I can hardly believe it, but 2008 is just about over — Where DID it go, anyway?! — and certainly most of us have faced our share of challenges, but there are reasons to be optimistic!

Indeed, despite the obvious economic challenges of 2008, there are some things worth smiling about. According to Craig Hovey, economics professor and author of “The Way of the Cockroach: How not to be there when the lights come on and nine other lessons on how to survive in business”, there are some things that should be viewed in a positive light:

1. Despite today’s woes, the period from 1980 to 2007 was one of remarkable economic growth despite two mild and one bad recession.
2. Unemployment is only 6.5 percent and may shoot up to 8 percent. During the Great Depression it was 25 percent.
3. Gross Domestic Product shrank only by 0.5 percent int he third quarter of 2008. In 1932, the Depression era drop was 13.5 percent.
4. Worker productivity is actually up 2.1 percent from 2007.
5. Consumer sales, while not wonderful, were up 3 percent on Black Friday.
6. Gasoline is now the cheapest it’s been in years!

So, keep your chin up Realtors! There are indeed many things to smile about, and 2009 will present you with a great opportunity to show just what kind of real estate agent you really are.