You Never Know

You never know where your next job is going to come from. You can't know. That's why you send out resumes and applications to so many different jobs. And, many of those jobs will seem to be a perfect fit - at least in your mind.

But, as you get discouraged in never hearing back from anyone - and I know that feeling all too well, remember there is that one job that is waiting for you. Yes, I know I sound a bit 'new age' and metaphysical, but there really is one job out there with your name on it. All you have to do is find it.

Finding your new job - the right job that leads to your new life - is probably not going to happen right away. It will take work. You must be diligent and you must do it everyday. Do not wait for the economy to get better. Do not wait until the summer, or winter, or next year. Do not wait for anything because you don't know where that job is or who is going to be creating that job. Your duty is to find it and you find your new job and life by searching.

How do you search? Where do you search? I know I swore that this blog is not about how to find a job, but I am going to tell you to do two things.

First, review and re-write your resume. Eliminate some achievements. Get it down to one page. If awards and educational achievements go to the second page, okay. But, keep your work history and achievements to the first page. Only list a few outstanding achievements for each job or position. I know it will take some serious editing, but you must do it.

Second, everyone uses Monster. If you are serious about your job search, look at your local Craigslist, snagajob.com, join Linked In and look at their jobs, or even Career Builder. Search industry sites. Think about this for a minute: when a job is posted on Monster, there could easily be 100's or even 1,000's of replies to that job. How will you stand out of such a crowd? However, there might only be 100 responding to a Craigslist or snagajob ad - much better odds. And, yes, it might be an interim job while you are looking for your new life, but it will be a job.

So, review and edit your resume and look in different places for your new life. Don't wait - start today. You won't find it if you don't seriously look.

GM and Other Follies

It's been eleven days since my last entry, and I apologize. So much has been going on in the world that is leading to more unemployment; leading to even more people who need to be encouraged. I admit to be taken in by the news.

Just today on the internet: GM is going to lay off thousands more in a bid to survive. Take a look at: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/27/ap6344772.html

The steps GM is taking is going to effect people at all levels from the factory worker to high level executives to dealership employees including sales people, secretaries, finance people, mechanics and on and on. A lot of people are going to suddenly be unemployed. And, the truth is some of them will be unemployed for a year, or longer. Plus, what is not mentioned is that those who retired from GM are going to be affected, as well. What can they do? As I have said in my previous entries:

1. Understand it will be for a longer period of time;
2. You might have to move to get a job;
3. Cultivate a garden - Spring is here and you have almost eight months to grow vegetables - don't laugh or sigh, I find many sources are know talking about growing your ownd vegetables because they lower your grocery bills;
4. Examine every expenditure in light of possible unemployment - sve every quarter you can. Yes, savings measured in quarters turn into dollars.
5. And, know you can come through it all with confidence.

There is so much to do if you are preparing, or know you are about to lose your job. Start looking for your next job right now! More on the in my next entry.

Bouncing Back

I am always looking for stories about people who are not only bouncing back from losing a job, but are doing well. What it comes down to is looking at your knowledge, skills, experience, abilities, and interests and then finding a new way to apply them for work.

Take a look at:

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/04/02/some-hope-for-retail-execs/?ncid=AOLCOMMjobsDYNLprim0001&icid=main|main|dl4|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fjobs.aol.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F04%2F02%2Fsome-hope-for-retail-execs%2F%3Fncid%3DAOLCOMMjobsDYNLprim0001

There is hope!

The Economy and Employment

Almost everyday I hear one economist or another saying the economy is getting better. Of course, I don't think they live in the same world I do when I see that over 700,000 people lost their jobs last month which represents an increase of about 75,000 over February. And, I am reading where thousands of more people are losing their jobs this month.

Let me give you another does of reality: It does not matter if the economy is getting better if you are out of a job. The economy will improve - there is no doubt about that. Are we at the bottom? I don't know.

But, I do know that even if the economy does improve, employment is the LAST to feel it. Factory orders will improve. Retail sales will improve. All of the indicators will improve - politicians and business leaders will be trumpeting the good news from the roof tops. However, hiring will lag far behind the improving economy because companies will work people over time before they begin hiring. Why? They don't want to hire until they see the recovery is real.

So, just because you hear the economy is doing better, do not expect hiring to expand immediately. It's going to take a long time to put seven million people back to work.

Show A Little Kindness - Off Topic

I am going to go a bit off topic in this post, please forgive me.

I was in the grocery store today and the person in front of me in line was on their cell phone during the entire transaction with the cashier. There was no greeting - in fact, the cashier - the person - was totally ignored. I find that, at the very least, incredibly rude.

Yes, I know cell phones give us near instant and constant contact with others, but it does not have to mean you need to answer every call no matter when it comes in. I see people nearly everyday be far more involved in their conversations on a cell phone than with the person in front of them such as this cashier. What does this communicate to the cashier? At the very least it tells them they are not important and could communicate they have no value.

Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

A cell phone, to me, is a tool for communication with others, but it does not give one permission to ignore others. There has to be some degree of cell pone etiquette. People have to be valued when they are assisting us.

I will get back on topic, now.

Economic Pundits and Milk

The economic pundits are telling us each month that things have bottomed out; things are getting better; or, things are going to get worse. Take your pick. Experts, and I might be using the term loosely, don't seem to understand where the economy is going. I have decided what the problem is - they have jobs.

