Monday, Lafayette, Indiana

The news over the weekend had the usual buffet of political doings, crime and the dramatic weather plaguing the Southeast. But the ever rising story these days is the teetering economy.

Beginning with the mortgage crisis that has driven thousands into foreclosure it’s having ripple effects through the banking industry and the other markets. The reporters I listened to sounded pessimistic and even alarmed.

Well, that’s just great!
Just what America needs - more nail biting stress.

Of course stress in America is old news. Nonetheless, we still haven’t figured out how to effectively alleviate it. What is worsening is the depth and scale of our stress. And few things gnaw at us with more debilitating intensity than financial uncertainty. Because when the snowball starts rolling, so many parts of our lives get run over. Our companies suffer and that means our jobs might be at stake. And with unemployment comes anxiety about our bills, our mortgages, kids education, even food.

Oh, and gas is four dollars a gallon. Good Heavens! Who’s running this ship?

At times like these - and I don’t remember a lot of times like these - I resort to the core strategies:
I pray and I cling to my family and friends. Hope you do the same. In the meantime, let’s hope that this recession - whether already here or right around the corner - lifts quickly.

I want you to be reading this journal at breaks on your job, not sitting home looking through the paper to find a job.

Ten signs that your job may be in jeopardy:
(This list first appeared in September, 2006. Enjoy)


1. At the first staff meeting after a big company merger, you meet a person with you exact same title and responsibilities. They’re 10 years younger and better looking then you.

2. For you birthday, your boss gives you a copy of the book Passages.

3. Your co-workers have not made eye contact with you for two weeks.

4. Your request for more staples is denied.

5. You find out that you and your new superior have different political affiliations, root for opposing teams, and attend different churches with hostile theologies.

6. You notice that the company trash includes remnants of your most recent report.

7. You were not notified of the change of time for the meeting your organized.

8. At a staff meeting you learn that “some divisions” are being transferred to Ethiopia.

9. Human Resources informs you that you need to be drug tested daily.

10. In the annual report, your image has been photoshopped out of the staff photo.