Keep Yourself Solvent, Employable, and Happy
Spend less than you earn. Learn to write proposals to create great work for yourself. Know your rights as an employee. Ask for a performance review. Keep your ego in check. Learn the work styles of your colleagues. Document everything you do. And keep your sense of humor!
-- Jane Snyder
Waterloo, Ontario

Say "I Love You"
After your exit interview, when you've received your final paycheck, traded handshakes, and walked out of the building, go look in the mirror. You will notice that nothing has changed. That person you see is just as valuable, efficient, and productive today as he or she was yesterday. Tell yourself, "I love you." Then ask yourself, "So what are you afraid of?"

Asking that may be the most freeing step you can take. It will force you to recognize that you do feel fear. If you go on in denial of that fear, you will never face it. If you never face it, you will never overcome it. The mirror chat with yourself is the best "boot to the head" that I know of.
-- Richard Roberts
Bremerton, Washington

Give More Than You Get
The best way to stay employed is to make sure that you are positively contributing substantially more than you are paid. Don't lose the focus of finding ways to make the company more profitable. Create your own projects, focus on value, and improve your value.
-- Markus Hill
Asheboro, North Carolina

Diversify Your Input
Go to the bookstore, pick up some magazines from a variety of fields, sit down with a cup of coffee, and peruse. Often, casual browsing is enough to get you thinking of different people in different industries or other companies in related industries in your town. This exercise helps me sharpen my résumé and see how the skills I have honed in my industry might entice a company in a different industry.
-- Greg Kittinger
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Goals, Goals, and More Goals ...
Start small. Seek out a networking event and set a realistic goal of collecting three business cards. You will walk away from the event with a sense of accomplishment. Benchmark the next event for five business cards -- or one relevant job lead.
-- John Renolds
Chicago, Illinois

Don't Settle
Don't -- I repeat -- don't take a job just because you are suffering a panic attack about being laid off. You will experience the consequences and realize how productive you could have been during that downtime.
-- Bryan Ward
Los Gatos, California

Make It Your Job!
In any job, do more than is expected. Surprise your manager. And never turn down an assignment by saying, "That's not my job."
-- Stuart Brogden
Houston, Texas

Check Yourself
Take your annual goals and reorganize them in terms of what will make the company the most money. Then take your monthly and weekly to-do lists, and restructure them to reflect what you most want your division to achieve in the coming year. You'll be more effective as a result -- and more valuable by focusing on basics.
-- David Horn
New York, New York

Simple Words
Preparation + Opportunity = Luck. Every exit is an entry somewhere else.
-- Chris Ward
Findlay, Ohio

Add Some Spice to Your Life
Downturns can make your professional life feel stale. Stay productive and attentive by adding to your extracurricular life. Take on a second job or hobby, or start a project that you've put off. It's all about how you choose to spend your spare time and keep yourself enriched.
-- James Dell
Ottawa, Ontario

Generalist or Specialist?
If you hit the right mark, your specialty will help you build a reputation and a bank balance. But what if you choose the wrong niche? Today's economy is no different than the down cycles we see in every decade. Constantly upgrading skills, obtaining new business experience, and delivering value are what count in any economy. Adapt, learn, and do good work.
-- Colin McGuire
Calgary, Alberta

Sidebar: Bonnitta Roy

When Bonnitta Roy fled New York after 13 years of living there, she sought a quieter existence in the tucked-away town of Kent, Connecticut. After some time in the small town, her passion for the outdoors drove her to begin poking around the offices of Kent Horticultural Services, a homegrown landscaping company located on Main Street.