I woke up this morning feeling strangely happy for a Monday. Not that I’m a grumpy old sod or anything. But it was quite cold and dark outside, it was Monday and then of course we are facing a recession. So I could have easily woken up feeling a little blue.  

But as I lay in bed last night thinking over the great weekend I just spent with friends a strange feeling came over me. Maybe it was because the Springboks record defeat over England on the weekend (sorry all my English clients, but I couldn’t resist) or maybe the fact that Christmas is only a month away.

Whatever it was I suddenly realized that “I feel fine”. I have a roof over my head and food on my table. I have a loving fiancé, a great family and an amazing group of friends. No one I know has lost their job or their house. Actually coming to think of it – they are all fine as well which in itself is quite a blessing in a world where apparently we will all be in the breadline soon. But you know what – it’s not just me and my family and friends that are doing fine. It’s also my clients, my business associates and their friends and family.  

My point is this – things are not as bad as we are led to believe. Not for most anyway. Friday night we went out for dinner and the little restaurant was packed. They did two sittings and there was a queue out the door when we left. Saturday the pub I watched the rugby in was the fullest I have probably seen it. A friend of ours currently has a stall at one of the many Christmas markets around London. On Saturday she sold almost a £1000 worth of candles. Candles! What use has a candle got in a first world city like London, other than being a luxury, decorative purchase?

During my visit to Cape Town in late September I had trouble finding parking at most of the bigger shopping centres like Cavendish, Tygervalley and of course the Waterfront. The coffee shops where full regardless of the time of day or day of the week. Everyone still did their grocery shopping at Woolworths. Yip – times are tough!      

Ever heard of a self fulfilling prophecy? It is often said that what we focus on becomes our reality. The word becomes flesh. I’m not going to get into any you-can-do-it-all-with-positive-thinking philosophy or tell you that you can achieve it if you only believe it.

But I am going to throw down the gauntlet and set you this one challenge for the next seven days. Your mission, if you choose to accept it; focus on the positive you can see in your local economy. Seek it out; tell your friends and colleagues about it. For the next week; stop spreading the bad news and start spreading the good.

If we all start being a little less cynical, maybe it will catch on. Maybe more of us will realize that we are actually fine and then we can get out of this scarcity mentality we have been force-fed by the media.

I’m fine. How are you?

Wishing you health, wealth and happiness,

Mike Smuts
Property investor and Managing Director of Smuts & Taylor.