The Great Lay-Off Debate

By Dan Miller
48days.com

CBN.com – Hang on to hope! I’m hearing from a lot of discouraged people right now. But I’m also hearing from a lot of others who see this as the perfect time to really figure out what their dreams are, and to act on those dreams. I trust you are in the second group.

If you’d like to help bring the message of hope to others, check out all the events coming up here at The Sanctuary in the 48 Days Highlights.

And be sure to read the quotations at the bottom of this newsletter on “creating.” Something there may trigger your great idea.

"People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within." -Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Living, Loving, & Working - with Dan and Joanne

Jobs, Jobs, Everywhere Jobs

I know the news media love to scream the bad news that everyone is laying off. It just makes emotional headlines, but of course it’s not actually true. It’s never been easier to start your own business – and lots of opportunities exist even in more traditional jobs, if you know where to look.

This week’s edition of Fortune magazine listed some of the growing industries:

Fisherman – job listings are up at monster.com in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries.
Electrical Engineer – White-collar job site theladders.com has seen a 29% jump in openings for electrical engineers.
Math Teacher – the education sector added more than 32,000 jobs in January; science and math teachers are in high demand.
Nurse – According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health-care industry added 19.300 jobs in January.
Secret Agent – G-men are wanted by the FBI, which recently announced a “hiring blitz” of 850 new agents.

CareerBuilder.com currently is showing 1.6 million job listings, including doll fashion designer at $62,610 and ice cream taster at $53,810.

CoolWorks.com has some amazing opportunities like living and working in The Island House on Mackinac Island.

JobMonkey.com may lead you to that cruise ship job you always dreamed of or working on a dude ranch along with seasoned cowboys.

The point is if you need a new opportunity, just look in the right places. Not every company is laying off and there are more creative options than ever before. Now may be the perfect time to embrace those childhood dreams of what you wanted to be when you “grew up.”

I've talked with a lot of people recently who are using No More Mondays to create their plan.

Do You Have PLSD?

Well, here’s a new term for you. There is a growing body of evidence that says survivors of layoffs often experience severe feelings of fear, grief, guilt, and anger – and it’s called Post-Layoff Survivor Disorder (PLSD). Of course, we need a name for any malady, probably a psychiatric category, a way to file an insurance claim – and basically an excuse for the negative feelings. Closely related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Post-Layoff Survivor Disorder victims (meaning, you still have your job) should try these tips:

Talk to someone about your feelings. Don’t just bottle them up and keep them in – find a coach, counselor, co-worker, or friend to share your guilt and fear. Try this before pills or medical claims.
Connect with your recently departed colleagues. While you suspect they hate you for being allowed to stay, you may be surprised to find they are relieved and excited about all the possibilities. Hopefully their enthusiasm will be contagious and help you endure the stress of your ongoing position.
Find ways to increase your contribution where you are. You may not be happy about having to do your own work and the work of three people who were let go, but show the company you are up to the challenge.
Continue to clarify your highest areas of competence. Don’t assume you’ll be at the same place forever – make sure you know how to describe your marketable skills in three sentences.
Don’t allow your fear and anger to sabotage your best work. Take a deep breath, take a brisk walk around the parking lot, release those negative emotions, and get back to work.
Make sure you have a life outside of your “work.” Remember, work is simply one tool for a successful life. Jobs come and go, but that should not change the direction or quality of your “life.”
And be confident that if your guilt and fear are not addressed, you are probably sabotaging your current position anyway and will soon join the ranks of the laid-off where you will no longer have to suffer from PLSD.

Blog: PLSD

48 Days Online Radio: My Heart Says…

Each week I create a new online radio podcast — that you can hear in iTunes or at the 48 Days Online Radio Show link below.

Lots of you are facing unexpected challenges in your work today. But don’t let that derail your success in other more important areas of your life.

