Economic Disruption: How to Turn The Next 4 Years Into Your Greatest Opportunity

If you scan the financial headlines for 2020, it looks pretty grim.

Whether it’s unemployment numbers…

Or small businesses permanently closing their doors…

Or even giant corporations filing for bankruptcy…

And the list of major companies that have filed for bankruptcy so far in 2020 since the coronavirus shutdowns began is eye-opening and sobering.

See how many of these names you recognize:

  • Dean & Deluca
  • True Religion Apparel
  • J. Crew
  • Gold’s Gym
  • Neiman Marcus
  • Stage Stores (Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles, Gordman’s, and Stage Parent)
  • JCPenney
  • Pier 1 Imports
  • Hertz
  • Tuesday Morning
  • GNC
  • Chuck E. Cheese
  • Cirque du Soleil
  • Lucky Brand Jeans
  • Brooks Brothers
  • Sur La Table
  • Muji
  • Ascena
  • California Pizza Kitchen
  • Lord & Taylor
  • Tailored Brands
  • Stein Mart
  • Century 21 Department Stores
  • Sizzler USA
  • Ruby Tuesday
  • NPC (The operator of more than 1,200 Pizza Huts and nearly 400 Wendy’s restaurants)

That’s just a sampling — and bankruptcies don’t even tell the full story. Many businesses are staying solvent only by closing down hundreds of local stores.

For example, Starbucks will close up to 400 company-owned locations over the next 18 months, and Gamestop announced it will close up to 450 locations this fiscal year.

Some of these companies have been around a long time, too. Lord & Taylor is the nation’s oldest department store, operating since 1826. JCPenney started in 1902. Neiman Marcus in 1907, and Brook Brothers has been helping Americans dress for success since 1818!

So with all this economic disruption — how can YOU avoid the same fate and not get swept away by the growing tide of economic fallout?

3 Values That Will Allow You to Own Your Future

There are 3 key things to focus on if you want to survive this current economic disruption and profit from future financial trends.

VALUE #1: CREATION

This is the highest form of reality — the ability to produce a vision and create it.

It’s not about “modeling” or “copycatting.” This is about knowing who you are, investing in yourself, and understanding your highest abilities that help you create value for the world.

President John F. Kennedy created an incredible vision when he stated that we would put a man on the moon in the next decade. At the time, NASA didn’t have the tools or know-how to fulfill that vision. It was scary… and inspiring… and it led to people being willing to take action everyday to get it done.

What do you want to create in the world?

VALUE #2: ADAPTABILITY

The way things used to work may not be the way they do in the future, and if we get stuck in old ways then we’ll be left behind.

With personal finance, the “old way” was focusing on accumulating a million-dollar nest egg that you could live off in retirement. That no longer works because the old rules don’t apply. There’s no “hockey stick” curve of interest that’s going to take care of you.

We don’t know how taxes or inflation will change. At the end of the day, it’s a gamble — hoping that when it’s time for you to tap into your nest egg it will still be there… and be enough.

Now, it’s about adapting to “make money on the buy.” You do that by having liquidity and becoming a cash flow investor.

That’s what every sustainable institution does. Cash flow investing allows you to pivot quickly when the economic scene changes.

At a personal level, you want to plug cash flow leaks and figure out how to save more on taxes — because that’s what every wealthy family does.

Everything from the financial game to transportation, health, and business is changing with technology advances… and the key for you to succeed is to be able to adapt to it.

VALUE #3: ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE

Going along with the idea of focusing on cash flow over accumulation, creating Economic Independence for your family where you have enough cash coming in on autopilot to cover your basic expenses will allow you to “swing for the fences” in everything you do.

At that point, you’re no longer burdened by day-to-day issues where you have to scrimp, budget, and sacrifice something greater for something lesser.

Then you can expand your means, reach even more people with the value you provide and impact the world more deeply.

“Connection” is the Ultimate Key to Owning the Future

People are the only true assets, and AI will never be able to replace the value of humans connecting with each other.

One big thing we’ve found at Wealth Factory is that quality is more important than quantity.

For instance, having a huge customer list can certainly help you create revenue.

But it can be much better to create a meaningful relationship with a smaller group who genuinely want to follow up with you afterward, and you can help them more specifically.

Think of it this way: when times get tough, would you rather have a bunch of surface-level contacts, or fewer people but ones you know have your back?

So spend the majority of your time connecting with true friends — people who you know want to see you succeed, and with whom you can share your vision.

If you’re surrounded by people who live in fear and scarcity and negativity — this current recession is going to decimate them — and you’ll be dragged down with them.

Protect Your Mind and Turn Off the News

The 2008 recession was tough — but unless you were in mortgages or real estate then you probably didn’t know what was going on at first unless you turned on the news.

What’s interesting is that we saw more business owners have million-dollar years than ever before in 2008. They weren’t affected negatively, because people still needed to take care of their daily needs and their minds and bodies.

If you let your mind get dragged down by negative news telling you how scarce and awful the world or economy is, you’re poisoning yourself.

Control your personal economy and always take steps to move forward.

When times get tough, here’s the advice our founder and Chief Wealth Architect, Garrett Gunderson likes to give:

  1. Amplify your morning routine (of education, exercise, and enlightenment) so that you can start the day off with an “armor of abundance.”
  2. Look to your highest level relationships. Connect with them and tell them if you’re feeling any kind of negativity or fear — so they can help pull you out. Or seek to deliver value to them — because you get back what you put in.

Do You Have Enough Liquidity?

During a recession, the wealthiest people have about 30% of their assets in cash and cash equivalents. They do this so that they’re able to pounce on opportunities that only come when prices are down because people need to sell.

During a recession or downturn, people with access to cash can get great discounts on assets like businesses, real estate, stocks, art, or any other investments that align with their strengths and experience as an investor.

These types of moves during tough economic times allow for “exponential growth” — which is becoming more and more difficult to find when times are good.

Remember This…

More is going to happen in the next 7 years than in the last 70… that’s how fast things are changing.

Now is your time to become a leader, to focus on your strengths, and to get your financial and life situation organized and running smoothly…

Because there’s going to be more wealth in the future than ever before, and when you take empowered action, it can belong to you.

If any of this resonates with you…

You are likely a perfect fit for our inner-circle Wealth Builders Club.

Club members get monthly mastermind sessions with Garrett Gunderson (the founder and Chief Wealth Architect at Wealth Factory), so they can stay connected to the latest financial ideas and trends.

There’s a lot more to it, and for the next few days, you can try it all out for 30 days, and see for yourself how Wealth Builders Club can help you turn economic disruption into economic independence...

Try Wealth Builders Club risk-free for 30 days, for only $1.00

Related Posts

Wealth Factory Logo

Wealth Factory is a team of financial experts teaching entrepreneurs and business owners how to build their Wealth Architecture and achieve economic independence.

© 2023 Wealth Factory, LLC

Disclaimer and Waiver - Wealth Factory, LLC®, its owners, officers, directors, employees, subsidiaries, service providers, content providers and agents (referred to as 'Wealth Factory') are not financial or investment advisors and not licensed to sell securities or investments. None of the information provided is intended as investment, tax, accounting or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement, of any company, security, fund, or other offering. The information should not be relied upon for purposes of transacting securities or other investments. Your use of the information contained herein is at your own risk. The content is provided 'as is' and without warranties, either expressed or implied. Wealth Factory does not promise or guarantee any income or particular result from your use of the information contained herein. Under no circumstances will Wealth Factory be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information contained herein. It is your responsibility to evaluate any information, opinion, advice or other content contained. Please seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding the evaluation of any specific information, opinion, or other content.