This Tweet caught my eye this morning:

swap some help?
@BrianReich

It speaks to how a number of Cultural Creatives are responding to the downturn. They - we - Freelancers, MicroBiz, Independents - are building a new economy. We're creating new exchanges - some monetized, some not - with new people all over the world, from our strengths and vulnerabilities. I find it inspiring.

Took me back to what I wrote on New Year's Day this year,

The Industrial Age dinosaurs of the 20th century are dying. Some don’t know it yet; for some who do, it’s a frightening specter. To me and many others, it’s a moment of opportunity. Jean Houston calls it Jump Time. I agree; it’s like the time - around 65 million years ago – when the earth cooled, and the huge dominant reptiles couldn’t adapt. The small warm-blooded mammals – our ancestors – were advantaged. They could maintain their body temperatures without depending on the environment. They could survive with far less fuel, because they were small. They could pass on adaptive habits to their young. They quickly explored new niches and grew thriving communities.

Enterprises who know how to learn – who do not cling to the ways of the past – who do not depend on the market climate for their vitality - can do the same now. As the 20th century monsters shrink, let’s re-invent their industries. Let’s be ingenious about including our neighbors who can no longer be employed by them. Let’s join our thoughtful young president about re-building Main Street.

Commerce is a powerful force. Let’s reclaim it.

All of that shows up for me everyday on Twitter, in the blogosphere, and among small business people I'm meeting all over the world. It's our moment. We're nimble. We can invent value with our Customers and Colleagues in real time. And we're doing it.

Carpe Diem. Please share examples from your world. Let's keep each other inspired.

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