We’ve all had more than our fair share of doom and gloom, end of the world scenarios, fire and brimstone, the fall of American civilization as we know it, etc., etc., etc.

Here’s a different take on things: It’s not that bad AND it’s going to get better sooner than the pundits predicted.

Right here in Silicon Valley I’ve seen some very positive signs just recently:

• Cisco Systems released better than expected quarterly earnings last week
• Intel’s CEO Paul Otellini was quoted in today’s Mercury News saying that the chip business has improved since April: “What we’ve seen so far is a little better than we had expected…so far, so good.”
• Online restaurant site OpenTable announced today that it will price its IPO next Wed the 20th and is expecting to start trading the next day
• My 401K statement arrived with the news that it was in the black for 2009.

All these are signs that contrary to what you hear in the media, Silicon Valley is not dead, and in fact, there are companies who expect to do well and to thrive as the economy continues to improve.

Mark Twain said “the rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.” We need to focus on the fact that we’ve had a correction, we’ve likely hit bottom, and we’re headed for a recovery.

The question is what organizations are doing to prepare for better days ahead. Are you ready for rebound? If not, you should be.