Friends,
Dana Johnson, chief economist for Comerica Bank said last week: “I don’t know where the growth will come from but there will be growth” in the Michigan economy in 2010. He suggested where the new jobs will not come — manufacturing. He noted that auto manufacturing jobs have gone from 6.9% of Michigan’s non-farm jobs at the beginning of this decade to only 2.9%. Wow! Could you have imagined — less than 3% of Michigan’s jobs are auto-related? And that percentage will likely shrink with more layoffs in the year ahead. So, especially to my Michigan friends, but all are welcome to answer, here’s a twist on Dana’s query: “We don’t know where the growth in jobs will come from.  Will it come from . . . you?”

What’s stopping you? In a world where it’s easier than ever to invent, find customers, and keep overhead costs to the barest of minimums, what keeps you from employing yourself — and maybe others? It seems like a time for us all to ask that. Here are three questions that will give you (and help me get) a picture of the degree to which you think about starting your own business, the obstacles in your way, and then the way your own doubts may undermine your progress. Once you finish the survey, it will automatically take you to the results page.

I’m looking for a spirited discussion this week on how we adults in this country become more entrepreneurial and the ways in which we overcome our inner uncertainties to move ahead. Hit the comments button at the bottom right to share your experience and your ideas.

What do you think? Do you need to get way more proactive to

Lead with your best self?


Dan

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