The story the unemployment numbers don’t tell!

The number 14,500,000 (actually more, depending on who you ask and how you count) unemployed is a big number with a lot of zeros. But it doesn’t tell the real story.

Behind that 14,500,000 statistic are unemployed victims of the economy. They represent stories of real people and real families who we caught by a thundering storm they could not prevent.

Their stories represent financial hardships. Their stories tell of the emotional roller coaster, excited one day when a new job seems possible or saddened the next when they get the bad news that someone else was hire.

Their stories must express anger and fear as they watch their dreams disappear along with their financial security.

And their stories must be filled feelings of lack of worth when, through no fault of their own, they were tagged as one of employees that needed to go.

I can’t imagine what those feelings would be like.

I’ve never been fired or laid off from a job. I’m not bragging. The reason is simple. It’s been over 30 years since I held a real job and worked for someone else.

During those 30 years I’ve been self employed – working in my own businesses. Sometimes, my businesses were substantial, if you call a retail business with 18 employees substantial… or an advertising agency with 8 employees significant.

Mostly, it was just me working alone and relying on a number of loyal and trusted subcontractors.

I suppose I’ve always felt secure because I didn’t have a job. I couldn’t allow myself to become complacent. I couldn’t sit back and wait for something to happen… or a boss to step out of his office and hand me a juicy bonus check.

I was the driver. The responsibility to steer the boat, to determine its course, and to keep the wind in the sails was all mine.