Thinking positive

All we hear is bad news lately...from the insanity of the Octomom craze to the plummeting stock market to the rising unemployment rates, and the athletes on drugs, and the wars and the depravity... It's dreary. How are we supposed to feel anything other than despair when all we hear on the radio or see on the TV or read in the papers is that the sky is falling? You may never find a good job again. You may lose your house. You may not have healthcare. Someday, you may not have food to eat. These are the messages we are letting into our brains. I'm almost thinking we should just shut these voices out. They aren't helping us...not at all.

We've heard of self fulfilling prophecy...how are we so sure this economic downturn isn't partially a self fulfilling prophecy? Everyone is panicked about money, so they aren't spending it, which sends a tremendous blow to the economy. Companies see the only solution to their financial woes is reducing the amount of employees, like everyone else is doing, and more and more companies have massive layoffs. Investments fail us, and we pull our money out to protect us from further losses, which just furthers the instability of the market.

This dangerous economy is very real, but is our fear catapulting us further down the spiral than we were headed? I think so. Our best bet for survival is to fight back, and not resign ourselves to the notion that we are doomed.

I'm fighting back by thinking outside the box with my job search. The jobs at my level in my industry are almost non-existent. Human Resources is a support department, aka non revenue generating. Support services are cut first. Suddenly, the crucial work we do is seen as a "nice to have," and not essential to the success of the organization. I'm making a broad generalization, but it appears to be a trend I'm seeing. Support roles are cut first, but the work still needs to get done. Since the companies aren't filling these higher level support roles, they are looking at alternative solutions that will still help them accomplish their needs while not adding to their headcount, especially at an executive level.

That's why consulting is working for me right now. The work needs to be done, and I don't need to be an employee of the company to do it. I can work for many organizations at once, bringing my skills and expertise in the areas they need it, and they have the flexibility to use me for targeted projects, knowing they can pull the plug at anytime if they need to flex down on expenses. It's a win/win for both parties.

If I couldn't consult, I would probably focus on another area within my skill set that is needed right now, such as working as a headhunter. As companies reduce their HR staff, they weaken their ability to hire for key roles. Sure, there are more applicants looking, so it's easier to staff for most roles, but hard to fill roles, are still hard to fill, and without the in house expertise, these companies will need to turn to outside firms for help. This is another area I could explore if consulting wasn't working out.

Not everyone is in my circumstance, but everyone has the power to think outside of the box. How much money do you need in order to pay your bills? What other things can you do to make that money if you can't find a job in your field right now? There are options for all of us...they may just not be the ones we thought we were looking for.

Things will get better, and the fittest will survive. In order to become fit to survive this economy, here are a few starting tips:

• Update your resume - seek professional help unless you have a friend in the business
• Join Linked In (http://www.linkedin.com/) and connect with all of your former colleagues - your network will be your greatest asset in this economy
• Work for free or cheap - if you can't find a paying job, work a non-paying job. It will keep your skills current, your mind sharp, your routine from being destroyed, and it will look better when you're interviewing - it may also land you your next paying gig
• Take a class or gain a certification - any edge you can give yourself over your competition will help
• Use this time to do things outside of your normal scope - if you are unemployed and you don't know what to do with the time you have outside of your job search, fill it with something useful
• Exercise - being physically fit helps you to become mentally fit - it also helps you to exude self confidence when you are interviewing or networking
• Think positive- you are in control of your own destiny - live it.

I know my post didn't have much to do with healthy living related to weight, but it did have to do with healthy living in general. People are down - be the voice of hope. Live a hopeful life. Find joy every day.

Have fun. Most of us aren't put on this earth to do whatever it is that we do to make our paycheck. Remember that. It's just a job. A job is just a paycheck. Your life is passing by whether you are an active participant or not, but you'll have better memories and more fulfillment if you live your life well every single day.