The economic pundits, experts and talking heads all seem to be tenured professors or work for a think tank in Washington, DC. These folks can never seem to agree on what the most appropriate economic indicator is to follow. While some of them give one or another indicator to watch, the best answer I have ever heard is that our economy is too complex to just watch one measurement.

Another thing I have noticed is that all of these economists are surrounded by books - lots of books. Please, don't get me wrong - books are good. In fact, I have written one recently. But, I think I would trust an economist more if they were able to tell me the price of milk, or eggs, or a pound of ground beef. Then I would know they live where I do.

I am not an economist or pundit, but I think the economy is not going to turn around until late this year or early 2010 - and it's going to take a few years to get it back to 'normal.' Why do I think that? Since January 1st we have lost nearly 2,000,000 million jobs according to government statistics. The reality is probably closer to 2,750,000 jobs. We need to get people back to work before we can even begin to think that the economy is getting better.

While I care about the stock market, I care about my grocery market more. I care about what is on my shelves at home and in my refrigerator. When it gets easier to buy groceries I know we will be on the way.

I would even like it more if one of the pundits could tell me the price of milk.

Coming Soon

I am nearing completion of a new book: Courage One Day At A time - Your Guide to Surviving Unemployment. There are just another two days of editing and working through some formatting issues. Once they are done, the book will be ready for publication.

In Courage One Day At A Time, I have explained the activities and strategies that have kept me sane during a time of unemployment. I know it's a difficult and frustrating time. It's a time during which it is easy to lose your confidence, courage and hope. My goal is to assist you in restoring them because when you do, you will be ready for your new life - to go out and find it.

As soon as the book is available, I will announce it here.

Perspective - Keep It

You know, things may not be going well for you, or for the economy. It's easy to become self-focused. But, take a look at what is going on in Australia and ow people are coping.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-australia-pg,0,5464109.photogallery?index=1

You will get a job before their land comes back!

Job Events

Career Fairs and job events have become increasingly popular as places to find jobs. A recent event in Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California only highlights this popularity. 4,000 people showed up according to the Los Angeles Times. There was no mention of how many people were hired or how many positions were available.

Check it out at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/04/job-fair.html

4,000 people. Yes, some got jobs and you do have to pursue very opportunity. And, job events might be part of your strategy for getting a job. However, always, always work your network of friends and supporters because that is where you are most likely going to find your new job.

I learned of a small business person yesterday who does not advertise when they have an open position. Why not? He will get 40 applications in 24 hours for one $10.00 per hour job. He does not want to have to say no to 39 people. What does he do? He lets his curent staff know about the opening and fills it from their friends and people they know. Networking will work - just keep them informed about what you are doing - just never let them see you get disappointed. When communicating with your network stay positive and upbeat.

Budget Is Not A Dirty Word!

I know budgeting your money can be a real pain - it's no fun and it's a sure dose of reality. But, you need to do it.

Why? Because if you are not employed, or close to being unemployed, you need to know where your money is going, first. And, second, you need to discipline yourself to live within the money you have. Since you don't have the same amount of money coming in that you had when you were employed - you don't have a pay check coming in - you need to determine what your current expenses are and then determine what you need to reduce.

I know I have written before about budgeting - but even if you are employed, you need to do it because you never know when you will be without a job.

Start with a clean sheet of paper. Divide it into four columns. In the first column list all of your bills from mortgage to insurance to food to EVERYTHING. Include it all. Go through your bill to insure you don't miss anything. Look at your bank statements to catch those atm withrawals and debit card payments.

In the second column - put in what your monthly obligation is to every debt. Even though you like paying more than the minimum amount, put in the minimum amount you can pay. Include food, dry cleaning, medication is you have any and on and on.

In the third column put in what you need to reduce the amount by in order to survive. Remember, we are talking about survival, here. If you need to, contact your credit card companies to determine what you can work out with them. Most of them will work with you, just make sure you call them - don't wait for the companies to start calling you. Just about all of them have a wide range of options to help you, and to make sure they get their money.

In the fourth column put down the new amount you are budgeting for the bill, obligation of item. Add it to see if you have reduced enough so you can cover your expenses for the next six months. If you still can't make it, go back and do it again. Look at food and insurance. When it come sto fod, start buying the store brands and use coupons when it makes sense. If you are comfortable with it, increase your deductible on insurance. By increasing your deductible, you will lower your rate.

Look at how much you put in for entertainment. Soemthing has to be there - you really will need the diversion. But, you don't need $100 per week - you can get out and have fun on $20 per week.

Keep at it until you get to a number in the fourth column that you can meet each month. It's not easy, and it's a reality check. Remember, you are in a new reality - you no longer have a job.

Budget worksheets are available for free on the internet, if you don't know where to get started. Google 'free budget sheets' and you will find several to look at. Find one you like and start using it.

Scams - Part Three

About 10 days ago I warned you about potential scams - including the companies that offer loan modifications to you. What they promise is that they will be able to reduce your payments to you mortgage holder. Do not believe them. All they seem to twant is your money up front - before they do anything. Don't give it to them.

This is so important, I will repeat it - Don't give them your money. You can do your own loan modification. Contact your mortgage holder and just follow their instructions. Your mortgage holder does not want to have your house on their hands - they will work with you.

