Life and Career Skills

The recession is over…No, not yet…wait another year. It does not matter whether the recession is over or not. What matters is that you begin to prepare yourself for the economic recovery. Life is always uncertain but it is not necessary to wait for whenever it happens.

Even if you have a great life and a wonderful career, bad things can happen. We must prepare ourselves and not wait for the government to take care of all the financial woes. After all its we that makes this country. It is in our hands to make the difference. It's not that you have to start rationing everything. It's about smart spending and smart saving.

Where can you start? How about going back to basics.Here sre some of my thoughts:

1. Know where your money is going. Do you know what and where you are spending your money. Track your money for one week and you will surprised to see the results.

2. Prioritize your spending. Once you track your spending, you will have identified your bad habits. Now create a budget and allocate your money to what is important..

3. Make Saving a habit. You will be surprised how far a small amount of savings will go. Start by saving 10% of your pay check…every pay check. A recession is a good time to keep adding to your retirement fund. Investments are on sale right now, and adding to your retirement account can mean bigger gains later.

4. Minimize your debt. Reduce your debt aggressively. Do not add to your debt. Payoff your highest interest debt first. By reducing your debt you are getting the best and highest return on your investment.

you may find some financial calculators on this website which might help you plan out your budget.

Please share your recession lessons on this blog. What are you doing differently?

When you take on a leadership role it is important to always show that you are in control. Bring your people together and tell them what is to be done and how you expect them to do it. If you are sure about how you want to proceed, don't let anyone change your mind. If you're a little confused yourself, listen to the ideas of others. Then make the decision and stick to it.

Remember, you are in control. You are the leader, and they must follow your direction. If you have the goal completed in your mind, keep the thought and see it through with your team. If they hate you for it, so be it. If you were in their place you might hate yourself also, but you're the leader and the job must be done. There can be no second-guessing once it's started, and you cannot build self-esteem if you doubt yourself every step of the way.

Oversee their work and compliment them as they go along. Giving your team compliments can make you feel much better, and can even give you a bigger sense of self-esteem. It always makes a person feel better to make another person feel better.

Lend a helping hand if you must, but do it as an overseer and helper, not as an equal. You must have the air of authority to keep their respect and continue to lead. Even if you're quaking inside, don't let them see it. Tell yourself you're doing well and forge ahead. And remember, all leaders once started out at the bottom.

You are now a leader, and it's a scary thing but you can do it. All you leaders out there, please share your confidence and and control lessons.

Do you prefer to be right or happy?

One of the surest ways to cause yourself great suffering is to insist upon being right - to demand that all others view life exactly as you view it.

Why should it impede your happiness for others to have differing views on politics or religion? for others to paint their houses purple or grow asparagus in place of a grassy lawn? for others to dress, mingle, celebrate, or dine in their own manner?

The path to happiness is to live your life joyfully in your own way and to support and encourage others to do likewise.

What makes you happy?

Stress and depression can be unwelcomed visitors during the holiday season which generally begins with Thanksgiving and continues through New Year's Day. It is important to face the holidays with realistic plans, an eye on the budget, the ability to ask for support and the understanding when "no" is the appropriate response to the numerous requests and demands on finances, time and emotion. Party plans, shopping, baking, cleaning and preparing for visitors as well as church or community volunteerism create a dizzying pace followed by the sudden secession of activity after New Year's Day.