Attitude and Longitude

Unemployment Rates & Shifting a Couple of Points Over in Perspective

October unemployment figures in the US and in my state, Texas, were released this past Friday.  The numbers shifted a fraction of a percentage point from September's numbers.  Apparently, slightly more people have become unemployed than found jobs during this past month.  The unemployment rates for October 2008 were 6.1% in the U.S. and 5.4% in Texas.  In the city where I live, Austin, the rate was 4.8% (4.7% in September).

In addition to the usual stuff that influences the job market, officials say that Hurricane Ike will continue to skew the numbers in Texas because unemployment claims rose by 300% in the aftermath of the storm.  Citizens of our state are still being affected from when Ike hit the coast on September 13.  My friend’s sister and her husband had to relocate permanently to Dallas after Ike devastated their home in Galveston.  (Talk about chaos caused by turbulent waters... literally!)

I know, I know... I'm all about positive attitude and inspiration, not doom and gloom and fear.  Don’t worry.  Now that I've given you some of the data that’s being reported, I’m going to show you a couple of points of shift in perspective.   

First perspective point to consider is that economists, and I don’t know exactly how they figure this out, say that full employment is defined as 4%-6%.  They say that we will never have 0% unemployment because of changeable market factors and because not everyone who gets captured in the numbers really plans to or wants to become employed.  Anyway, it’s interesting to note that, according to the economists, we are on the tippy top of that scale and so still considered at full employment in the US.  In Texas and Austin, we’re doing much better than the country at-large. 

Recently, I’ve had several conversations with colleagues and clients during which we discuss how fortunate we feel to be living here in Texas.  We could be in Michigan instead, where the unemployment rate for October 2008 was apparently 9.3%! 

One more point of perspective shift.  Guess I’m a “glass is half full” kind of gal, but I’m not the only one!  A former co-worker used to say, “The weather forecast might call for 60% chance of rain today, but that means we have a 40% chance of sunshine, too.”  Looking at it from the other side, 4%-6% unemployment also means that 94%-96% of people are working.  

Do you realize that during The Great Depression, the unemployment rate peaked at just under 25% in 1933?  So, even though our nation’s current 6.1% isn’t a walk in the park, nor is Michigan’s 9.3%, we aren’t even close to the worst it’s ever been!  And, interestingly, the worst it’s ever been is still that the majority of folks had work.

The challenge is not to get caught up in the 4%-6% mentality.  Not to get hung up on the news report that says some number went down from where it was last month.  What can you do today that will move you over into the ranks of the majority?  How can you be the 94%-96%?

And even if you aren’t one of the ones looking for a job right now, are you one of the ones stuck in a scarcity mentality in general?  If so, what can you do today to shift a couple of points over in perspective?  My friend’s sister is shopping for a new wardrobe and her husband is interviewing for a job in Dallas.  The home is gone but not their life and not their purpose here.  Think on that for awhile and see if you don’t start counting your blessings again.

Turbulent Waters

When you’re in turbulent waters, do you tread or swim?  When your life kicks up a little storm, do you hang around being buffeted by the waves, trying to stay afloat, or do you strategize, plot a plan and navigate to a new destination?

In my opinion, too many of us want to stop where we are and have a little tantrum.  We want to complain to our friends.  We want to commiserate over the bad news on the radio and t.v.  We choose to stamp our feet, fold our arms and angrily declare, “How dare this happen to me?” 

What short attention spans we have.  The pendulum always swings one way and then another, yet we only see where we are and not the historical perspective at all.  We don’t see where we’ve been and what the possibilities could be.  Wasn’t it just a few short years ago that we experienced yet another downswing of the economy?  Wasn’t it just a few short years ago that we had scandalous goings on by the names of Enron and Worldcom.  How is this any different?  We’re at war, you might say.  Well, hello, when has humankind not been at war with each other?  And before you say that until now we hadn’t been officially at war since 1991, I put to you that we have always been involved in some sort of skirmish, large or small, since the inception of our country.  When it wasn’t this current Iraqi/Afghan thing, it was the thing in Bosnia and Kosovo or it was the thing in Panama or it was the thing in Grenada or it was the thing in...  well, you get my drift.

A few evenings ago I attended a professional event in which the attendees were asked to share their thoughts around the topic, “Finding the Hidden Opportunities in Times of Chaos”.  When it was my turn, I suggested we drop the “in Times of Chaos” part because I feel that we are always in times of chaos of some sort.  Additionally, I believe we should always be looking for the hidden opportunities in every situation, whether it seems chaotic or not. 

Basically, chaos is the turbulent water that life is made of, and it’s that turbulence which causes us to examine what we’re about and what we’re doing so we will make forward shifts.  Nothing, not even we humans, can defy inertia in this dimension of matter, time and space.  Scientists tell us that the universe is always in motion – shrinking, expanding, spinning, twirling.   

Will you make use of the chaos to move your life forward?  Or will you keep trying to tread water, exhausting yourself as you attempt to resist the inevitable changes occurring in your life.  Chart a course, use the waves to your advantage and come to shore, my friend.  I’ll be glad to meet you on the beach.

Clarifying Your Gifts - Part III

The third and last of three imagination scenarios I want to share is called Grown-Up Dreams.  In the other scenarios, you dreamed about what your gifts are and what you offer the world.  This time you'll add an action twist.

Scenario III - Grown-Up Dreams: 
You're an adult again.  Welcome back to now!  Actually, we are going to move forward a short time into the future... but only to this evening.  Imagine that you are in front of your television watching the numbers for the lottery coming up on the screen.  The numbers just so happen to match the lottery ticket you bought this morning – you’ve won! 

Fill in the blank: 
If I won the lottery, I would _____.

Now, if you are ready to be daring, let's take some action.  Convert your dreams into reality, change these lottery winning wishes into goals. 

Instead of:
If I won the lottery, I would _____.
Make it:  
My goals are _____. 

A dream is just a dream.
A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.
--Harvey Mackay

Clarifying Your Gifts - Part II

Here is the second of three scenarios I'm giving so you can explore what your gifts are and what you offer the world.  This one is called Student Dreams. 

Scenario II - Student Dreams:  
Last time you did this, you were 9 or 10 years old.  Now fast-forward to when you're older and in middle or junior high school.  You're about 13 years old.

What is your best/favorite subject(s) in school and why? 

Fast-forward some more.  Whether you actually attended college or not, imagine that you are in high school, and you are only just beginning to think about pursuing a higher education as an option when you finish 12th grade.  Now, pretend that there are no pressures.  The school counselor and teachers are encouraging and simply give you ideas without any specific unsolicited advice.  Your parents tell you to pick whatever major you want.  They are happy as long as you are happy and don't have any pre-conditions or dreams about what they'd like you to do.  Let's say that money is no object, the economy will be excellent when you graduate and that companies will be clambering to hire you no matter what your degree is....  

What do you choose to study in college?


If your choice is to NOT to attend college, what do you do instead?