Personal Recession Lessons

• Jobs come and go. There is life after work. Most of us have our identity attached to our work. Have you developed other areas of your personal and professional life for balance?

• People come and go from our lives. Some old close friends are now past friends or acquaintances. Living tough filters your collection of friends into those you can rely on and those who are just good for an occasional conversation.

• Living frugally. Nothing like living on unemployment that focusses your attention on a budget. Everyday we ask ourselves, "Do we really need that?"

• Network, network, network. Finding a job in today's economy is, more than ever, about who you know. More people find jobs through their personal networks than by submitting resumes into online databases.

• Ask for what you want. Be forthright. It's easier to negotiate, barter, and deal as everyone is eager to move things forward. Credit card and mortgage companies are now willing to negotiate. What have you got too lose?

• Above all, stay positive. Stay focused on what's important in your life and let the rest be background noise. Everything is a cycle and this too shall pass.

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