I am lost. I have a lot of debt. I don't know where to start. Do I need a finance coach or do I go to a lawyer? Do I do it on my own? Do I ignore all the pressures? Will a life coach help me? I have no money but can trade my skills (Graphic Design/Web).
I have spent the past two years trying to find God's will for my vocation. I have resolved that God designed me to be inclined a certain way and that I should pursue what I truly want: Med School (Psych/Endo). I have ALWAYS wanted this. I work as a design engineer and have a B.S. in Counseling Psych and need about two years of Chem/Bio to apply to Med School. I really WANT it and would regret not pressing forward. Would you say go for it?
In these tough times a resume just isn't cutting it. Would you approve of me using a flyer with catchy images and my past bartending experience on it? I think it would catch the employers’ interest quicker than the plain old resume. What are your thoughts?
My question is once you give a verbal agreement for a job offer, is it too late to try to negotiate for higher pay? I don't want to seem unprofessional, but after giving more thought I think I should be paid more. (The job is as a legal collector for a law firm.) What should I do?
I am having a hard time with the first suggested reading book from you, Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. The part I'm up to is autosuggestion and repeating over and over and visualizing money. Filtering this through a Christian mindset is very difficult. It just seems wrong meditating on money and filling my mind with ways to obtain it, contrary to biblical teaching. After reading your book and being so positive, I was inspired to fill my world with such positive material. And now this 'stumbling block' -- or is it? HELP so I can keep moving forward.
I am a 50-year-old man. I lost my job in November after almost 27 years with the same company, five years short of early retirement. My experience is in IT, but most of my skills are in older technologies that aren't in high demand, so I haven't found anything yet. I believe I'll get another job eventually, but I'm heading back into IT, even though my heart says I should be self-employed. I have an idea for a business that I believe is a good one, but I really don't have a plan and I'm struggling with finding out how to get it off the ground.

If you have a question, just e-mail me at askdan@48Days.com and you can ask about starting your own business, getting a better job, or finding your purpose in life.

And you can click the podcast link to listen to this week’s broadcast immediately – no downloading, no wait.

48 Days Highlights – At the Sanctuary

Coaching with Dan
Many of you ask if I still coach people individually. Yes, I do. Are you feeling stuck? Are you struggling to get interviews or a job offer? Do you have a business idea but are not sure how to move forward? Maybe I can help you see some new ways of moving forward. See the details here: Coaching with Dan.

Lead the 48 Days Seminar
Are you someone who just naturally provides hope and encouragement? Would you like to help more people know the 48 Days principles? My daughter Ashley and I are offering a one-day training program to help anyone who wants to be ready to lead this six-week program. We'll provide you with a complete set of leader instructions, DVDs, and the confidence to begin sharing immediately. Certified 48 Days Trainer

Living, Loving & Working – with Dan & Joanne
Joanne and I are inviting you to a two-day event here at our Sanctuary. We'll share our principles for life success – including how to find or create work that is meaningful and profitable. This event is coming up March 19-20. Living, Loving & Working

Idea Into Business Academy
This is the title of our next 212Connection RoundTable event, also here at The Sanctuary on our property. This is a jam-packed two-day event (Mar 6-7) where you’ll be hearing from our leadership team. And you’ll have a chance to share your idea and get the help to grow it quickly. Get in now: RoundTable.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT
What work should you be doing?
The most popular product in the 48 Days arsenal continues to be the 48 Days Career Profile. Before you begin seeking a better job or self-employment, you need to be sure you are pursuing opportunities that match your personality style and will fulfill and reward you for a lifetime!

Quotes: Partnership with God

“Creating is being in partnership with God.” — Bernard B. Goldman, Ph.D.

“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.” — John Maynard Keynes

“The Lord will not give us challenges beyond our ability. I just wish he didn’t love me so much.” — Mother Theresa

“Fewer things are sadder than looking back on your life and saying, ‘I wish I had.’” — The Courage Connection

“An idea in a cage is like a silver dollar buried in the ground. Both are safe, but neither produces anything.” — Dr. Myron S. Allen

“Most of my ideas belonged to other people who didn’t bother to develop them.” — Thomas Edison

“The greatest secret of success in life is for a person to be ready when their opportunity comes.” — Benjamin Disraeli

Dan Miller is the bestselling author of 48 Days To The Work You Love and a renowned Life Coach specializing in career fulfillment. His weekly newsletter reaches 70,000 subscribers. Dan’s articles are featured here at CBN every Tuesday, and you can find out more about Dan at www.48days.com.