We're starting to hear the word "Glimmer," as in Glimmer of Hope, a possible Light at the End of the Tunnel. The Decrease is Decreasing - the Slowdown is Slowing Down.  The April 13th edition of Business Week has a cover story "Signs of Life," about "markets starting to stir." 

We're not at the bottom yet - but many believe we can see it from here. Here are some indicators you can use as discussion points with clients and each other.  

• A panel of economists predicting that, even with all its ragged edges, if Obama's Stimulus Package is only 50% effective - it will be a roaring success.
• Another report saying that, while the problems are terrible, at least we have our arms around the problems; we understand them and are working hard at solutions.
• Used car and service business is robust - but as a result of incentives new cars are starting to come back - slightly.
• While some companies are doing layoffs, a notable amount are hiring.
• Orders for durable goods. February reflected the most improvement in at least six months.
• Consumer prices. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2 in January and 0.2 in February, suggests demand has risen because consumers and businesses are buying more.
• Stock markets. The Dow Jones industrial average on Friday wrapped up four consecutive weeks of gains for the first time since September-October 2007.
• Home sales. Home sales here in Arizona rose 59 percent in February compared with the same month a year ago. Even though many were foreclosed properties, home buying stimulates an increase in sales of appliances and other home furnishings.
• Credit. The Credit Managers Index has risen for the past two months and is starting to look positive for the first time since July.
• Jobs. Although unemployment rates keep rising, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago outplacement firm, said planned job cuts declined for the second consecutive month in March.
• Unemployment. Layoffs are considered a Trailing Indicator. It's what happened as a result of downturn. As the above indexes increase, hiring will start back up. Of course it might take much time to get back - but it assuredly will.

Now's the Time to Start Planning
Now's the time to prepare to position yourself to take advantagte of the Recovery. The old agency-centric days are over, so AEs  who immerses themselves into the First-to-Recover Categories - planting themselves right in front of  DIRECT CLIENTS - will more than make up the lost income of the past few quarters. In fact, you'll come out better than that. But note, now's the time.

A couple weeks ago we discussed the notion of a "Media Firestorm." That's when the same subject is just beat to death on every newscast, cable channel, web news site and newspaper front page.  The media has hammered away at the recession and layoffs for months. Of course it's a real and important story, but it's also because it's a Safe & Sure Bet Story for reporters - the ultimate soft ball.  Besides, their are also fewer reporters - but more news outlets. Ok, got all that?

Now start watching for an increasing number of Trending Up and Turnaround stories - with a decreasing number of stories about Downturn. A recovery doesn't usually occur evenly, across the board. It usually happens in a sector here, a sector there - that's what they'll be talking about.

It's not over by a long shot, but we can start talking about the real possibility of recover.