Seems like the last month has been surreal in the fastener world.  There were a few weeks where everyone was anxiously awaiting to hear about the anti-dumping petition.  Then, like magic, it all temporarily went away right before the Las Vegas Fastener Show.  It felt like a major league pinch hitter came in during the bottom of the 11th and hit a game winning home run in front of the home crowd.  But, since we all know this issue can, and probably will, be resurrected, I guess it was like hitting a home run in the divisional playoffs and not in the World Series.

Then came the Fastener Show.  All comments that were posted were extremely positive about the show.  Sure, attendance might have been down, but it was still a great show.  Nowhere else can you get in front of so many customer or talk with as many industry peers as you can at the fastener shows.  As the people who posted wrote, you have to have a plan when you come to a trade show and you have to work the plan once you get there.  The people who put on the shows do their best to attract attendees.  They want the show to be huge and vibrant.  But they cannot really affect what goes on within the walls of the exhibition area.  I'm glad that several people posted that they had a good show, because I certainly did.

Then, after all that, you get back home, clean off your desk and it is Thanksgiving.  Time for a break and hopefully an opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends.    And when you stop and look back you have to ask yourself, "Where did the last month go?"

So, as the title says, it is "Back To Reality" .  Back to work on Monday.  Christmas is on a Friday this year so we might actually see nearly a whole week of work that week.  Nearly.  So, you have about four weeks to make your numbers for 2009.  Or, you have about four weeks to get yourself ready for 2010.  Either way, you'd better use those four weeks wisely. 

Not many companies want to see a repeat of 2009.   So, get a plan and start putting the pieces together to move your plan forward.  As Eminem says, "Snap.  Back to Reality".  Or as the ancient Buddhist proverb says, "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.  After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water".  We all had our time off and a little break from the buying and selling fasteners but that is what we all do.  We buy and sell fasteners.

I like that.  I've got my own proverb.  "Before The Fastener Show and Thanksgiving, buy fasteners, sell fasteners.  After The Fastener Show and Thanksgiving..."  Let's get on with it.