Musings at Altitude

At the last moment, I cancelled my upcoming trip to our headquarters in Alaska.  I had two good excuses – (1) a volcano is soon to blow near Anchorage and I didn’t want to be stranded if that did indeed happen; and (2) the cost of the trip was going to be about $2,800 and in these tough economic times that spending just didn’t seem right.

As I think back now on the changes that I’m making both in my business and personal spending, the economic impact to companies I typically procure services from is significant.  For example, in just this month of January alone, I have taken no business trips.  That’s the first time I can remember that happening in at least 10 years.  In the last 3 years, I’ve taken trips somewhere for business or pleasure 40 weeks each year (on average).   Those trips included airfare, hotels, rental cars, and meals.  If we look conservatively at each one, let’s say $750 for airfare, $400 for hotel, $250 for rental car, and $200 for meals each week, that’s $64,000 per year I would spend on the road. 

I will most likely cut my travels by half this year, traveling only about 20 weeks and spending only about $32,000. 

That reduced spending helps the bottom line of our company big time.  But that reduced spending hurts someone else as well.

The trickle down effect of the changes occurring in spending habits of companies and people right now is staggering.  Because I travel less, I put fewer miles on my car (150 miles round trip to the airport).  I buy less gas.  I get fewer oil changes.  I don’t renew my Red Carpet Club membership.  I get no shoe shines at the airport.  I eat out 2 or 3 times less per week.  Each of these changes in my spending habits in a small way affects those that provided services to me when I traveled. 

Assuming that many others across this country are making similar cuts, these reductions when added together create consequences of major proportion such as job losses and even bankruptcies.  My guess is that every one of us has been affected in some way by this economic crisis, and either we or someone very close to us has suffered the adverse affects of the changing buying habits of all of us in this nation.

Although hope is not a strategy, faith certainly is.  I’m praying that we’re at bottom and that those who have been directly affected by this get quick relief either from new jobs or alternative sources of income.  I also pray for those who have pursued their passions for a lifetime, who now may be forced to adjust and detour away from their dreams because of these desperate economic conditions.  I pray that they may find peace and sustainment in other pursuits for now, and Lord willing, they may get back to chasing their dreams very soon.  And finally, I pray that compassion will overwhelm me and millions of others, and we’ll see those who are hurting today and reach out our hand to help in any way imaginable.