Click on the link to find out more and how the government is working to protect you:

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/987802.html

Store Closings Since January 1st - Your Opportunity

There have been a lot of retail closings since January 1st. It seems as though every time I turn around, another store is closing. And, a store closing represents people losing jobs from hourly retail clerks to managers. Thousands from the retail sector are now out of work. Almost 3,000 store closings have been announced since the first of the year - and those are just counting the major names.

But, there is an upside. The deals you can get for everything from clothing to electronics are great. Yes, some deals are better than others, but when stroes are advertising 50 to 75% off because they are closing, take advantage of the sales - especially for clothing.

If you purchase any electronics, make sure you determine who is goind to be donig the guarantee work - Who is backing the item and is their method to back it easy for you. Do you have to take the TV to a location, or do they come to you to repair the issue.

If you do decide to take advantage of the sales, check your budget. Can you afford the expenditure? Pay cash or by debit card - don't let credit cards increase while you are out of work or it will come back to really hurt you.

So, while there have been almost 3,000 store closings announced since January 1st, there is an upside if you are hunting bargains. Children don't stop growing just because you are out of work, they require new clothing when they grow a cuple of inches.

Also, while you are looking at the 'going-out-of-business' sales, dont forget to look at warehouse sales. I was driving down the street the other day and noticed a name brand clothing company having a warehouse sale. Look for these warehouses in your area. You can find them on the internet, phone book, or just call the manufacturer to get the informatoin.

Look for the sales. Check your budget and buy repsonsibly!

Going, Going... Gone

Food Auctions. What an idea! They are springing up all over the country and can save you money on your grocery bill.

What is a food auction? It's when distributors and manufacturers sell out of date food, or dented cans, or any other condition that might render it in a condition not suitable for grocery store shelves. If you are going to consume the food soon, or it's paper products, cleaning products, or something that does not spoil, you might want to try and buy it at an auction.

Be careful, though. Don't pay more than you want to pay on a per unit basis. Know what the items sell for in the store and limit yourself to paying no more that 50% of retail - and aim for less. In order to do that, you will need to know how many items come in the unit size - in the box and decide your top price by dividing the amount you will pay by the number of items you receive. It does sound complicated, but is really pretty simple.

If there are 12 items in a unit and you pay $6.00, it's 6 divided by 12, for a price of 50 cents per unit. Again, if there are 15 items in the unit and you pay $2.75 for the unit, it's 2.75 divided by 15 for a price of just over 18 cents per item. The formula is price divided by number of items.

If you have formed a Village, this would be an opportunity to share within the Village, or with others who are having a difficult time.

Find the food auctions in your area and use them. If nothing else, visit one to see what they might have and how the process works. They may not have everything you need, but the food auction can help keep costs down.

And, be careful - you might not want to bid on the extra hot sauce.

Read this article and then do a search for auctions in your area:
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ihmEpbBCzbLRlWCJMoUPlC9BwqowD974KCGG2

Honda Acts Responsibly

During the last couple of months we have been treated to The Car Show. It's the on-gong drama coming from the top management at The Big Three who first traveled in private jets to go to Washington to traveling in hybrid vehicles to asking for money again and again. And, what we have seen is people acting irresponsibly over and over.

Rick Wagoner, who agreed to work for $1.00 per year, was forced out of GM . Of course, he is leaving with a nice retirement package that some value as high at $23 million. So, he's not driving off to the poor house in an old Chevy. Wagoner is being replaced by Fritz Henderson, who will not work for $1.00 a year.

Yes, the $1.00 is really symbolic. But, compare it to what Honda is doing. (This is where the blog title comes from, by the way.)

Honda is stopping production at North American factories for 13 days to reduce inventory. That was Step One. Step Two is they are reducing salaries for what seems to be all management positions with the President of Honda North America taking the biggest hit. Honda is also offering buy-outs to employees.

Who isn't being effected by reduced wages? The frontline factory workers. The people least able, and who actually build the cars, are not being effected - except for the 13 days of plant closing.

Nobody had to tell Honda to do this - they just took action. They are acting responsibly and fairly. What a change! Don't they know they are in the car business? Don't they understand that there are entitlements for management? I guess not. They are doing what they need to do to stay competitive.

Hooray for Honda.

I am sure I will have more on this topic later.

March Unemployment

Wow. I just saw the figures and I am amazed. 742,000 more jobs lost in March. 742,000 people is larger than most American cities. I am still trying to process that number.

Just think about it. 742,000 people, with an average family size of 3 people represents over 2.2 million people directly effected. A lot of people are feeling the pain of being unemployed. And, that does not count the number of those who were contract employees who are no longer working. and who may not be applying for unemployment. The real number of Americans becoming unemployed could easily be closer to 850,000 - for the month of March alone.

I have heard government spokespeople say things were going to get worse, but I don't think anyone had these kinds of numbers in mind.

Don't Be Afraid to Fail

In the last few months we have all known failure, or have felt like failures. It's dark. It's dismal. It's scary. We don't like failure. We don't like feeling like failures. But, have you ever thought about where failure comes from?

Failure comes from trying. It comes from trying to accomplish a goal. Failure comes before success and is a needed ingredient to accomplishment. If you aren't failing, you aren't trying.

I had written about another 500 words with the simple message of keep trying over and over. I was over complicating a simple message. Keep trying and keep failing. The failure is okay because it will being you one step closer to success. Not trying is not okay.

Get out and try. Success is built on failure and persistence.

If you don't fail, you are never going to be successful.

