Tuesday I was on the phone with a client, deep in conversation about their company’s financial outlook just before it happened.

At first I thought it was a subway going past.  Then it got more intense.

Before I knew it my whole house was swaying.  As I quickly hung up with my client, I realized this was the first earthquake I’ve felt in NY since the early ’80′s.

I immediately shifted gears to my wife who had just left to take a subway.  Wondered if she was OK.

Isn’t it interesting how quick it is to shift from business to personal, and vice versa, when something like this happens?

And I’m not alone.

Over the past several years my team has worked with about 2,500 entrepreneurs in 13 countries.  Of these, probably 95+% of them have brought their personal lives into our coaching.

Because our personal and business lives are so integrated.

In fact, business is a direct reflection of how we run our personal lives.

For example: finances.

Using this understanding of the relationship between personal and business finances, usually within a few seconds I can usually determine if an entrepreneur will be financially successful or not.

From how they answer “How are your personal finances?”

Their answer explains their personal relationship with money.

• My finances are a mess and I hate numbers.
• I have tons of debt, but I am organized and working through it.
• Finances are handled.  I have budgets and plans for the future.

… are some sample answers.  Very telling in business, yes?

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On Monday, as the stock markets were continuing to crash at lightning speed, someone asked me my thoughts.

I told them welcome to the crash of 2011!

And while the 16% drop in 10 days is only the third time that has happened in 4 decades (also 1987 and 2008), this volatility may be continue for some time.

For two reasons:

1)   Wrong Measurement Tool—  GDP, gross domestic product.  Currently we measure the success of our economy based on how much we increase our consumption.  When the US was the only country (primarily) doing this, we could basically get away with it.  But with the entire planet now trying to do it, it is unsustainable.

2)   Standard & Poors’ Message— downgrading the US Government’s ability to pay back its debt.  While it isn’t S&P’s reason, the main one from my perspective is #1 (above).  This was magnified by the clear demonstration this summer of government’s inability to function as a unit.  The message became painfully clear– they do not have the best interests of the country in mind.

Imagine running your company this way?

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