Zcause Blog; Anthony Zolezzi.com

How a very bad year for American workers
could give rise to a renaissance for communities

December 28, 2009

While many commentators are calling 2009 a not-so-very good year, I think it might just mark the beginning of an incredible new era.

Coming off the financial meltdown, a lot of companies will actually show strong profits, but at the expense of the people who work – or rather used to work – for them. Those are the ones that used the financial meltdown as a way of laying people off. Now I believe that some layoffs where inevitable because the corporate structure needed to adjust to working in the information age. But unfortunately, instead of doing it in a gradual and orderly fashion, many corporate heads saw the meltdown as an opportunity to quickly downsize, creating a very difficult situation for the economy and further uncertainty for anybody out of work today.

But I also believe that, in some respects, this can be a blessing in disguise, for two reasons that I would like to focus on. First, a recent consumer research study, to which I was privy, found "prioritization of self" to be today’s number-one trend – which includes putting oneself and one’s own talents, abilities and potentials ahead of one’s job, a concept I talked about several years ago in my book, “The Detachment Paradox.” Now, I happen to think this can be a very positive first step to a new world order where the "self" (or the "soul," if you will) comes first, and transcends the interests of any employer. Also with this self come what I call the “three C’s”: Customization, Creativity and Control.

This, in my opinion, will lead itself right to what will be the next big trend, and that is "LOCAL EVERYTHING." Forget imports, forget manufacturing overseas, forget food coming from 2000 miles away; mini-factories, customization, the creative spirit, artisanship will be the new order of the day . I firmly believe that the local butcher shop and local produce shop, carrying home-grown products, are going to become the norm, and that this will have an enormous effect on everything we do and ultimately lead to the rebirth of community., my fourth “C” in this equation. Just think for a moment how wonderful a world it will be when Customization, Creativity and Control combine to bring about the revitalization of your community, and thriving local economies are restored to work alongside the corporate sector in helping to create a more sustainable future.

Here’s to a wonderful 2010, and a great new beginning!

Zcause Blog