Sad Day

During the last two days a company I worked at for almost 20 years went through lay-offs. I don't know if anyone has a count of how many people who had a job on Monday are now without a job, but I know it's between 300 and 500 people.

These are people I know. People I worked with and came up with through the system, and they are without a job. These are people who loved the company and who believed in the product. They worked hard - most working between 50 and 60 hours per week to make sure everything was right. They worked hard, did their jobs, and through no fault of their own no longer have a job.

It's happening all over America. What is wrong with this picture?

The only thought I am holding on to for these 100's of people is that it will get better. I have been through it and know things will improve for both the individual and the country. Until then, I will continue to maintain this blog hoping it helps even one person.

God bless you all as you seek your new life.

Thank you.

Assistance For The Middle Class

Yesterday I read about a single mother who lost her $55,000 a year job. She cut back on all expenses, just like she should have done. Then, as she worried about feeding her children, she did to her what was unthinkable before - she applied for state aid - think food stamps.

She is not making any money. Not meeting her debts. Trying to keep her family fed. You would think it would have been a slam dunk. Wrong. She was denied assistance.

Why? Because she really was not truly poor - at least according to state guidelines. I am not sure how 'truly poor' is defined, but definitions have to change if people are to get assistance.

For those who can't get assistance, they should begin to think about creating 'co-operative villages.' The co-op village is a group of people who can provide goods and services for one another on a barter arrangement. Goods like vegetables that can be grown in a small plot, maybe someone can bake bread, fixing cars, plumbing, electrical, etc. The mix of the village is important - it has to be balanced so everyone benefits. For example, only one or two 'farmers' are needed to produce fruits and vegetables. One plumber, electrician, trades person can service two, or more villages. And, it's important to determine and agree the value of specific goods and services. It's important to think creatively.

You can do this and do it well.

A Gift To Share

A friend sent me a note with a link. As I read the captions and looked at the photo, I thought of how many people could benefit from it. Please, take a moment and click on the link listed below - it will be well worth your time.

Click here: Life

Ingenuity, or Adapting To The Times

I arrived home a few days ago and sitting on my porch was a simple flyer for dog grooming services - 'No Dog Too Large." I don't have a dog, but I was excited to see someone even trying to get through this time of unemployment by offering a service.

We are in 'interesting' economic times. I have listened to a few economists saying we are not at the bottom, yet. Several more months and we will be there and then there will be a gentle rise in the economy as it slowly gets back on course. Translation: "Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy ride."

So, how are you going to survive? It's going to take confidence, courage and hope. Confidence gained by knowing...knowing you can provide a valuable service, such as dog grooming or being a handyman or anything for which you have a talent and can do for money. Just because you lost a job as a mechanic does not mean you no longer know how to be a mechanic. You still have the knowledge - just offer it to your friends and neighbors.

You need courage to get out there. The World might not beat a path to your door immediately. It might take a few weeks, but be persistant. I wrote a book and do you know how many publishers and agents have sent me rejection notices? But, I still send out the letters to see if they are interested. And, I will keep sending them out until I find the one who shares my vision. Decide what you have to offer and get the word out - now.

And, you need hope. The hope that things will get better. The hope that you will have employment and a new life, soon. Things will get better, but until that happens, you need to move toward the future one step at a time and offer your service or knowledge to those who need it.

Scams, Part Two

It is tough being unemployed. There is nothing harder than trying to live and the bills keep piling up. You want to pay them, but you don't have the money. The mortgage looms each month, and maybe you don't have enough money to pay it. One month is slipping by, and you know you have to find the money, but it isn't to be found.

Then, you hear or recieve an ad for a company promising to get you out from under the bills and renegotiate your mortgage to lower the payment. It seems like it's a miracle. Someone else will deal with your creditors and your life will be easier. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! The companies will talk to you for a few minutes, but will very soon ask you for several thousand dollars. $2500. $3,000. $4,000. You can find 'debt relief' companies at every price point, but they all have one thing in common - they all want several thousand dollars to help you. And, they are doing something you can do for yourself. And, yo can do it better than they can.

You can work through a loan modification with your mortgage holder. Mortgage companies have entire departments that work with people to establish new loan terms that can include lower, fixed interest rates, which equate to lower payments. You can contact your credit card companies and work out a payment schedule that pays them off in a few years, or you can get a lump sum pay-off at a discount of 50%+.

What does this mean? This means if you owe the credit card company $1,000, they might well accept $500 for total payment and 'forgive' the other $500. However, our friends at the IRS consider the forgiven $500 income and you will pay income taxes on it. But, it will still be far less than the money saved by settling with the credit card company.

Yo can do all of this for yourself with a bit of time, a few phone calls and patience. You can work out payments with credit card companies in one call. Your mortgage modification will take four to six weeks to complete.

Above all, do not allow yourself to become a victim of one of the growing number of debt relief companies!

Scams, Part One

We have all seen the emails that somehow get through our spam filters. "Make $12,000 per month from home." Do not reply, or if you must, research thoroughly.

Yes, there are some "opportunities" that look just too good to be true - and that's because they are. Most of the time, you are going to have to put up some of your cash - the green stuff you should be hoarding. What are you buying for that money - nothing. Well, that's not strictly true. You would be getting an instruction sheet on how to do something - like stuffing envelopes.

Fold the paper and insert into envelope. There, I have just given it to you for free.

All joking aside, if the promise is too good to be true, or you see something come to you through email, ignore it.

