"Hello. Thanks for calling Delta. How can I make you prefer travelling by horseback today?"

I just flew back from Phoenix, having presented at the first ever Sales, Profit, and Marketing Summit with Joe Crisara and his fine group from Contractor Selling.com. It was a rewarding, fun time, but as this small part of my business life (speaking) can be, it was exhausting.

My last changeover in Atlanta was very tight.But after a swift train ride and a sprint for a scheduled 10:45pm departure, I skidded to a stop at my gate to see the status board announce: "DELAYED: DEPARTURE 11:20pm". Whew. Made it. A small crowd of significantly bored people flipped through magazines in the waiting area.

So I grabbed my iPad, went to an adjacent restaurant for a glass of water and brief rest. At 10:58, I walked back over to my gate to board. Then I looked in horror to see the entire waiting area empty. Reeling in denial, I asked the gate attendant if they were through loading.

"Oh, they left.You weren't here and they left." Her concern was similar to that of a cantaloupe, yet with less expression.

The Rest of this Story is for Mature Audiences, or those who'd like to reach their destination on the airplane they purchased a ticket for...

The Past Doesn't Last if Recast Fast

Can an Additional 1,751 Web Visitors Be A Bad Thing?

Work-wise, this has been the hardest 3 months of my semi-adult life. More in a moment, but let me back up a sec.

There was a point in 2007 when everybody was gainfully employed, homeowners were current on mortgage payments, blue birds were singing, and the Kardashians weren't famous. It was a lovely, if for a brief moment.

Then in 2008, something that seemed like at least one chapter ofRevelation came to wipe out retirement savings, home values, jobs, lending, and - most damaging of all - confidence.

Those of us stricken with optimism tried to keep a game face. "Money is replaceable," we thought. "Things are re-buildable," we urged. "There is opportunity," we asserted. Yet we knew:

The Loss of confidence and morale crush the human will.

Yet those of us called entrepreneurs, business leaders, or managers for whom other faces scanned for every wrinkle of concern, a bit lip was preferable to a shed tear. This is our job, and the one others scarcely recognize. Sadder, you can share it with virtually no one, excepting therapists and eternally patient spouses. I understand your pain.

After wearing this face that felt eerily reminiscent of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, opportunity did emerge. Morale didn't crumble. Optimism found a way to self-fulfill. (Link tells more than you want to know.)

During this, I became even more ignorant, (as if that was even possible!) In truth, what I didn't pay attention to faded; what I did...emerged stronger.

Then something funny happened.

Click for A) A fairly common glimpse into my ignorance, B) The 'hardest 3 months ever' and C) The emerging most powerful marketing opportunity for contractors anywhere.