I am often amazed at the number of people who have been laid off or are working part-time. When you hear it on the news, the numbers are staggering. “Eleven (11) million people in the United States have lost their job due to the economic recession,” reads the headlines of various newspaper and online articles. For many of us this means that we have to find a new way to provide for ourselves. While that sounds like a cliché, it really means what it says. Ever day, every week , every month, we will have to find a way to replace the income that we were once making so that the lights can stay on, we can buy food, the rent/mortgage can be paid (even though the trend is to walk away), and to have money left over to do the planned and unplanned recreational things (buy lottery tickets, a beer, go to the movies or a concert, play golf and the list goes on).

Talking to a couple of my friends, you can tell who put up a savings and who hasn’t. Their conversation is different, heck, my conversation is different! Through it all, the fascinating part of this phase of life is the overall feeling. We don’t necessarily feel different, in light of the fact that we aren’t making the money that we used to, until we stop moving, can’t pay for something, open the mail or get a telephone call from a creditor. Otherwise, we still smile, laugh, walk, run, eat and drink, all while enjoying the company of family, friends or co-workers. Isn’t that amazing how that happens?

As we experience different transitions, most of us try and maintain a “normal” life (whatever that is) through facades. To the outer world, it is important to appear as though we are making it, that we’re okay, rolling with the punches and getting by. Pride! Ego! Two dominant internal sources that dictate, consciously or unconsciously, our behaviors and what we articulate. Critical to the process that so many are in, is not to settle. “I make enough money to feed myself, pay the rent and keep the lights on,” says a friend to me. Is that what it’s come down to? Is that what we expect the “new normal to be?” For how long? When does it change to making more money than we used to and what has to happen for the switch to take place? Honestly?

I’m encouraged that so many are going into business for themselves. Entrepreneurship is a significant focus that so many of us need and must adopt. There are always ‘buyers’ and ‘sellers’. Which is why I am so excited about my new book, due out this fall entitled - “Develop Your Entrepreneurial Game Face,” an encouraging and motivating attempt at changing the way we view working. As a result, individuals are able to Pre-order their copy, now, on my website.

In the end, I hope that you are not letting the skills that you’ve honed, the education that you’ve gained and/or the god-given talents that you were given, go to waste. As I say in my book, The Six Routines of Self-Discovery, take a step back to explore within, so that you can advance your passion-focused life. It’s tough out here, but I’m convinced that the determined, focused, and disciplined human spirit is tougher.