The last fifty years have seen tremendous prosperity in the United States. This prosperity has not only been experienced by the baby boomers who were born after World War II, but also by the generations that have followed. If there has been so much prosperity, why have so many people lost jobs in various industries since the 1960s? First the steel industry followed by manufacturing was hit as jobs began to move from the historically industrial regions to lower cost regions and then to outside the U.S. Following the break-up of the Bell Systems on January 1, 1984, telecommunications changed forever and continues to change. While some jobs were created, many jobs were lost forever. The build-up of the internet and the dotcom revolution was followed by the dotcom bust and again many jobs were lost. More recently, the airline industry has been hit hard with bankruptcies, jobs losses and reduced pay and benefits for the remaining employees. Is any industry immune to massive jobs losses, bankruptcies, loss of benefits and reduced pay for employees who remain? In simple terms the answer is “no”.
The farmers became the factory workers who morphed into the white and blue collar workers who in turn became the information workers. While there are plenty of products you and I need every day: cars, shirts, food, gasoline, computers, light bulbs, desks – the list is literally endless – most are made, assembled or processed outside of the U.S. They are sold here. We buy them here with our hard earned dollars but someone else, who generally makes much less than you or I and who either has no benefits or has their benefits provided by their government does all the work to make the products we enjoy every day. Think about it. Am I saying “buy American”? No. Am I saying that employment and economies are global and very much in the midst of flux right now? Yes!
So, what can you do?
- Whatever field you are in, stay on top of the latest technology. If your employer does not pay for it, do it on your own.
- Develop a professional network. Not just in your current field and not just in your local area. Be active with your network.
- Build you own business. If you work for someone else, development you own business in whatever field in your nights and weekends. If you already work for yourself, make sure that you are not so narrowly focused that any bump in your field, technology or the economy will vaporize your revenue stream.
- Put yourself first. Corporate loyalty is dead. Take care of number one. No matter how valuable you think you are, you can be eliminated or replaced in a moments notice.
- Save. Make sure you have six months worth of savings just in case you get laid off. While a year would be ideal, it may not be realistic while saving for you children’s education and your retirement.
- Stay flexible. Just because you always worked in a certain field does not mean you need to stay in that field for 40 years.
- Plan to never retire. Unless you are very good at saving and financial planning or you plan to live on Social Security, get it into your head now that you will always work – at least for as long as you physically can work.
- Think of work as a marathon. Sure there are some weekends and all nighters, but there are few crises that require you to work 60 hours per week for weeks on end. After a while that becomes a lifestyle. Mix work, exercise and leisure (family, travel, outdoors, reading, etc.). Balance is the key.
Is there any good news here? Yes. It’s up to you. No one is going to take care of you. Not your employer, not the government, not your mommy. You have got to do it yourself. And you can. Once you accept this fact, it is extremely liberating. Take advantage of that liberation and begin NOW.
George Franks is the founder and CEO of Franks Consulting Group - a Bethesda, Maryland based management consulting and leadership coaching practice. George is a member of the International Coach Federation and the Institute of Management Consultants. His web site can be found at:
www.franksconsultinggroup.com
His blog is:
http://consultingandcoaching.blogspot.com
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