Bread...And Stuff

I go grocery shopping every week - sometimes twice a week so fruits and vegetables are fresh. But, I have to admit to you that I have a sweet tooth - I love good cookies. You know the ones - baked on-site and put in those clear plastic boxes. The oatmeal raisin with a hint of cinnamon are so good! But, $4.00 or $5.00 for two dozen cookies is way out of my price range. Or, so I thought until I found the day old rack.

The day old rack has all kinds of bread, cookies, pastries and other baked goods that are about ready to go beyond the freshness date. And, the deals you can find there are wonderful - somewhere between 40% and 66% off - and even more. Those oatmeal cookies I like so much cost $1.26 instead of almost $5.00. Bread is marked down 66%, sometimes. I have learned to look at the day old rack.

I have also learned that some days of the week are better than others for baked goods on the day old rack. Mondays are good because what didn't sell over the weekend is on the rack. Thursdays are pretty good, too, at least where I shop. I try to get all of my baked goods off of the rack and always feel a bit of triumph when I do.

The amazing thing is that I can find them at all. With unemployment so high people should be looking for deals, and I have the rack to myself most days. So, let's just keep this between us, shall we?

Storage: put the day old stuff in the refrigerator. The cold temperature keeps it from going bad before you can use it - like up to two weeks, and longer. At least I have never had a problem if I put them there. And, you can freeze the bread.

Note: If you buy donuts, keep them at room temperature. Yes, they will go stale, so you have to eat them in two or three days. Then, again, a stale donut is better than no donut at all, right?

Again, don't tell everyone about the day old rack or I might never be able to find those good cookies again.

Doctor, Heal Thyself

I have not announced it here, but I have written a book, Courage One Day At a Time - Your Guide to Surviving Unemployment. And, like most authors, I have been in the process of collecting rejection slips from agents. No matter how nice the notes and letters from agents are, no is still no.

And, like so many of you, money is an issue.

This morning was not a great time for me. I did get a bit discouraged. The best cure for discouragement? Activity that moves you toward a goal. My goals: help folks get through this period of unemployment and find help in getting them going toward their new life; find ways to get my message out and give people the information I have learned the hard way; and, to try and find a way to get my book into your hands. And, I need to make a bit of money. Not so unlike most of you.

So, I went through my email addresses and started sending out a few notes. Several people answered, but one in particular, Gail wrote back and we exchanged emails in which she gave me specific steps to follow to promote myself and my work. By the end of the second exchange I was beginning to get excited about what I can do, should do, and how to take the next step. Gail gave me so many ideas and suggestions, that I was overwhelmed. Now, I have to make a plan.

The lesson is that there are people who want to help you. Go through your friends, people you know, anyone who might help you as you begin your new life. you are not alone. There are people who want to help you, if asked or given the chance. Give them the chance!

When you write them, don't complain and don't be depressed - a word that's used too often. Be upbeat. Share a victory with them. If you need help, ask them their opinion or what your next step should be. Let them give you suggestions. Think about what they have to say. Value their opinions - after all, you did ask them. You will gain a new perspective on how to achieve your goal.

While you are at it, if you have an idea for them, don't be afraid to give it. It shows you care about them and their situation. The communication is a two way street - it's not all about you. It's about sharing ideas and helping others, as well. Taking the time to think about others will place your current jobless state into perspective.

You know what - it works and it was proven to me again, just today. Great things can happen when you are open to them.

Rebuilding Your Confidence

When you lose your job for any reason, what suffers the most? Certainly, you have lost income. And, you may lose some prestige. But, the biggest hit comes to your confidence. Before the job loss, everything was pretty good. You had a job, or a career. You had an income. You had somewhere to go everyday and contribute - it made you feel good and you had confidence.

But, now, after losing a job, your confidence might be shattered. If it's been more than two days since you lost your job, you have to begin to put your confidence back together - NOW. How do you re-gain you confidence?

First, know that you have something to contribute to the success of any organization. You have a special and unique gift to give it, When you lost your job, you did not lose the knowledge you gained or the experience you have. You have lost nothing but a job. You still have your knowledge, skills, abilities, experience and interests. There are 100's of companies and organizations that can benefit from what you have to offer.

Take a moment, or several to examine what you have. If you could program a computer before you lost your job, you still have the knowledge and skill. If you were a car mechanic, you are still a car mechanic - you still have the knowledge and skills. If you were a landscape architect, you still have the knowledge of plants and what kind of plant is best used in an application. Do you begin to understand? I know I have mentioned it before, but it's worth reminding you.

So, confidence begins to re-emerge as you really understand that you still have important knowledge to offer a company.

Confidence also comes from accomplishment. I am not referring to world changing accomplishment. I am referring to little things, because that is where most people start re-building and re-gaining what could be missing - by taking small steps.

A few posts back I wrote about the importance of establishing a schedule. Having a schedule has a number of benefits and one of them is looking back at the end of the day to see what you have done; to see what you have accomplished. Even if the accomplishments are small, you have done something! When you establish a schedule, you are setting small goals. When you reach your goals - even the small ones - take a moment to celebrate the victory.

Sure, your victories and triumphs might be small, but regardless of the size, they are still victories. What do I mean? Maybe just getting out of bed might be an accomplishment the first day. Or maybe sending out ten resumes before noon might be the goal you achieve. It could be establishing a schedule and following it. Any and all of these are accomplishments - it means you have done something! It means you can look back at the end of the day and celebrate.

