I've said it before, "batten down the hatches."

The past few weeks have been tumultuous. The greater economic landscape is showing signs of significant duress, the US auto manufacturers are kowtowing to the impact of limited credit, and people across the country are finding excuses to talk haphazardly about the economy.

But the systematic, the structural, the undiversifiable is not the subject of this mental rumination. No, the impact of these things is what has hit home lately. Just as I celebrate the hurdle of obtaining my FINRA Series 7 license, others trip and hit the ground. A round of downsizing left a few friends without jobs this past week.

As a result professional mortality is brought to the forefront. So in times like this I do two things. The first is establishing a precocious professionalism--a middle-ground between a braggart and humility. My value contribution must be clear and undeniable. And somehow that has to happen with grace. Maybe a bit of flourish an a curtsy will allow me to pirouette and parry the layoffs.

The second coping mechanism is running each day through a juicer. A big one. Extracting all of the pleasure and joy, disappointment and adjustment, of each day. The little things. And, if any life advice can be extrapolated from Good Charlotte's undeniable gift for lyricism (and I firmly believe it can).

"The Little things
little things
Made who I am today"

So its upward and onward. The tenor has changed, and perhaps the duration. I'm experiencing the high beta I've always wanted. Collect and continue, we march on.

Let's hope the market improves.


Also; Nilsson - Spaceman might be a new favorite song of mine. Very Bowie.