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Oops! Your Survival Guy’s Encounter at the Grocery Store

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In my conversations with you, you’re telling me about the impact in your neck of the woods of the Great Resignation. You’re telling me about the “Help Wanted” signs, especially in vacation destinations, where many of you live. Help Wanted signs are everywhere in Newport, RI. More on that in a minute.

First, I want to share with you a conversation I had with a client who has a front-row seat to the M&A (mergers and acquisitions) world. He told me about a deal he’s involved in right now. “E.J.,” he said, “for the first time, we’re buying a company for its workers, not its client base.” And that, in a nutshell, is the value play in this Great Resignation, where businesses can’t find help no matter how much it’s WANTED.

And so I’ve been thinking about this and what it means for your future. Yes, we’ve come a long way in 18-months, but a lot of stuff is not the same and may never be again. Life is different now on a lot of fronts. Let me share an example, anecdotal for sure, but worth discussing with you. Your Survival Guy had a recent exchange at the grocery store.

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At checkout, after all the items were run through by the cashier, they sat in a pile while the cashier wildly sprayed down the conveyor belt with disinfectant. Your Survival Guy, not realizing I was working, began my part-time shift as the bagger and asked (how do you do this nicely?), “Do you bag groceries anymore?”

Look out! To say I was met with raised eyebrows and mumbling lips (hidden behind a mask because of corporate policy, STILL) is to be kind, as my triggered associate began haphazardly throwing items into a bag, any bag—clean-up in aisle one. Somebody help me, I thought. OK, so that’s different now. Note to self.

Here’s my point. Last year at this time, I was thrilled the grocery store was even open. Period. Grocery workers held my family together. But today? I get it. I can see why they might not be thrilled about working when their “unemployed” friends are paid to go to the beach. Welcome to blue state, Rhody.

Action Line 1: Listen, our food supply chain is not as robust as we may think it is. What lessons can we learn from this if we get into another global shutdown? Look how Your Survival Guy’s Super States are roaring back to life while the bottom of the list flounders. Check it out.

Action Line 2: It’s not hard to imagine that in the next disaster, front line workers (yes grocery stores are front line) along the entire, fragile, food-supply chain might decide to stay home and get paid, “Instead of dealing with that Survival Guy who asked me if we bag groceries anymore. The nerve!”

Action Line 3: Tell me what’s different in your neck of the woods. ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com

Pat Travers Band- Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. His focus at all times is on preparing clients and readers for “Times Like These.” E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zildjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart (RIP) of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West (RIP JB) and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com To sign up for my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter, click here.
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