Misery loves company. I’m sure you, like me, have noticed how much pessimism still prevails since the beginning of the year. It has become hard to hide under the Eskom excuse “rock” for being late or delivering late. How inconsiderate of them to get the power back on track again! Now people are going to have to find other excuse “rocks” to hide under. One “rock” that is casting a long shadow is the recession. It’s becoming the new excuse for everything.

A while ago, a study, on self-fulfilling prophecies which included an experiment, was conducted. In a small town in the USA, an article appeared that predicted a looming shortage of toilet paper. Of course, people who read this went out to buy “provisions” of toilet paper, in anticipation of the shortage. Demand for toilet paper rose considerably, taking the retailers by surprise. Shortages ensued. The press then lauded their predictive ability with an article on the massive toilet paper shortages in the shops. This is called a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Of course, the retailers put in bigger orders for toilet paper. Stock was restored. But guess what? Because everyone had now purchased so much toilet paper, the retailers soon had a glut of toilet paper in stock. Funnily enough, people still went to the toilet with the same regularity before, during, and after, the so-called “shortage.”

Economic opportunity exists in abundance. It always has and always will. Your attitude is everything. Don’t fall into the trap of huddling together with other naysayers. Instead of spending your energy finding excuses for your entrepreneurial stresses, use the same energy to look for opportunity. Step out from underneath that excuse “rock” and find the company of others who are positively seeking the opportunities.

The real danger is when you are underneath this “rock” and you don’t even know it. Look around you at the people, who are in your circle of influence, listen to their language and observe their behaviour. If their language and behaviour are negative, chances are you are under the “rock” with them. Get out before it’s too late. For when that “rock” starts to crumble, you will all be scurrying around looking for another “rock” to hide under.