A "Miracle" Message

Last week our 14 year old daughter who is very active in athletics asked if we had the movie "Miracle" on dvd.  You might remember that "Miracle" stars Curt Russell in his fantastic portrayal of the late, great Herb Brooks.  Of course this is the story of what may have been the greatest upset in modern sports history when a group of American college boys (true amateurs) defeated the greatest hockey team in the world...the Soviet squad.  In our home State of Minnesota, also knows as the State of Hockey, Miracle may be considered the greatest film ever produced.

There is a scene in the movie when Herb Brooks was driving home from the team Christmas party in 1979.  He was listening to then President Carter's address about how the American spirit was broken.  Mortgage rates were about 20%, unemployment was double-digit, Iranian "college students" had overwhelmed our Embassy in Tehran and were holding a large amount of American hostages with no end in sight.  There were lines around the block to purchase gasoline that was being rationed to service stations.  Things were grim and as President Carter said, for the first time in our history, the majority of Americans believed that the next 5 years would be worse than the previous 5.  Carter's speech was an attempt to raise the American spirit because hopes were so low.  It was an empassioned call to action.

Here we are again with high unemployment, a slow housing market with over a quarter of mortgage holders owing less on their homes than they are worth.  For the first time in our history, the debt of the United States Government has been downgraded by Standard & Poors.  Detroit is a ghost town and a mortgage is only something you can get if you can prove that you don't need it.  In 1979, Americans thought that life in America and our economy was a lost cause.  And what happened?  The cycle broke and America started working again.  Interest rates dropped, employment grew, and with tax reforms creating incentives...the economy grew.  The hostages were released and our college boys BEAT those Soviets and America regained her greatness.

Just when things look their worst, there is always hope that we can make them better again.  Believe in the future and believe that free enterprise and capitalism ARE the answer.  The future is bright my friends!

Jim Pascale is a 20+ year veteran of consulting with small business owners and has comprehensive knowledge of small business management and franchising. Contact Jim at jimpascaleminnesota@yahoo.com.