My perspective comes from 9/11. I live two blocks from the WTC, and the idea that our clients would withdraw business because of the tragedy is something I can't even comprehend.

I don't mean to suggest that our situation was even close to what is going on with Haiti; nonetheless, resuming normal life was difficult. The site is visible from my living room, and the body recovery went on for many months. I suppose you could, if you wanted to, question many decisions I made during that time.

A side note: the upcoming trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is raising quite a controversy because we worry that the security will shut down a big chunk of Lower Manhattan. I'm concerned about Chinatown (including my favorite grocery shopping block) because the Federal courthouse is right there. The small, independent businesses of Chinatown lost a lot of business due to street closures after 9/11, and we fear this will be a repeat.