However, in the spirit of American entrepreneurship that Dan embodies, he points out the opportunities presented by this news.

First, Dan predicts a “renaissance of the independently owned, local business.” Secondly, the epic shift of retail distribution to ecommerce will simply accelerate, presenting massive opportunity for online retailers (affiliates?)

Rather than react to the constant diet of bad news offered by mainstream media, Kennedy offers a different perspective to the entrepreneur-minded. After all, before the days of easy credit weren’t we all just a bit tougher? Toughness, and ability to sell and seize opportunity rather than wallow in defeat is the American entrepreneurial mindset that that is the backbone of our economy. Listening exclusively to the mainstream media exclusively would defeat that mindset.

If the news reports are to be believed, there’s just no hope and we’re heading for bread lines. But wait: aren’t these the same folks who stood by and said nothing while subprime mortgages were handed out like candy at Halloween? Aren’t these the same folks who supported the administration’s march into war with nary a word of question? And aren’t these are the same folks who exhaustively covered escalating gas prices and then ignored gas prices as a story when the plummeted?

True journalism no longer exists in most mainstream media coverage. So, like the “friend”, family member or employee who constantly relays bad news, news media should be taken with a grain of salt. There’s no denying the statistics of layoffs, unemployment and tougher economic times. But a steady diet of bad news only creates panic. Panicked individuals own businesses and make bad decisions.

Fortunately, there are CEOs and small business owners who choose to find solutions rather than panic. My friend, Joy Gendusa, CEO and founder of the Inc 500 company PostcardMania, is one such business owner. With over 160 employees, rather than panic, Joy has retooled her services in order to better compete and not laid off employees.

Shouldn’t stories like Joy’s be covered as well as the bad news?

1. They are innovators. They use the fundamentals of their professions in new ways to solve problems.
2. They set a new standard. There is nothing generic or cookie-cutter about what they do.
3. They make what they do seem effortless. These are the pros you wished you had working on your problem in the first place and just had to be grateful you finally did find them.
4. They are willing to be challenged. There are no sacred cows. They question the “everybody knows” beliefs of their professions.
5. They are passionate about what they do. Their work is not drudgery, but something that causes them to light up when they talk about what they do. They could discuss it for hours. That’s the person I want working on my taxes, teeth, hair, etc.
6. They are usually consulted by peers for their opinions.
7. They can explain what they do in simple terms.