Warren Buffet - I'm offering you a job. You can start Monday.

I am on my my knees right now. No, get your mind out of the gutter. What I just read made me fall off my chair. Really. Hmm.. typing from down here lets you notice different things....I need to dust off my desk...

All right. Back on my chair.

Warren Buffet just admitted what I’ve been shouting for the last, what, umpteen years! He now says that “brand is the most important factor in deciding where to invest.” Not kind of important. Not vital. The MOST IMPORTANT factor.

For all your Wall Street numbers people hyperventilating out there, Mr. Buffet did say that a company’s balance sheet was important. Yup, it's in third place, just behind management.

Mr. Buffet, you’re supposed to be the epitome of left-brained, number-crunching, where’s-my-ROI, numbers people. I know - I’ve presented proposals to them. They all recite in unison what they learned in business school. “I don’t need to brand my company. I know who we are - I need ROI for my marketing dollars.” Sound familiar? They say “Give me a spreadsheet showing itemized sales increases from your past clients, and then we’ll talk.”

Warren also added “Even in hard times, brand is the key to long-term growth.... And that’s why businesses are in trouble – while of course fixing their balance sheets and clearing out their management teams – they must also urgently invest in their brands.”

I feel like David Letterman - staring at the camera in expasparation while the studio audience snickers. Like when he interviewed Joaquim Phoenix: http://bit.ly/4ZnN6

I must say, Warren, you are now the smartest investor since the word was first added to the dictionary. I need someone sensible you to speak to my clients. I am officially offering you a job at my company. Your new title is “Spiritual Account Director.” You can start Monday. Good luck negotiating your salary with my HR people - they’re tough as nails.

If everyone around you is swimming in the recession, don't put on your bathing suit.

You can have a recession party. I'm not coming. I refuse to mope around acting all despondent about the economy, just because it's the "in" thing to do. Dale Carnegie used to say it's not what happens to you, it's what you THINK of what happens to you. So, business has slowed down. So what? The piece of pie you get is only as big as what you reach for. If you don't grab it, someone else will.

Here's a few tips for you to get by this season:

Stop watching the news. The news media gravitates to stories about unhappiness and despondence like toilet paper to the bottom of your shoe (my apologies to the toilet paper entrepreneur blog). Watch a news anchor ramble about Bummerville for 2 hours straight, and jumping out the window will seem almost appealing. Turn off the TV. Play with your dog. Take your kids to a game. Do whatever it takes to get yourself in a good mood - and your business will follow.

If you're in a room with energy vampires, cover your neck. I'm going to stick my neck out here (pun intended) and say that 70% of the recession is mental. There are lots of companies doing great things in this economy - look at Zappos and Apple. I bet you their company's officers don't spend their evenings in front of CNN with a box of tissues and a gallon of ice cream.

Read a positive book. I mentioned Dale Carnegie. "How to Win Friends and Influence People." But I warn you - you'll feel like going to the office to fix things - it's that inspiring. Listen to those inspirational audio books. Anything from Zig Ziglar or Tony Robbins should get you in the mood.

Keep me posted.. Let me know what you're doing...