Last week I wrote about volunteering to keep your “saw sharp” and yourself busy as the recession looms overhead.  Today I noticed that MSNBC’s had a column on Dealing with Rejection as well as what people are doing with all their time during their layoffs and another on what people are doing to keep their skills sharp.  After reading these articles I was once again struck with how much we have put work before family.

Some of the people that told their stories said they enjoyed getting to know their families again.  One man stated he hadn’t seen his wife this much in 20 years!  He was out of the house early and returning late.  Others state that they are helping more with the family chores, kids, dinner, etc.  And a few stated that one of the good things that came of being laid off was the ability to help a sick spouse.

I would hope that once we all get back to work we will not forget one of the good things that happened from this recession is reconnecting families once again.  Perhaps the lesson learned will be that we need “work/life balance”.   Too much work and not enough play is not a good thing.  Some stated that they have played golf so much that they are ready to get back to work.  They just need to land a job.   

Whenever we let the pendulum swing too far one way or the other, we are out of balance.  Let’s hope we are learning from this unemployment lesson as well.  The family unit is and always will be important to our stability, mental health and well being.  We often take for granted that the family will be there for us when we have the time and can break away from work long enough.  Now that so many are unemployed, they are relying on the family for support and love.  Much like prayer, we tend to only turn to family when there is a crisis.  I hope the lesson from all this is, family is always #1.

Most of us would agree that we would volunteer more if we had the time.  Many people are finding that they have the time now due to either being laid off or having their work hours cut back to avoid being part of a lay off.  What a great time to volunteer!

When we volunteer we not only give, but we get back.  Not just in the way most people assume… I feel good about myself helping out someone less fortunate.  When you volunteer you are also helping yourself.  If you have always had a desire to move into a different career, but didn’t want to rock your current boat by capsizing your employment, volunteer where you can test the waters.  For example, you may be working in the finance field currently, but have always wondered about health care.  Maybe your presentation skills are not what you would like or they need to be to move you up in your career, maybe you have wondered how other areas of a company are run, volunteer and you can learn. 

Volunteering helps you to sharpen your skills, which makes you more marketable.  It also keeps you active, engaged and networking.  You may have heard how networking is a powerful way to meet new people and find out about those hidden jobs.  You know, the jobs that aren’t posted, those that companies didn’t think they had until they met someone like you that has the talent, skills and knowledge to fill them!

If you are not sure what you would like to do, why not give www.volunteermatch.com a try.  This is a site that will match you to an organization based on your interests and keep you within your own geographical location.   Other sites to take a look at:

www.worldwidehelpers.org

www.boardnetusa.org      which places people on boards of non profit organizations

www.taprootfoundation.org

www.networkforgood.org

www.wish.org

www.idealist.org   

www.volunteer.gov

Keep yourself active, engaged and give of your time and talents.  You will get back as much as you give.

Did you know that the chocolate chip cookie was invented in 1937 by Ruth Graves Wakefiled who ran the Toll House in Massachusetts.  One day while making cookies she ran out of a needed ingredient.  She had semi chocolate and thought that by using that in the recipe it would melt and her recipe would turn out.  Instead the chips remained and the Toll House Cookie was invented!

The game Monopoly was invented by an unemployed heating engineer, Charles Darrow in 1934.  Other inventions during the depression were scotch tape, the parking meter, synthetic rubber, the T.V., Radar, and nylons! 

During a time of great despair, people were being inventive.  Many out of necessity as Ruth Wakefield who needed to provide for her quests or Charles Darrow who was unemployed and while sitting around the house, thought up a game for himself and family.

When times are good and we have all that we want and need, where is the need to find creative ways to make our lives easier.  We have been living very unrealistically the past 15 years or so and I economic condition is proof of that.  Our unemployment rates are on the rise, higher than they have been in quite some time.  

With the need to reinvent ourselves to find those hidden jobs, we need to keep ourselves in action. I believe that we will weather this storm and be better because of it.  We can’t sit back and wait for someone else to solve our problems.  We have to reinvent ourselves. Perhaps you have always wanted to go back to school, try a new sport, write a book or try your talents at cooking.  Who knows you could be the next great inventor!

Comments?

Where Did Everyone Go?

I find it interesting that the first place companies cut is the training and development departments.  Some how investing in their biggest asset, their employees, is the first area to be reduced or gone!  I could get on my high horse about cutting some of the Executives bonuses or pay, but we all know that this has been the headline news for some time now. 

However, where will companies be when our economy turns around? The pendulum always swings back.  Employees are asked to do the same amount or more work then before they lost their fellow co-worker(s).  The employees that are remaining should be the best and brightest.  Those with the potential to lead the company back to profitable states. 

I see two things happening, 1) when times are good, managers don’t want to take their employees away from their jobs to be further trained or developed and 2) now that times are tough, employers have cut or eliminated the training and development budget.

It would seem to me that in times like this, employers had to make a tough decision on which employees to keep and which to let go.  This I understand.  Those employees that remain have an array of feelings ranging from guilt and  fear to sheer happiness that they still have a job!

Perhaps now is the time that employers should look at continuing education for those employees that they valued the most by retaining them.  If there isn’t time for training and development in good times, then isn’t this the right time?