By Theresa Rose

Yep, it’s really bad out there. It seems like not a day goes by without another story of doom and gloom hitting the airwaves or whispered around the water cooler. We are living in the most challenging time in recent memory: people across the country are losing their health insurance, jobs, homes and retirement savings. The negative effect of the current circumstances in which we live—both on a financial and an emotional level—cannot be underestimated. Unfortunately, there is not a lot we as individuals can do to change the global financial system. However, constantly reminding ourselves of how uncertain our future is does a great disservice to our professional lives as well as wreaks havoc on our attitudes, relationships and health.

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By Jay Forte

Ours is an unpredictable world. Many times, regardless of how effectively we plan, some things just fail. The dinner party that should have been great based on the planning, but the meal was a disaster. The meeting’s presentation that was well prepared, but then the equipment failed. Or, a disciplined and diligent savings plan that lost nearly half of its value in today’s recession. These challenging situations define our days. Some curse and yell; others see them for the opportunities they present. Inaugural Poet Maya Angelou writes, "I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights." Failures, changes and unexpected events have the ability to either destroy or advance; it is in our outlook and response that allows us to turn these failures into opportunities.

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By Jean Kelley

Whether you’ve been out of the employment market for a long time due to child rearing or have been recently laid off, you already know how tough it is to find a job in today’s economy. For every job posting there are hundreds of resumes submitted and as many as 30-40 qualified candidates vying for the same position as you. Needless to say, you have to stand out if you want to get your foot in the door.

But standing out will only take you so far these days. You also have to sell yourself—something few people are good at. Sure, they may be able to sell a product or service, but when it comes to selling themselves, many people clam up.

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