January is upon us. It's cold outside and 2011 came and went so fast I can't believe it!
I'm feeling somewhat "bearish." I don't expect the economy to get any better in 2012. Election years create uncertainty, and uncertainty keeps those who have money to spend from spending it.

2011 was a year of hard work. I don't know about you all, but I had less time than ever for non-work activities. That's not to say I don't love my work – I do – but with my job running ZweigWhite, teaching at the University of Arkansas, my development company (we were named "Developers of the Year" here in Fayetteville!), and all the boards I sit on, it's a big load. Couple that with too many cars, motorcycles, motorhomes, and houses to maintain, and when I'm not at one of my white collar jobs, I seem to be changing light bulbs, filling tires, or charging a battery on something!

It seems to me like now is a good time to cut back, raise some cash, and simplify a bit. Along with too much stuff comes too much time commitment. Time is the one thing money can't necessarily buy (though it is nice to have someone maintain your yard and clean your house – two weekend time-killers for a lot of people in this country).

Cash is good to have for several reasons. You never know when you are going to need it. Most of us who own businesses don't make as much in bad economies as we do in good. Not to mention, our companies may need an injection of capital from us every now and then and it is nice to be ready.

There also are some good buys out there right now if you have some cash to invest. For those with an interest in real estate, it is times like these that lead to fortunes made down the road. "Buy low and sell high" is what a friend of mine once told me. He and his business partner made millions buying apartments when they were cheap and then selling them when they were high. Then they bought commercial properties from the Resolution Trust Corporation in the early 1990s. They paid a little more than $5 million for one of the properties, selling it for more than seven times that amount – after collecting rents for 15 years.

In any case, 2012 will certainly hold some challenges for us all. Do what you can to reduce your debt, save some money, and free up some time if you want to be ready to confront your problems – and capitalize on your opportunities – this year.

We've got another exciting issue of CE News for you this month. Our dual focus on the business and technology of civil engineering has been well received, but we are always interested in your ideas for what you'd like to see in our magazine. Drop me an email with your thoughts, and Happy New Year!

Mark C. Zweig
mzweig@zweigwhite.com