I think you would have to be living under a rock lately to not have noticed the sudden shift and change in the marketplace. The jobs report from last Friday was extremely positive. Temporary jobs are up again   now four months in a row. Service jobs have spiked; manufacturing is up; almost all sectors saw some spike. Yes, some are government census jobs, but even construction made solid job gains. We still have a long way to go. We have lost over 8 millions jobs over the last few years, however, momentum is just that – momentum. We will take all of the good news we can get!

If it is all good news how can the marketplace be considered schizophrenic? Because there is so much ground to make up! Because of the depth and breadth of the challenge ahead. Because organizations continue to be cautious and careful. Because there are still a record number of unemployed on employment for more than six months. And the good news? Less newly unemployed each month over the last 6 months.

Generally speaking, jobs come 6-12 months after the stock market corrects. Well, the recession officially began to end in the second quarter of last year according to those that know. And one year later, jobs begin to happen!

The great thing about business is that no one likes to be left behind. No one wants to miss a wave. If your business has survived; it is most likely somewhat weakened. Every business needs each new project, every new customer. No leader wants to miss opportunities when they have been so few and far between! And hopefully we can pull out of this a little faster with all of us afraid that we might miss something!

Are you ready? Times are a-changing? This is why we hunkered down right? To get back to good times. To be there when the opportunities re-emerged. I, for one, am ready! Thanks to my lessons learned during this recession, so is my company.