You string together a few days of being able to celebrate doing little things and you begin to re-gain and build your confidence. It's not all going to come at once. Confidence might only return one step at a time, but it does return when you celebrate your victories and the act of doing.

Establish a schedule and set goals. Your confidence will return.

What A Great Time To Be Alive

I read today that the American economy was going to undergo a basic change - the kind of change that has not been seen in many years. Sometime during the 1960's and 70's we went from being a manufacturing based economy to a service based economy. What does this mean?

Well, at one time we actually made things that people bought; we created 'goods.' These goods were anything from steel to automobiles to televisions and radios. We were the world's leader. We made things better than anyone in the world. Yes, I know some of you might not fully agree, but from where I sit, it's true. But, even if we were number two, we still made items that were sold on the world's market.

Then, we transformed into a service based economy. We were supplying services to one another and to everyone. We, the United States, developed great consultants who would tell us how to do business better. Did they create 'things' we could sell? No. We created theme parks that had as a 'product' happiness. Is happiness something we can sell like a ton of steel or a car? Can we export a trailer full of happiness? I don't think so.

So, the economy is going to change and it's a great time to re-invent ourselves. I've said it before and will say it again - any economy is going to need sales people, managers, IT experts, accountants, visionaries - every task and job it takes to run a business, but you just have to look at things perhaps a bit differently. You are going to have to think about the cost of goods - the cost of raw materials to make a product. Or, you are going to have to think about the cost of mining; be knowledgeable about manufacturing; or, be able to manage people, machinery and processes. Those who cal and will adapt will do just fine as they create their new life.

Or, you can be the visionary with a big idea. It's the visionaries who have led economic revolutions. Think Henry Ford and the production line. He had the idea of making cars based on moving them through a factory instead of moving people from one car to the next. He flipped the process. But it took vision to do that. Mr. Ford's idea took the world by storm and now any production process is based on the product coming to you. Cars are still mass produced in the method that was introduced almost 100 years ago!

It doesn't have to be a visionary like Henry Ford to be a leader for the new economy. Maybe it's just having an idea to improve a product process incrementally - just a little bit - and you can have a large impact. Or, maybe you develop a new way of capturing solar, wind or geothermal power that is more efficient. Or, maybe you have a new way to control that power. Or, sell that power to people. Or, you can see how a utility company might install panels on every home so each dwelling produces their own energy from the Sun. How exciting would that be?!

You have the talent to change our economy and make it better. Wouldn't it be exciting to be the person who makes us independent of foreign oil? Or, the person who makes us an exporting nation, instead of one that imports from other countries? Why can't we export green energy solutions?

My point is that it's an exciting time to be alive and able to work. It's a time of creativity and imagination. It's a time to find your new life and define it yourself, instead of letting another define what kind of life you have. Your life is in your hands. Nurture it (get the training you need) and it will grow bigger than you ever imagined it would.

Create A New Willage

Times are tough at the grocery store. In the past year I have watched items go up 50% to 100%. Things that used to cost a dollar, now cost two dollars. Six months ago, even four months ago, I thought it was due to fuel costs, which I reluctantly accepted. But, fuel prices have come down. Have food prices also come down? No. Is any price lower today than it was a year ago? Not that I can find. So, the question is what can we do about it?

We can decide not to buy items. Sure, I know we have to purchase milk and the basics. But, what about vegetables? You can grow them - and not just grow them for yourself. Grow them for others and trade the vegetables for a service. Or, trade a service for a service. Maybe you love mowing lawns - or, you can do it very well. Mowing lawns has a value. So does cleaning a pool or plumbing or electrical work or any number of other work to be done around a house. Yes, this sounds a bit like trading chickens for medical services, and it's not too far off.

Look, even though you may not have the income to have something done, you may well have a service that you can trade. Preparing taxes would be a great service at this time of year. Or, maybe you can paint a house or a room in a house. Most people can babysit, that service does not have to be left to teenagers - it's a service you can trade for another service.

First, establish a value with another for the service you provide and the service another provides. Once you have agreed, trade your services. Villages can be created within any group of people. The PTA. A church. A neighborhood. Any groups that has a variety of talents will do just fine.

What will trading services do? It will help you maintain a quality of life. You can trade vegetables for lawn and pool service. Trade electrical for plumbing services. Make sure the deals arrived at are fair for all concerned - and swap services.

Go For The Green!

And, I don't mean money. There's more to green than money - it's energy. And, green energy is already providing good paying jobs.

What do I mean by good paying? How does $40 or $50 per hour sound? I know you are asking, "Where do I get one?" According to to a recent CNN article, see the link below for the entire article, people who get the training from community colleges are being offered jobs before they even get their diploma. That is golden for people! And, we are only in the beginning of the rush to green. It's only going to get better and better for everyone from consumer to technician to managers.

Think about it for just a moment. The green economy is going to need more than technicians, which are what are getting the training at the community colleges. Companies are going to need managers, accountants, sales people, sales managers, client service representatives, marketing, advertising, and on and on. Your skills in what has been called the 'old economy' are needed and are going to be needed going forward.

This is exciting stuff, folks. What great opportunities lie just around the corner.

Green does not mean just energy. Green means just about anything and everything we use from kitchen countertops to paint to roofing materials to how we recycle items. Green is a way of life to which we must adapt. Separating recyclables is just the beginning - there are exciting times ahead!

