately, because of its current preference for big and impersonal, the fit is wrong.

What would the right fit feel like? I wonder.  Of course you know me well enough by now to know that I'm leading up to the answer to that question.  The right economic fit is the SHEconomy.  The SHEconomy fits well precisely because it elevates what the modern economy squashes.  It nurtures relationships as a necessity rather than an inconvenience, because women are relational.  It values small and nimble, because we have long since learned that being smaller and "weaker" can make us quicker and more agile.  The SHEconomy measures success in multiple ways, like health and well-being and community welfare, instead of just monetary gain.  And it understands that the economy often operates in the midst of life, in between dinner and soccer practice and grocery shopping, rather than within tidy boxes.  

Do you see why the SHEconomy, by counter-balancing the philosophies of the modern economy, could create a good fit for women?  It is a place where women can take leadership and ownership, because it affords us an opportunity to express what is important to us.  And it capitalizes on what we naturally excel at--on our economic strengths.  

For the rest of the week we are going to talk about what the SHEconomy looks like, and how we can nurture it regardless of our lifestyle.  Staying at home?  Great, the SHEconomy is for you.  Working 9-5?  Awesome--the SHEconomy has opportunities for you.  Stay tuned for more!

Me? An Economic Leader?

Hello!  Welcome back after a long holiday weekend.  Hope you all enjoyed it!  

Before launching into this week's series of posts, I want to recap from last week.  As I wrote last Monday, I'm starting a whole month's worth of discussions on women and community leadership, and will be introducing some new concepts, as well as new resources.  

Last week we talked about community leadership and the "I'm Rooted" campaign on www.stephaniehillberry.com.  I wanted to end that discussion by mentioning that I had a great time spending the week thinking and writing about female leadership, and that I compiled all of my thoughts into an online resource found by clicking here.  This small "treatise" on leadership can be downloaded and forwarded to others, or printed and mailed.  My hope is that you'll take advantage of the "write it out" and "talk it out" activities, as well as the "3 weeks to rooted" calendar.  Even more, I hope you'll write to me at shillberry@comcast.net and share your thoughts and ideas on community leadership.  

That said, I am going to transition the conversation to the next topic: the SHEconomy.  I've mentioned that term on this blog a couple times before, but want to spend the whole week talking about it in more detail.  So, for starters, those of you who follow my current event blog, Cigars in the Parlour, know that I like to write about economics.  Now, I recognize that the economy is by all accounts a fairly boring topic, and one that is intimidating and difficult to get into.  Rest assured, I am Not an economic expert, and therefore won't even attempt to talk about it like one.  I am however, very interested in it.  And very convinced that we as women have a great opportunity to lead in it.  In fact, we have an opportunity to put our own feminine stamp on it.  A stamp I like to call the SHEconomy.  

The SHEconomy is not meant to replace the traditional economy that is currently buzzing about around us.  Rather, it is intended to provide some balance to the way it operates.  We women are particularly good at balancing things out, and the economy should be no exception.

Therefore, my hope is that by the end of this week you'll:

* no longer be intimidated by the economy

* recognize your potential as an economic leader in the SHEconomy, and

* take some time to contemplate how you're going to start walking out your leadership

First step will be to peek into some of the...ahem..."testosterone" qualities of the economy as it currently operates, and contemplate how some "femininity" might give it a boost.  Stay tuned tomorrow to read more!

Nuts and Bolts

Hopefully you had an opportunity yesterday to read some stories about men and women who have successfully started their own micro-businesses.  If not, scroll down to read Wednesday's post.

I thought that now would be a good time to put some nuts and bolts to some of those personal stories by answering the questions, "what is micro-business" and "why is it necessary?"  Tomorrow we'll dig into why it could be a great fit for women in today's economic times.

So, what exactly is micro-business?  Well, it's smaller than small business.  Micro-businesses are tiny--usually employing 1-5 people.  They commonly operate out of the home, and they often provide goods and services for the local community (although they don't have to).  Because they are so small, they tend to be flexible, require little start-up capital, and generally fly under the radar.

If they fly under the radar, you might ask, why are micro-businesses important?  Well, I'm sure you are all familiar with the growing "big-box-ification" trend in our local towns.  You know--where goods and services are increasing provided to us by giant chain stores and franchises.  This trend has provided us with great one-stop-shops, low prices, and convenience.  But it has also created some negative consequences in our local economies, like loss of competition, lower quality goods, and impersonal service.  

Not to oversimplify, but it kind of reminds me of high school.  The big-box businesses are glamorous, like the prom king and queen.  They can throw their weight around, influencing the entire culture.  And they are so popular--city governments throw money at them to woe them into town (aka development incentives).  In contrast, smaller businesses (most of them locally owned) are left in the wake of the popular kids.  Though they may have great creativity, ingenuity, and high quality, they just aren't as cool.  And eventually they get crowded out.

What happens?  Well, many of the things we are witnessing today.  Our jobs are not as stable because global economic forces can put the squeeze on large corporations, sometimes squeezing us out of work (think outsourcing).  Small-time entrepreneurs have a challenging time competing, and often go out of business trying.  And the popular "kids" call all the shots--No money for local healthcare?  Too bad.  Don't want to commute an hour there and back?  Oh well--they'll find someone else who will.  All the decisions are made in far-away, fancy boardrooms, and we have little say in them.

This is not to say that big-box businesses are all bad.  They aren't.  In fact, in a lot of cases, they provide an inspiring example of the American Dream.  But, they need some competition, and we need an alternative.  You know the old adage, "don't put your eggs all in one basket"?  Well, we shouldn't put all of our dollars into big-box businesses.  As it is in the stock market, a little diversity can go a long way.

So, what does this have to do with stay-at-home moms, housewives, and young working women?  Well, we'll get more into that tomorrow, but let's just say that we might be the exact population to balance the scales a bit.  Tune in Friday for more!

Deep Economy--I promise it's cool

I just finished reading Deep Economy by Bill McKibben, and I have to say I liked it.  Now, I know what you're thinking--What kind of girl reads books called Deep Economy?  She can't be cool.  Let me assure you that I read a variety of other things too, in addition to books on the economy, like girly magazines, and even the occasional People and US Weekly.  And believe it or not, I think you might like McKibben's book, too.

His entire premise is to challenge the notion that "more is better" and recommend generally that we all be a little more neighborly.  If you aren't convinced yet that this is interesting stuff, consider that I had a lively discussion with friends just the other night on this very topic, and they certainly are cool.  

I think that young people, maybe women in particular, are searching for some alternatives to the usual arguments and agendas.  I mean, I follow politics (more than I'd like--I'm married to a political junkie), and I have to confess that I get rather tired of hearing the same stump speeches time and time again.  I don't really feel like I fit well into "conservative" and "liberal" categories.  This, incidentally, is one of McKibben's points--that a lot of stuff worth talking about doesn't "fit."

Anyway, I picked up the book originally because the Etsy book club will be discussing it this spring.  Good recommendation from a great company.  Check it out, and visit etsy to jump into the discussion.  Or email me your thoughts--I'd love to hear 'em!