I attended my first HABE luncheon today.  A great group of economists and non-economists where there to get a perspective on the economic outlook.  I wasn’t surprised to hear the speaker give another grim – but unfortunately real – outlook on the economic crisis that we’re facing.  A lot of the same information was also highlighted at our research and policy conference to more than 150 attendees last week.

So what lies ahead for Connecticut, for our nation?  Change is inevitable – we are all looking to our new president and new legislative leaders to make some touch decisions in the next few months.  It won’t be easy and without challenges, but perhaps our sense of being in this boat all together will bring about a chance for some positive collaboration, a boost in morale and some general cheer.  We desperately need something encouraging to pull us out of this slump – and I don’t mean the financial one as much as the physical and mental crisis we’ve also been experiencing.

Did you see the pre-election poll by the Associate Press and Yahoo News showing that people’s anxiety about the slumping economy was on the rise, as was a drop in personal happiness?  Or the recent article in the Hartford Courant describing stress levels about the economy?  This itself is a crisis that could impact job productivity, stunt innovative thinking and have other widespread effects.

The article mentioned “resilience and willingess to… communicate” – a strategy that is low-cost and a key part of collaboration.  CERC’s door is always open for communication.  And the next time you get a chance to attend a meeting with groups like CERC or HABE – see it as an opportunity to speak your opinions, give your ideas and share an optimistic desire for inevitable change with others in the same boat.

Kristi Sullivan
Director of Marketing