I was thinking about my car the other day. What powers a car? An internal combustion engine. The internal combustion was theorized as early as 1206 by Al-Jazari when he designed a piston powered crankshaft. 1206! In 1886 Karl Benz put an internal combustion engine in a cart to provide power and we have a car. 1886! And, today, 123 years later we are still using the internal combustion engine to provide power for our cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, etc. Yes, advances have been made, but Mr. Benz would recognize an engine today. I can't think of another endeavor in which we are using 123 year old technology.

Do you think it's about time for a step forward, or two? And, it's in those steps where green is going to have a huge impact. Again, all fields of work are going to be needed.

Find a place to contribute and go for the green. Opportunities surround us.

The link to the full CNN article is: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/03/02/green.jobs.training/index.html

Do Over!

Remember when you were in elementary school and 'do overs' were part of playing games? Someone would make a mistake and instantly yell, "Do over," and they would get a chance to do it again. Or, someone would announce '"Do overs" at the beginning of the game. Everybody knew mistakes would happen, and you would get a chance to change things. Wasn't that great?

Well, guess what? You can take this time of unemployment and yell, "Do over." That's right, you can take a moment to dream and decide if you want to follow a different path than the one you were on. People are being laid off all over the country. Training is available. Part-time work is more readily available than full-time work. Now, is the time to take some training for which the government will pay.

There was a plant closing in a mid-west state. After some basic analysis, some of the workers decided to get a truck driving license. They went to school, which was paid for by the government while they received unemployment benefits - totally legitimate, by the way. After training and getting their new licenses, people were hired immediately. Yes, it was less than they were making, but they were working and believe they are in 'safe' jobs because freight will always have to move and it's trucks that move it.

Look, if you aren't happy with what you are doing, or jobs are being lost in that field, get the training, certificate or degree that will make you valuable to employers.

Think about what you want to do and then go out and make it happen. You can do it. All it takes is putting one step in front of another... one step over and over and before you know it, you will have accomplished great things. It will take a bit of courage and a bit of confidence, but each day you will grow stronger.

You really can do over your life right now.

How You Exit Is Important

I have just read an article about how people are leaving companies after being laid off. Folks, please, please remember that it's important to leave on a good note. You never know where your next job is going to come from - it might well come from a former co-worker.

If you absolutely must leave a going away email, keep it positive and upbeat. Everybody knows what's going on - that people are losing their jobs. You don't have to refer to the company. In fact, don't make any comment about the company. And, don't make any negative comment about other people.

Now, that I have taken all of the fun away, what can you write? A thank you note to all of those that assisted you. A note that provides contact information. You can send a note that memorializes a great team you were a part of or a project you completed that was a success.

Whatever you send, keep it positive because that is how people will remember you.

Unemployment Projection for February

I have recently read projections that 700,000 will be laid off in February. That is a huge number! 700,000 more will be looking for jobs in an economy that continues to shrink which means fewer jobs available.

Think about it. 598,000 laid off in January. 700,000 will be laid off in February. That's almost 1.3 million unemployed in two months. That 1.3 million people represents the population of the states of New Hampshire, Hawaii or Maine being completely unemployed. Or, 1.3 million people represents the combined populations of the states of Alaska and North Dakota.

So, what are you going to do? Thousands of people are applying for the same job you are. But remember, and have courage, the job you get will likely come from friends or friends of friends. Let your friends and family know you are looking for a job. Why? They know you the best. They know your work ethic. They know what you can do and can see you in jobs you might not even see yourself doing.

Don't be afraid. Have courage and hope. Know you will find your new life. Let people know you are looking and enlist them in your search.

Establish A Routine

So, you are up. Start giving structure to your day and week. Have breakfast at the same time everyday. Plan your lunchtime. Give your day the same structure work provided. A break in the morning and afternoon. Lunch in the middle. Establish those times and your day will have organization.

Start a routine that will help structure your day right now. For me, it was taking my wife to work and picking her up when the day was done. It forced me to get up when I didn’t feel like it – and I made a rule that I did not go back to bed once I got up. I only broke that rule on two days, both of them when I was not feeling well.

Get a piece of paper and break down the day into 15 or 30-minute increments along the left hand side of the piece of paper, whichever works for you. Start with the time you get up: 7:00, 7:15, 7:30, etc., until your day ends. Next to each time, list an activity that you will be doing: Looking for work; taking someone to work,; taking someone to school; cleaning the house; doing laundry; breaks and lunch. You are beginning to give your day organization and routine much like you had from your job. And, like your job, stick to the routine once you have developed it. By doing this, you will not only begin to establish a routine, but you will also feel more organized and productive. If you have to make phone calls to follow-up on resumes you sent, to your state, or to creditors make sure you schedule time to do it. Don’t spend your time on the phone with friends or texting. In most of those cases, the time spent in social communication might not bring you closer to a job. Leave the social calls until later in the day or night.

You are just establishing your first schedule, or routine. First schedule? Yes, first schedule. You will find that your schedule will change if you are out of full-time work for any period of time. If that happens, and I hope it doesn’t, you will have to schedule in your part-time job or jobs and still look for your full-time job when you can.

Now, you are ready to look for work. Your job now is finding a job. The structure you have given your day should reflect your new job – finding a job.

Shopping Obsservations

I was curious about how the current state of the economy was affecting shopping habits. Luckily there are several shopping centers catering to different people within a few minutes of where I live. So, with the price of gas down from $4.00 per gallon, I set out on a bit of a field trip to make first hand observations yesterday, on President's Weekend.

