Five Ways To Beat The Recession

Twenty Years Ago I launched an early version of this publication and named it The Thomas Report. Like this electronic version, The Thomas Report was a news and information print magazine with a primary goal of empowering people to develop their human potential both on and off the job.

One of my first articles was titled, “Job Security: Is It Gone Forever?” I remember designing a presentation based on that theme and delivering it to senior executives at a major corporation in the Boston area. The executives listened politely, yawned a bit, and sent me packing. They didn’t want to hear my rabble-rousing message of employees taking control of their own careers. It was too much for the masses to hear.

Shortly after that speech the company had a massive reorganization with thousands of layoffs during the brand new recession of the 1990s. My message that the executives didn’t want to hear was the message that they needed the most.

Fast forward twenty years later. Another era. Another recession. In the spirit of rabble rousing, I present my latest version that includes 5 ways to ride out this nasty economic mess we’re facing. I hope you won’t read passively and yawn at the advice but will govern yourselves accordingly. It’s going to get worse before it gets better…but a better day is going to come.

We’ll talk more about these five steps in the coming weeks.

1.. Reinvent Yourself.
This is no time to wrap yourself in the status quo. Find new ways to package yourself so that you add new value on your job and off.

2.. Embrace Technology
Chances are the very job you’re looking for is waiting for you…online. So much of our society is moving online, and some of the best opportunities can be researched and identified on a website, blog, or discussion board. Keep your computer skills up to date and install the latest software on your comptuter.

3.. Revise Your Resume
The new unemployment figures just came out this morning, and we are at a new 34-year high. Translation: No job is safe. Your position could be eliminated next. Dust off that resume, make necessary modifications, and keep it up to date if you discover a pink slip waiting for you in the coming weeks.

4.. Keep Abreast of World Events
Two great websites that cover much of the news events around the world are
www.bbc.co.uk and www.english.aljazeera.net.
The British Broadcasting Company covers international news like no other media outlet. Al Jazeera gives you authentic Middle East news coverage that’s written in English.

5.. Find Different Networking Circles At Work
Hang around the same people at work all the time? Make new friends while you keep the old ones. With layoffs happening fast and furious, you can’t afford to ignore new relationships at work that may pay off for you in the long run. Make a point to form new relationships as you build new networks throughout your organization.