Edmontonians, November 2009: This year hasn’t been an easy year. I’ve lived through recessions as a child and saw the impact they had on my dad and the family HVAC business; however, being an adult with my own business gives the “downturn” a whole new perspective. And I’m not alone. It seems at every turn I hear another entrepreneur talking about how stressful the past 12 months have been. Having to cut costs and implement layoffs is not a great place to be when you’re a business owner. Carrying a loss or just barely breaking even is the equivalent of economic and corporate whiplash after the break-neck pace of the previous three to five years.

I’ve also heard the same stressed entrepreneurs putting this time to good use by re-acquainting themselves with big dreams and planning for the future. For many, it is a chance to refocus and evaluate ways to prepare for the next opportunity for growth and an economic upturn.

As president and COO of Executrade, an Edmonton-based recruiting firm, Scott Stoppler falls firmly into this group. He and I caught up when he was a few hours away from a Hawaiian vacation with his wife Megan and their two-year-old son, Sloan. I asked how his life had changed since he was chose as one of Edmontonians Sizzling Twenty under 30 in 2005. He quipped, “My hair line is still holding up.” All kidding aside, it’s been a busy for this proud 32 year old Sizzler. Along with becoming a father, he completed the succession of the family business and moved from a vice-president, recruiter and manager to president, COO and sole shareholder.

Not surprisingly, Executrade had seen steady growth with a record setting year in 2008. When I asked about the impact 2009 has had on the company, Scott’s dream-big, coach-in-the-locker-room attitude was front and centre. “2008 was a record year in revenue, number of employees, new vertical markets and margins. We entered this downturn in a very strong position, which has allowed us the chance to stay strong.” In anticipation of an eventual upturn in the market, there have been no layoffs. “I’d rather be a little over-staffed in the short term than break up the team.”

In researching this piece, I had the chance to read some of Scott’s writing in Executrade’s newsletter Boom! His passion for and commitment to the Edmonton community was evident in articles about corporate social responsibility and his various volunteer positions. He has been active on the board of directors for the ABC Headstart program and was recently invited to join the Alberta chapter of YPO—the Young Presidents Organization—and to serve on its executive.

This optimism and focus on attitude was even evident in the 2005 Sizzler profile. Back then, Scott mentioned he’d begun writing a book focused on being the master of one’s destiny, so I had to ask: Is it published? Where can I get a copy? The book is 95 percent complete with the last five percent a mantra in Scott’s mind, but not quite ready to be published. Even the most optimistic, energetic entrepreneurs have projects that take a little longer than anticipated.

As we talked, Scott and I discussed the importance of this downturn to our generation. Throughout our adult lives, we’ve generally seen growth and opportunity to the point that we ignore the possibility that hard times happen. “Hard times” were exaggerated experiences recounted by our parents.

We are the most technologically savvy, highly educated generation ever and yet we have the shortest attention spans. Given the expectation of holding down up to five careers in our life times, we are often labeled fickle and criticized for our work ethic and making a work-life balance our priority. Nonetheless, the world is our oyster and we believe we can make it a better, more wholesome place to live.

This downturn gives us the chance to explore and expand our knowledge and abilities—if we can embrace the idea that Zig Ziglar coined so well: “Your attitude not your aptitude will determine your altitude.”

As a generation will come out the other side of this downturn better entrepreneurs, better employees and better members of the community… much more appreciative and understanding of the entrepreneurs ahead of us. √