Like most of you, I took this year's economic downturn pretty badly. While I continued to push forward, it took a Herculean effort to move even one inch. And to my shame, there were couple of days when I was completely paralyzed. The snowstorm we had in the Northwest did not help either. I was stuck inside (I have a very low car) and my only outgoings were to shovel the snow and daily trips to the local grocery store. No, I did not need anything except to get out of the house. In one of these gloomy days, I came across an article in the Seattle Times.

The article talked about the owner of a mini mart. Luel Mengistu, an Ethiopian immigrant, always shows up - even with the recent snow his store was the only one open. His policy is to be always open - rain, snow, and sunshine - he shows up. When asked how he does it, he simply answered, "It is my principle. I am open every day. No exceptions."

I have had to admit that I was overcome by shame. Here I was a mentor to future entrepreneurs, sitting in a corner and crying "Poor little me". It was the shot I needed to recharge my true self. I got up and started working right away without realizing that it was Christmas Eve and I was about to join my family for Christmas dinner.

As Luel said, this is still the only country in the world where you can achieve your dreams. Somehow, even the best of us - the evangelists of the American Dream - succumb to the idea that somebody else needs to provide for us; that is always somebody else's fault. (Does the 'The government should have protected us against the Wall Street villains' sound familiar?). We forget that this country was built on a dream of people who came with nothing but dreams and the determination to make those dreams come true. Their persistence, perseverance, and passion made this country the best in the world. They had no money, no high tech equipment, GPS's, or large troops. They came to an unknown land with basic tools. They came with whatever belongings could fit on the ship, with basic tools, and very few weapons. They came with an enormous dream to build a place their can call their own. A place defined by fundamental values and most importantly, defined by freedom. Freedom of expression, of religion, of turning one's dreams into reality.

Somehow along the way we cave in to the misguided values of communal society. A society in which we don't help because we want to and create jobs to help other prosper, but in which a government is responsible for everything - for shoveling our snow, providing jobs, and policing Wall Street. Apparently, the 50 years of communism did not teach us any good lessons. Innovation, prosperity, and progress are made by individuals. Individuals who show up every day, who continue to dream and work hard to achieve their dreams. Woody Allen once said that showing up is 80% of success. Showing up with a your brain and heart smiling. Showing up with the desire to do something good every day. Showing up with your passion glowing on your face. Showing up no matter what - snow, rain, and bad economy.

And hopefully, our showing up will inspire others to do the same. I know that I will never get caught again hiding in the corner.

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