This is a time of widespread layoffs, globalization, mergers, buyouts, bail-outs, down-sizing, out-sourcing, economic downturn, along with a global recession. Certainly, I’m not addressing any unfamiliar issues. We are living in challenging and stressful times. The workplace is rapidly changing and once we emerge from this crisis, we will never go back to “the good old days.”  So, where is the “silver lining” in this cloud? 

New services, products, processes and technologies are on the horizon that will create millions of new jobs and new wealth on a global scale. Historically underdeveloped nations are beginning to contribute and in many ways direct the world’s economy. This is just the “tip of the iceberg.”  The non-profit agency www.Kiva.org makes small loans from everyday people, to entrepreneurs in the developing world. That buzz-phrase from the 90’s, “paradigm shift,” could now be termed, “paradigm tsunami.” 

In America, we can no longer avoid the issues of alternative energy, conservation, changing weather patterns and green initiatives.  Our grace period is up and we must act now, not in 10 years, not next year. New opportunities abound and more await us. The “curly light bulb” or CFL uses up to 75% less energy than an incandescent light bulb and has created a sales boom in that market niche. More green products will create new jobs and economic savings. Industries that have ignored the need for transformation into the new century are now forced adjust or leave the market.  

Workers that have ignored the need to transform their careers will be/are faced with serious challenges. When the economy rebounds, those now unemployed may find that their jobs have been eliminated, transformed, sent overseas or outsourced. The wisdom for us is to identify new jobs/careers, prepare for them and then be ready and willing to do what it takes to enter or re-enter those fields.

That former oil rig worker in the Gulf may be relocating to a giant wind-power farm in West Texas. The down-sized marketing manager may open a “green theme” retail store in a small community. The present and the future is all about creating value for our employers, customers and most of all ourselves. We must be self-motivated in this endeavor. The obligation rests with us alone, not the government, religion, Wall Street or the corporate world. Strong-willed, creative and energetic individuals created this nation and we must now re-create it. This is not a choice, this is a necessity. 

Some of the ways we create value for our employers/customers; save money, make money, create efficiencies, innovative marketing, introduce and manage new technologies, create new products or services. We must examine, analyze and re-examine what we can bring to a current or potential employer to create value and positive results in the organization. By embracing our talents, skills, interests, passions and training, we can thrive and prosper in this radically changed workplace just around the next turn. I like the quote by the novelist and theologian Frederick Buechner, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”  We don’t have to look very far to see what the world hungers for right now. If we make a semi-conscious effort we will see more than one relevant world hunger, on the internet, TV, in a newspaper or at the water cooler. Another simple and easy source is the content of a job posting. Those “key words” are really key problem issues (key opportunities) that the employer needs help with. Many job/career strategies are often so simple, that we just don’t see them. When I want to learn more about the powerful advantages of the new social networks, I don’t call on so-called “experts,” I simply ask my students. They are the users, and they have the answers. Are you too proud to ask your kids or a student about technology? You might want to get over that one! My visionary, entrepreneur Father built his business plan around the needs of his clients. When he sold the client their home, they needed homeowners insurance, so he added an insurance agency to his real estate business. The insurance service bonded him to the client, so when it was time to sell their home; you know who they called first. When they needed a property manager, they already had his trust. It’s a simple model that worked well in a computer-less age.  

We are in a time of going “back to basics.” Let’s leverage this time to prepare for the rebound, the recovery and the rapid growth that is just on the other side of this downturn.  

Here are just some of the ways that we can begin to create value in the new American workplace: 

• Study a second language: Spanish or Mandarin. 

• Earn an advanced degree: MBA or Masters in a new field. 

• Initiate independent research and publish the results. 

• Join a professional association and attain a leadership role.

• Unite two unrelated technologies and promote the results.

• Make contacts/build relationships with emerging businesses/industries/organizations.

• Get out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself to learn, and then bring your new found knowledge, wisdom, skills back to your employer to create value.

• Take your skills and accomplishments from one career, to a completely new one.

• Be passionate and take pride in your work.

• Add a positive energy to the organization.

• Anticipate the needs of your customers/clients and co-workers and meet them.

• Make a concerted effort to identify your relevance to the work at hand and act on it to create more value for the organization.

• Don’t take anything for granted. What is here today can be gone in 5 minutes, or less.

• Communicate and share the value that we create for ourselves with others in the workplace and in our communities.

• Dedicate yourself to a cause that is larger than you and let the value unfold.

Happy spring and happy Easter! I’ll now leave you with some powerful wisdom from the patron saint of animals and ecology. 

“Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – St. Francis of Assisi