A Goal Without A Plan Is Just A Wish

Be Like Water My Friend

We haven't faced an economy like this in a very, very, long time. The same strategies and behaviors that we used in the "good" times, just won't work now. So stop it. Stop doing the same stuff that's getting your nowhere. New times call for new measures. New stategies, Adaptation. Alignment with reality.

Ask yourself, "what am I repeatedly doing that worked then and isn't working now? What could I do differently that would better fit the current situation and circustance?"

Stay encouraged and don't give up. Keep moving, but stop knocking your head against the same exact wall. Try another tactic to break it down and get through. Be flexible and adjust.

Just as water can flow peacefully or crash violently, there are at least two sides to every story. Everything is not all bad, there is good; just go find it. Be like water my friend.

Potential Government Shutdown and Your Career

If you didn’t know, the federal government may shut down because they haven’t decided on a formal budget for FY 2011 yet. Federal shutdowns have occurred in the past and it could happen again.

What does this have to do with you?

Here are some possibilities to be aware of:

• You won’t be able to get a passport
• If you’re a federal employee, you might get to stay home and get paid retroactively
• If you’re a federal contractor, you might get furloughed, fired, or not paid
• If you want to visit one of the National museums or parks, it might be closed
• If you’re a veteran, you might not get your benefit check
• You probably won’t be able to apply for Social Security
• Numerous needed federal services won’t be accessible to you and others

Keep this in mind: If you get laid off due to a federal shutdown, be wary about trying to sue your employer, it’s happened before. In one instance the former employee lost the case because, like many workers – they were “at-will”. So know you’re status if you don’t. Federal shut downs haven’t lasted forever (sometimes a few days, 3 weeks, it depends) and companies have rehired employees they had previously laid off once the shut down ended.

In the case of the employee who lost is lawsuit, he and everyone else who had been laid off was rehired by the company once the government resumed its operations. This employee ended up resigning shortly thereafter (you can probably guess a few reasons why).

In short, know your employment status, be optimistic, but prepare for the worst, and stay on good terms with your employer…the government shut down, if it happens – isn’t their “fault” directly. So if you get fired, stay on good terms and be the one they want to rehire when the time comes.

Want more info about the potential Federal shutdown?

http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/speakout/government-shutdown

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/20/AR2011022003176.html