I’ve Stared Into the Abyss…and Seen a Lot of My Friends

If you’re not worried, you’re not paying attention.

Bad times are here, folks. Those people who make the numbers 4 and 5 are busy printing them up as fast as they can for gas stations. As in: $4.00 a gallon. $5 a gallon.

The front page of AJR (American Journalism Review) reads:"Maybe It Is Time to Panic."

And here's a press release from JobFox: "While the value of the dollar is shrinking, many job seekers - including in-demand technology specialists - must accept new positions at lower salaries than they did just a month ago."

OK, you don't have to beat me over the head with it. I get it. It's bad and it's time to take action and not just sit around and wring my hands.

So, in the last two weeks, I have:

*Networked with dozens of new people and established contact with them online and via phone.
* Done detailed research about where new opportunities are being predicted and how I can move into those areas.
* Checked in with all my bosses and clients to make sure they still find my product of value.
* Began adding "extras" to my work -- and letting my bosses and clients know about it.
* Checked into new technology and researched where it can help me do my job better. I'm ready to make an investment in voice recognition because my bad elbow is seriously hampering my productivity.

So, what are you doing about your current career situation? Are you hunkered down and praying the next business or economic downturn will pass you by?

I want to know: What are you doing to UP YOUR GAME?




del.icio.us

Do you Squiddoo?

If you've never seen anything like this, check out www.squiddoo.com. I created a "lens" at the urging of a business associate, and it's quite interesting to see the "experts" on various subjects.

For me, I've set up a lens titled, "Getting Ahead at Work," and filled it with career advice from various sources (including myself), interviews, helpful career books (including my own) and other Web sites (did I mention I included my own?)

The Squiddoo "Lensmasters'" interests range from Audrey Hepburn to cats to woodworking to engineering...there's something for everyone. Have a career you feel passionately about and would like to share your expertise? Or, have a product or service that you would like to promote? Try this out -- it's a good way to get your presence known in the increasingly competitive Internet world. Just make sure you do your homework and create something that reflects positively on you as a professional.