We Refuse
Maybe you’ve heard that there is a recession on in the U.S. and that economies are suffering all over the world. Well, we refuse to participate in this recession.
Unemployment is rising and maybe we’re supposed to lay-off staff, but instead we’re hiring additional staff. The housing market is in the tank and you’re not supposed to buy or sell a house right now, but one of Unit’s families is purchasing a new house this month. You’re not supposed to make any significant changes in your life right now, but another of our families is moving from a small city to the big city. Conventional business wisdom touts the use of communications technology as an inexpensive, foul weather substitute for in-person contact, but this year our company is planning more air travel and more face-to-face visits than ever.
These decisions might surprise some, but they’re the right decisions. We refuse to employ recession-based decision making because we’re not participating in this recession.
We’ve raised pay for our staff. We’ve hired experts, not low-wage warm bodies. We’ve purchased additional computer equipment, furniture, and additional software licenses. We’re growing our business by making good business decisions. We’re doing what businesses are supposed to do to keep the market healthy and we’re crafting our own market results. That’s how the market is supposed to work.
Market stress is causing some businesses to become increasingly protective of their corner of the market. They’re playing a zero-sum game and believe they must hoard clients. We refuse to play that game. We’re sharing more work than ever, partnering with other agencies. Additionally, we’re working on a low-cost app that is meant to help build business for other designers and developers (our “competitors”). We refuse to participate in a fear-driven, cannibalistic market.
We don’t want any federal bailout. We don’t want any reward for irresponsible behavior in our market. We don’t want artificial support of any kind for our market. We want to do business in a self-sustaining market and we will live with the consequences of our decisions and our actions …and we’ll make our decisions and will act with that in mind.
Times are tough and we know that some are living through a recession, but we refuse to participate in it.
* * *
Update: In answer to some notes I’ve received: no, this is not business as usual. This is business as it’s supposed to be.
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Comments (55)
That is awesome!!! I totally agree and wish I was hearing comments like this from more people and more businesses.
A great positive attitude :)
Fantastic thinking. I refuse to participate either.
Here, here! Well said Andy and the right strategy. A pep talk we all need to hear.
This is the first time I’ve read some sense about the recession. Get this to a wider audience quickly! Inspirational stuff.
Thank you
[...] Andy over at Unit Interactive has posted on awesome article titled “We Refuse” in which he shares how Unit Interactive is refusing to participate in the current world [...]
This is great. I wholeheartedly add my support.
You should make an “I Refuse” graphic that people can add to their Homepage or Facebook page. Start a revolution.
I dig the positive vibe here man. Keep it up and best of luck to y’all!
I agree with Micah. We should spread the word..
When people ask me, “why aren’t you taking this seriously? 9% of our population is unemployed!”. My answer, “because 91% of our population still employed.”
I wish you good luck and great success. My your income grow to $249,999.99
Yes, exactly. This recession may have been initiated by the housing crisis, but really what continues to drive it is the lack of generosity and fear on the part of businesses and consumers. Thank you for not contributing, I hope you’re business grows well.
Good to see the media hasn’t scared you like every other company on the planet. I swear some companies are doing just fine but lay people off out of fear.
Bravo! Bravo, Andy! I couldn’t agree more.
Tell it! I love this roll-up-your-sleeves mentality. Thank you.
Bravo! Conventional business wisdom got us into this mess, I don’t think it’ll get us out.
[...] Unit Interactive :: Blog :: We Refuse – [...]
[...] are taking a stronger stance; according to Andy Rutledge(whose own blog is in my Google Reader), they refuse to let the recession mindset affect their business decisions. In fact, they refuse to participate [...]
This is great! I’m about to spread the word :-)
This strategy may work for you in your particular line of business, but for most this would be considered self-deluded action and would only lead to a more rapid demise. As for the unemployment rate, the real rate is much, much higher than what is actually reported.
Everyone, thanks for your comments and support! Jim, thanks for helping to illustrate my point.
Hi Andy,
I’m right there with you… refusing.
Keep it up!
For people who have the money, this is a great time to invest in the market and purchase a home. Everything is on sale. I’m glad to see that you and your employees are in a position to take advantage of that. It seems that most people have completely lost their minds.
