Getting punched in the mouth
The times, they are changing.
We're in transition mode between a decade long bull run, and a recession that will last for who knows how long.
If you stay quiet and listen carefully, you'll hear the pessimists collectively chant "I told you so". I don't blame them. They only get to be right once a decade.
Meanwhile, the optimists protect themselves from the upcoming onslaught by shifting their attention to memes. They'll aim to stay alive and entertained until the storm passes. They had plans, but for most – this is their first punch to the mouth.
The good news is that the past few years have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of yet-to-be-punched-in-the-mouth optimists. Technology has enabled creative people to become creators, and creators tend to be optimists, not rent-seeking pessimists.
When the effects of this punch wear off, a few optimists will have converted to pessimism. But even if the percentage of surviving optimists stays constant, the absolute number of survivors will be a lot higher.
And the implications of that are worth being optimistic about.