So now we know for sure that consumers are buying less and it seems clear that we are in a recession. Markets all around the world have reacted and massive amounts of wealth have been wiped out as a result. We have already had a bumpy ride this year and it looks like it is going to get much worse before it begins to get better. But where does that lead us, the average consumers on Main Street? Clearly we must all brace ourselves for difficult times ahead.
Here are two tips that come from my book Jewish Wisdom for Business Success that may be of particular help:
Dealing with failure
All of us are going to experience some setbacks over the next twelve months or so—some of us have already had setbacks. The test will be how we deal with these setbacks. Will we be able to see the silver lining inherent within them or will we begin to see ourselves as a failure instead?
The Israelites in the dessert sinned when they served the golden calf and because of that Moses dropped the two tablets and broke them. But according to Jewish tradition, the second set of tablets he received in their place came together with a much deeper understanding to the Divine will than the first set of tablets offered. In this way, the failure of the golden calf ended in a much greater success.
The lesson is clear. Whenever we experience a setback we must realize that it has a silver lining out of which a far greater success will likely flow. We must look around and find the opportunity inherent in all of the negativity that we see around us. Those who are able to see beyond the failure and into the opportunity will be the winners in all of this.
For each person the opportunity will be different. I was just recently reading how Warren Buffet’s father, Howard Buffet, was able to prosper during the great depression by starting a stock brokerage that catered to those who still wanted to invest. He saw that all of the other brokerages had closed down and there was therefore an opportunity to make a buck. Just keep your eyes out for the opportunities amongst all the pain, then take advantage of them and you will be alright.
Positive thinking
In these troubled economic times it is easy to get despondent. Yes, it is true that many people will get badly hurt. But there will be some—a minority—who will prosper despite the difficult times. Why shouldn’t we—you and I—be amongst the minority who will prosper? We must not allow ourselves to become negative just because things are bad in the economy in general. Look out for new opportunities, work hard, don’t give up, and remain positive. The power of positive thinking should not be underestimated especially when so few people are practicing it today. As the great Jewish mystics said, “Think good and it will be good.”
Rabbi Levi Brackman, co-author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, is guest-blogging on Jewcy with fellow co-author Sam Jaffe. He’ll be here all week. Stay tuned.
Levi_Brackman
Levi Brackman
(born 1978) is a Judaic scholar, rabbi, teacher, writer and
religious leader who has been active in both England and the United
States and whose writings are featured regularly in Jewish publications
internationally and on the Internet.
Upbringing and Education
A native of London, Brackman studied at Yeshivot in Israel, America
and Canada and has taught classes in Halacha, Talmud, prayer and Jewish
mysticism at Yeshivat Hadar Hatorah in New York and at the Mayanot
Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. He received rabbinical
ordination from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg and Rabbi Mordechai
Ashkenazi of the Tzemach Tzedek rabbinical college in the Old City of
Jerusalem and has a graduate degree from University College London.
Levi Brackman comes from a family of seven boys and two girls,
including brothers Rabbi Yossi Brackman the director of the Chabad
Jewish Center at the University of Chicago and Rabbi Eli Brackman
director of Chabad Society and The David Slager Jewish Student Centre
both at Oxford University, UK.
Career
In January 2001, Brackman was appointed to the position of senior
rabbi at the Enfield & Winchmore Hill Synagogue where he become
known for his inspiring sermons, thought-provoking articles, lively and
insightful lectures, and effective life and marriage counseling. He no
longer holds that position.
Brackman is founding member and executive director of The Movement
for a Tolerant World, an organization that offers young people in Asia,
the Middle East and other parts of the globe, a positive and tolerant
ideology that provides them with the opportunity to make real and
positive changes in their community and the world.
In August 2005, Brackman started a Jewish outreach and cultural
organization entitled Judaism in the Foothills, which serves the
Foothill communities in the western part of the Denver, Colorado
metropolitan area. Brackman is the executive director of Judaism in the
Foothills.
Publications and Works
Brackman's weekly column, which is distributed over the Internet to
thousands globally, is also published on Israeli daily Yedioth
Achronoth's English-language website "YNetNews.com". His writings,
which cover pertinent social and political issues of the day, have been
published on many other popular websites such as "chabad.org",
"algemeiner.com", "isralert.com", "Persianrabbi.com",
"freerepublic.com" and "thecoloradoadvocate.com", among others. They
can also be found on his website.
Brackman’s writings have been published in, among others, The
Denver Post, The Intermountain Jewish News (Colorado), Torah Studies
(New York), Etehaad (California), and The Canyon Courier. They have
also appeared in the Australian Jewish News and in the UK, in The
Jewish Chronicle and Hamodia. He has also appeared on TV and his work
has been featured in newspapers both in the USA and in the UK. In
addition Brackman is often quoted as an expert in major Jewish
publications such as The Jewish Post, The Jewish Chronicle, The Jewish
Journalamongst others.
Books
Brackman is co-author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success: Lesson from the Torah and Other Ancient Texts
(AMACOM/American Management Association, 2008). The book uses some of
the world's greatest writings-the Torah and other Jewish sacred
texts-to achieve incredible business results
The difference between the right word and the almost right word is more than just a fine line! it’s like the difference between a lightning bug and the lightning!