Happy New Year!

I was reading a career advice column in the Dallas Morning News while I was taking a holiday last week. The letter was from a person who works at a small firm, who likes her job and who was informed that in order to avoid a layoff, everyone in the company will be taking a 15% cut in pay starting on January 1. Her question was whether she had to “roll over” and take it.

A stream of thoughts went through my mind:

>  “Roll Over?”  Not the language of someone who is responsible for what happens in her life.  No ma’am, you don’t *have*to roll over.  It’s a choice.

>  She doesn’t know what’s going on in her marketplace. Had she a strong network, she’d know whether there were opportunities available to her in this market and what kind of compensation is available/reasonable.

>  I hope she can afford a 15% pay cut ’cause I bet she didn’t see that one coming. Does she get to work 15% less in exchange?

>  Will taking this paycut and staying have a payoff at the end or is she now jeopardizing her future security in an enterprise that’s doomed to fail?   Would she have enough advance warning should the organization go under?  Loyalty vs. self-preservation – that’s a tough one without all the information.  Dear readers, what do you think?

>  Why is she asking a career columnist about whether she should be looking for another job? How is the answer not a resounding yes?

A reason that it is so hard for so many to find positions is that they’ve let themselves go. Somewhere along the way, they quit learning and growing, they quit being their best. They’ve become a passenger on the bus of life instead of the driver.

I want something better for you, my friends.

As the drivers of your own career/life bus, what I want for you is to be able to see change coming (when that’s possible, of course) and have a plan. Even in a down economy, there are companies hiring, and what I want for you is to be in that top 10%.  I want opportunity knocking at your door.  What I want for you is for you to prosper as the leaders and creators of your own destiny.  I want you to know your next steps.

I want something better for you.  If I can help you accomplish something better in 2009, I am here…

Cheering you on,

Carolann

p.s. – I am offering a F*R*E*E teleseminar with Miriam Salpeter of Keppie Careers starting this Thursday, January 8th called LAND YOUR DREAMJOB: 8 Strategies for Outrageous Success. Register here.

p.p.s. – I still have two 2009 planning sessions available.  Email me today if you are interested.

p.p.p.s – Though I am not generally a fan of adversarial thinking, I’d like to know your thoughts.  What do you think of Loyalty vs. Self-preservation?