These are unprecedented times. Most of us have never lived through an economic recession of this magnitude.

But when things get tough, the tough get going! This is a great opportunity for REINVENTION! It might just be the best time of your life even though it may seem just the opposite. This could be the time for a BREAKTHROUGH …for you to find your passion work and do that which you never thought you would be able to do.

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances may have lain dormant. Horace, Roman Poet

During the last recession (2000-2002), which is very similar to this one and which I write about in Only Wet Babies Like Change, I met a man from Pittsburgh who had been a steel worker for over 20 years. He was laid off and for months thought that his life was essentially over until he decided to “get going”. He retrained to be a massage therapist and is now living in the Caribbean with a very successful business. As I was enjoying my massage, he shared that he had been the stereotypical macho steel worker and that if anyone had told him he would become a massage therapist, he would have told them they were crazy. He loves the weather, the freedom, and the interesting people he is meeting. He said his lay-off was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

This is one of thousands of stories of people who have reinvented themselves as a result of what seemed like a tragedy at the time.

So I say, if you have been laid off do not see it as a tragedy but rather an opportunity. Shout for joy that you can now find your passion work.

It may not be easy. You may have to go through some difficult days but rather than just trying to find a new job so that you can make some money, I implore you to look for a livelihood that excites you.

We have to redefine the meaning of “job”. As our society is literally being transformed, the “jobs” will no longer be found with the large enterprises. We are seeing every industry contract. We are going to see many more independent contractors, entrepreneurs, and “me, Inc” enterprises.

REINVENTION means that you have to begin to learn to take personal responsibility for your livelihood. For many of us once we get a job we become complacent and dependent on our employers. This is a real mistake. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that your job is secure. None of them are.

The security has to come from you… from within. You have to know that you can continue to survive if you lose that “job”.

The only way to move from survival to “thrival” is to rely on you!

Getting started with REINVENTION

1. Believe in yourself. Even though it may not be evident to you, you do have a special gift and you can earn a living with that gift.
2. Figure out what you love so much that you would do every day even if you were not paid to do it.
3. Develop a written vision for what you want to do. See yourself doing it. Think about what other people will be saying about it. Think about the emotions that you will have when you are doing it. Look at the vision every day.
4. Never, ever give up. If you want it, it will happen.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that things are difficult. Seneca, Roman Philosopher