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Remember that shifts are cyclical, temporary, and not the end of the world. Be happy for other countries which are finally getting a break.

• SwellJoe 19y ago
  Unfortunately, when the US economy has a downturn, the world economy follows. See the Nikkei's dip following a larger dip in the US last week. Obviously, the EU is providing a much needed foil to the phenomenon, but it's still a fact of life. As the US economy goes, so goes the world. Of course, optimism will spike when the new president takes office, and we'll see at least a short bubble early in 2009. Whether it will end up having a permanent impact on the economy is another matter... Anyway, smart startups are better equipped to deal with downturns than larger companies, despite the common "retreat to quality" wisdom that a couple of articles have talked about recently. Fewer employees, the expectation to run unprofitably for a year or two built right in, and a much tighter fist holding the cash. Dumb startups would fail, regardless, and those businesses in between small startup and mid-sized business--the no mans land where many "successful" early stage startups fail--is probably even more dangerous during a downturn. So, be thankful you're a smart early stage startup! (And, if you're in no man's land with a million or ten in revenues and no clue how to scale to the next level and steadily increasing expenses, best of luck to you. You'll want to hang on tightly, keep your hands and feet in the car at all times, and hope the rails carry you out the other side safely.)