I recently read that corporate America has $1.8 trillion dollars in cash, on reserve.  Which is a lot more than they had at the beginning of the recession.

And unemployment still stands at 9.7 percent.  When you stop counting the people who've grown so discouraged that they've stopped even looking for a job.

Companies have the cash to hire, but aren't hiring because they're afraid that the economy will go back in the tank, since people aren't spending as much money as they have in the past.  And people are not spending as much money because either they're unemployed or fear being unemployed.

Classic chicken and egg.

It occurs to me that what is called for at this precise moment is a bit of corporate leadership.  What's needed is for a couple of men and women to stand up and say, "We're going to take the risk and get people back to work. We're going to stop the cycle of layoffs and asking one person to do the work of five people, and we're going to staff appropriately. Starting right now."

I know.  A girl can dream.

But imagine what that kind of bravery could do.

It just might turn around the economy and get folks back on track.

Bravery is transformative like that.  Standing up, bucking the trend, saying your piece, acting with good intention - all of it - can create huge change on a big scale.

But it can also create something new on a you-scale.

Maybe there's a place in your life where you need to be brave.  Maybe you need to stand up, speak up, look up.  Maybe the change you've been looking for is a change inside yourself.  Maybe it's time to take a deep breath and do what needs doing.

You can lead yourself to something new and wonderful.  And when you do, perhaps corporate America will be inspired by your bravery and do its own leading.