It would be very easy and quite understandable to think the North American economy was going down faster than the Titanic after it hit the iceberg.

You'd be forgiven if you believed talk of bailouts and turnarounds was just so much blather about moving the deck chairs around while the unsinkable ship goes under.

But there is hope amid all the economic doom and gloom, and it can be found beyond the descending gas prices and bargains to be found once again in cross-border shopping on a lower Canadian dollar.

It can be seen in the success stories found in the bravehearts in our community who take a chance and take a shot with their own ideas.

Take, for instance, Brooklin's Marisa McTasney, who started Moxie Trades, a company that sells a line of workwear just for women. The 33-year-old came up with the idea after being unable to find work boots designed exclusively for women when she went shopping for construction gear. Seeing a need and discovering that 25 per cent of construction workers were female, she went after that market and has become so successful she was able to turn down an offer of $600,000 for 75 per cent of her company on the CBC hit show Dragon's Den. She did make a private deal with one of the Dragons and will launch her line of Moxie Xtreme workboots in Mark's Work Wearhouse in March.

Or what about Darryl Koster of Buster Rhino's, a restaurant owner who specializes in spicy sauces for his ribs? The Whitby resident, another Dragon's Den entrant, has made a success of his tasty treats. There is also Jo-Ann Baguioro-Thompson, who came up with the idea for her own business while walking her dog. That day the Whitby resident, who then lived in California and made her own homemade puppy treats, noticed other canines coming up and wanting to chow down on her Scooby snacks. So a new business was born and Ms. Baguioro-Thompson now mass-produces her own puppy treats.

The point is that, even in a down cycle, there is opportunity out there. With enough determination, inspiration and a good idea, you can succeed. These stories prove it.