Jobless but not Idle

The recession is here with us whether we like to acknowledge it or not.
Many companies are downsizing and the possibilities of getting employment are becoming harder and harder.
So the question is: what do you do with your time while you are unemployed?
Do you become a couch-potato and start getting resented by your family because you are always idle or what?
There are certain actions that you can take which will keep your morale positive and also pass time in a more productive manner.
I suggest you account for your time (make a list of things-to-do)
I know you are probably thinking: but am not working what is there to do?
Here are a few things that you can do:
1. Read (trade-related books, novels, motivational books, success stories and bibliographies)
2. Get a hobby (mountain biking, gardening, blogging, writing etc)
3. Network (get to know people and what they are doing)
4. Start a small business (this might be the birth of a large enterprise!!!)
5. Stay positive (understand that a job or money is not happiness or the answer to a great life----it is how you react to your current situation that makes you a better person)
6. Find that one source of peace and go to that place (physically or mentally)
7. Volunteer your time to the less fortunate (stop the negative thinking!---you are not less fortunate --you simply are not employed---you have your powerful brain, great education, physically able, maybe ability to relate to people etc ---use these strengths)
8. Do not give up, continue to look and apply for jobs...am sure something will come up.

Moving Forward

"Be not afraid of going slowly; be only afraid of standing still." Chinese Proverb.

According to research, 67% of people set goals for themselves. Of those 67%, only 10 have made realistic plans to reach their goals; And out of those 10, only 2 follow through and actually make them happen.
I can totally relate to those statistics; I can not count the number of times that I have set goals for myself only not to follow up on them or even initiate the process of achieving those goals.

There are a couple of reasons for failure:
1. Never getting started
2. Not setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely)
3. Not implementing your goals
4. Fear of failure

They say that the greatest ideas are foind in the grave yard and I believe it!
Many people fear failure so they do not get to the implementation stage.
Teddy Roosevelt once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Unless you want your epitaph to read "Here lies a man/woman with great ideas." then I urge you not to stand still and keep on trying, moving towards the great potential that you know you have.