The American economic crisis. Almost everyone in the world knows how volatile things have been in the good old United States of America.
During 2008, our economy started shaking profusely, and the security that we once had known was pulled from under our feet. Since then, the past several years have been scary. Unemployment rates have stayed alarmingly high; Pink slips have been passed out like candy on Halloween. Foreclosures have become common place, and Retirement has been delayed by many people that dreamed that they would be on the beach watching the sand and waves by now.
Instead, people are watching their investment accounts. Parents are disappointed about their inability to pay for college education for their precious children. The pain of the recession has affected almost everyone in some way.
Today, the economy is still very troubled; however, the profuse bleeding has stopped for now. People are slowing trying to bandage up their lives.
I am one of those college educated women who had suffered through two years of unemployment, and an old co-worker of mine happen to contact me by email. She had been offered a job opportunity that she had to turn down. She was definitely one of the lucky ones.
After sending hundreds of resumes, filling out hundreds of applications, I found myself interviewing with an employer about one hundred miles from my residence. The process went very quickly, and I was among the working class once again.
Did I fail to mention the job was fabulous? I absolutely loved driving to work everyday, in spite of the fact, the commute was one hundred miles each way. That is correct. For six weeks, I commuted two hundred miles a day.
I was ecstatic about being employed again, but my perception of the world of work changed. I never took it for granted that this position was mine for the next twenty years. For that matter, I understood that I could again be among the unemployed even though I was a star performer. One of those who came early, worked through lunch, worked on the weekends, and I rarely called in.
Exactly nine months later, I was handed a letter. Your position has been eliminated. Just like that….my hard work, diligence, loyalty, excellence, and everything else was tossed to the wind.
No tears were shed that day. I took the letter and left the building with my dignity still intact. I understood now more clearly than ever, the same blood, sweat, and tears I gave to my employer could be used to generate income for me.
My talents are God given, and no employer can take them away from me or anyone else. The reality is the world of work has changed. Uncertainty is a looming feeling that exists in every company around the United States and the globe.
The only certainty is what you create. Everyone must understand that they are the product. It is their job to keep talents and skills sharp, crisp, and relevant to the current marketplace.
I walked away from my layoff with my mind churning about what money I could generate legally. What did I possess that could generate income? For me, it is several things. For you, it is several things; however, it is up to us to tap into those things.
Let us not be victims of this recession, but let us rise up from the ashes and be victors. Victors over our own lives and finances.