The first stop was an outdoor market place known for lower prices and a huge selection due to having 100's of vendors. My expectation was that they would be busy because of the lower prices. Nothing could have been farther from the truth! The place was a ghost town. Far fewer vendors were present and there were very few people buying items. At the time I was there, several thousand people should have been walking the aisles. Instead, walking up and down was very easy because very few people there.

The next stop was a World Class mall. This mall has high end and mid-range stores. Now, this place was busy, or so it seemed. Parking was a problem and once inside, there were groups of people I had to walk around. I started at the high-end locations and saw some of the stores were busy while others were nearly empty. After some observations and a few conversations with sales people, I saw that people were generally spending $100 to $200. Nobody was buying expensive jewelry, designer clothing, or artistic crystal. As I went through the mall, the mid-range stores had people in them, but not many were carrying bags indicating any kind of purchase.

From the mall I went to the IKEA store. As anyone knows an IKEA store on a Sunday afternoon is a busy, busy place. People were walking through the 'showroom' section looking at furniture, but very few were looking at kitchens. However, in the accessory section, folks were picking items up and putting them in their shopping carts. When I got to the check-out area, the lines to purchase items had to be 30 minutes long - the longest lines I have seen. Again, not a lot of big items, but smaller decorator items that can have an impact of how a room looks were being purchased. For $100 the look of a room can be altered if you shop at IKEA.

After IKEA, I went to another mall. Again, a lot of people were there and doing a lot of looking. But, when I looked at the folks walking around, I noticed very few were carrying purchases. A lot of lookers, but not many buyers.

Of course there were some exceptions to my observations. Some stores in both malls were very busy making sales, but they were in the minority.

What conclusions can I draw? I think people want to feel good about themselves during these economic times. They can't control what happens in banks and businesses, but they can control how they feel about themselves. They can control how their home or environment looks and 'feels.' They can control how they look and the level of confidence they project. And, they can do both for $100 to $200. Is it the smartest thing they could do with their money? Probably not. So, why would they spend the money when we have 600,000 newly unemployed in January and lay-offs are being announced daily? They want to feel good about themselves and their circumstances.

"Things can't be so bad if I can redecorate."

"Things can't really be as bad as President Obama says if I can buy a bit of jewelry."

Yes, they can be that bad. According to Senators and Congressmen on both sides of the aisle, billions of more dollars will be needed to set the economy on the right track. And, there will be more job losses during the next few months, perhaps lasting as long as a year. So, whether you have a job or are unemployed, get ready. I am not saying not to buy items that improve your environment, or make you feel a bit better about yourself, just show care and restraint.

There Is Hope

“Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the remaking of America.”

President Barack Obama 2009 Inaugural Address

President Obama is calling to each one of us to start moving toward the future by placing one foot in front of the other full of hope, confidence. We might be knocked down due to circumstances beyond our control but we are not out. In fact, we are just resting between rounds and we have to tap the strength from within to get up and fight the next round. We are down, but not out of the fight.

Job loss is one of the most difficult events in life for a working adult. Whether it’s called a termination, lay-off, down sizing, responding to business needs or workforce adjustment, the effect is the same: you are no longer working. And, as more and more people are losing their jobs and fewer jobs are available, it takes a longer time to get a new job. Talk about a perfect storm.

And, it doesn’t matter when a job loss happens – whether we are in a time of economic growth when jobs are easy to get; or, we are in a time of economic retreat when jobs are hard to find. The effect to the individual – to you and me – is devastation. What are we going to do to move forward? How are we going to move forward?

How do we pick ourselves up, as President Obama tells us we must do? How do we get up from the mat? How do we face our family and friends when we have lost jobs? How do we meet our commitments and responsibilities? How do we feed our families? Keep a roof over our heads? Keep our families together? Keep our relationships alive? And, how do we prepare ourselves to prosper as America is remade?

I have been through a job loss and a lengthy time of unemployment and found there are steps you can take to make that time easier. Guidance to get through this period of time has not been available; it was trial and error for me to find a successful trail, but there is a way to get to that light at the end of the tunnel. I am not saying there won’t be hard times, but I am saying you can make it through them one step at a time by placing one foot in front of another. It will take courage. It will take hope. It will take determination and persistence. And, it will take the knowledge that the future comes at us one day at a time.

You have a choice to make right now. You can choose to lie down and not get up. You can choose to just take the hit and stay on the mat. You can choose to stay at home behind closed drapes, drown in self-pity and doubt and end up destroying your family.

Or, you can choose to get up and find your new life and find your place in the finest economic system the world has known. It will take courage to make the first step, but every step after that becomes easier and easier. It will take work to find your new life; it may be the most difficult work of your life. But, do you have a choice? You do have to get up, dust yourself off and remake yourself.

Look, it’s not going to be easy to remake yourself. I have found that most Americans don’t mind if it’s not easy; we don’t mind hard work. We have always wanted to leave our children a better place in which to live – and we can still do it, but it’s going to have to start with you. You are going to have to examine your life to determine where you will fit in, don’t worry though, a bit later in this book you will find out how to do just that.

When you lost your job, you did not lose the knowledge and experience you have gained over the years. They did not suddenly fall away at the company gate. You still have them. They have to be identified and optimized so you can find your new job, and this book will help you do just that.

Choose any direction as long as it’s forward.