Totally agree. Great post! “Recession? Thanks. But I’m not participating.”
Well said.
Rutledge rocks.
Unfortunately I am an unwilling participant as my salary has been reduced and client activity has slowed. But I like your post and I like that you are not trying to perpetuate the situation like the media has been doing.
Kudos to you and your team, Andy.
I was at a local entrepreneur’s conference recently where all speakers were encouraging the participants to not get affected by recession with many inspirational examples and words like: “the sky has fallen? the stars just got closer to reach”.
Great read! Thank you!
Great outlook on the whole situation at hand. Sometimes though it’s tough for me to look forward with enough strength to not get overwhelmed. But I have to remember I still have a job and while I may not like it every single day, it’s more than what a lot of other people have right now. I have to remember to be thankful each and every day.
Wow! I’m glad to see that at least someone else out there can see through all the scare tactics being employed by our new president and his administration (who ironically campaigned on a platform of hope…).
Judging by this article and your “USA.gov” redux article on your personal blog, it sounds like I’d really enjoy working with you… to bad I don’t live in Texas. ;-)
Such a refreshing standpoint, i love it, the power of positive thinking is much more potent and infectious then the prevalent insipid gloom being peddled by most. A joy to behold.
Positive or negative – you will tend to find what you’re looking for in the world.
Since shaking off my pessimism, I am experiencing the highest client activity ever. I could most likely continue living happily freelancing – if I didn’t want to get into an agency and learn more from veterans so badly.
And, since I have always done what I can to live within, if not below, my means – I have been able to purchase new (non-work related) technology; contemplate my first home in the next month or so; and, much much more.
Andy, thanks for not curling up into a little ball of sorrow and brandy.
I also refuse to participate in Obama’s recession!
Obama’s recession? It was my understanding that this was Bush’s recession. Or Wall Street’s recession at the very least..
Obama’s recession? It was my understanding that this was Bush’s recession..
Amazing stuff ! Inspirational and helps to shake off any pessimism and work positively !
Add me to the list of those refusing to participate. Good idea!
In a recent tweet I touted this as the best business article ever. What it lacks in detail it makes up in spirit. Keep on
rockin’doing business![...] at Unit Interactive they have the audacity to announce that they “refuse to participate in this recession.” [...]
great post, andy! appreciate you lifting the spirits of a few folks with this perspective
Yes! I would end this comment with the “Yes!” but I don’t want to be a spammer and not add any value to the conversation… Hmm…
Crap. I can’t. Thanks for the inspiring post.
Thanks for the inspiring post.
Yesterday I refused a project, with a budget that had been approved the day earlier, because they went out and found someone else for almost half the cost and wanted me to compete with it. The conversation was interesting because they expected me to cut my fees because of the economy, but they were not cutting their fees.
Yes, Dustin, there are all sorts of ways to “take advantage” of this “crisis.” We, too, continue to turn down projects with those we don’t care to work with …for a host of reasons. It’s not always easy, but the alternative is madness.
Hoard
Not horde
Good stuff!
Ha, thanks Becky. Inspired fervor must rob attention from spelling accuracy! ;-)
strong, inspiring article. good for you guys.
we, in the travel industry, have already taken measures to against the recession. we’re really affected by it.
“no, this is not business as usual. This is business as it’s supposed to be.” – very positive.
Add me to the list of those refusing to participate in this recession. I am going to go on doing business as usual.
nice to see someone guts. cheers to you!
Well done! This is a beautiful example of independent thinking and strong leadership.
Amen! That’s what I’m talking about. Awesome post!
No matter whose recession it is, it has certainly been fueled by Obama and today’s media, unlike in the 80′s when unemployment was higher, inflation was higher and interest rates were much worse. You never heard Reagan or the media then say the country was in a crisis. Obama used the term 39 times in a recent speech.
Some positive thoughts… happy to read… :)
[...] limp-noodle, doom and gloom sentiment in the media over the recession pushed us to boldly proclaim, “We refuse to participate in this recession.” We knew that we didn’t have to play by everyone else’s rules because of the “winner’s [...]
[...] are taking a stronger stance; according to Andy Rutledge(whose own blog is in my Google Reader), they refuse to let the recession mindset affect their business decisions. In fact, they refuse to participate [...]
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