2008: Year of the Beagle

Courage… Curiosity… Intuition.In the biggest news since Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open a beagle has taken top honors at Westminster for the first time in history. Arooo! Aroo-Aroooooo!In the happy little village where I spend a lot of time, beagles are the symbol of curiosity and intuition, reliable guides to success in 2008.Haven’t you heard? Maintaining the status quo will yield a decline in 2008 for most business categories.The February 8 issue of the Wall Street Journal had this to say:“Retailers turned in their worst monthly sales results in nearly five years, and big chains appeared to be girding themselves for a prolonged slowdown in consumer spending by announcing plans to close hundreds of stores and cut thousands of jobs.”“Even gift-card redemptions, which were expected to give January sales figures a bigger lift, instead offered a glimpse at just how strapped consumers are. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. yesterday noted that redemptions were below its expectations, and said consumers were holding onto the cards longer — or using them to buy groceries rather than treats like electronics.”The beagle called Intuition might seem to be a chaser of rabbits, a rowdy without decorum, a runaway balloon on a windy day, but the joy of the beagle is neither random nor reckless. Her path connects the dots of an image too big to see, a pattern you’ll recognize when you’ve climbed higher than where you stand.Do you want to climb higher? Follow your beagle. She'll lead you to success.2008 will be a grand adventure if you'll raise an intuitive ear and listen to what's blowing on the wind.Do you plan to run with the beagles or stay on the porch?Arooo! Aroo-Arooooooo!Roy H. Williams