by Robert Collins

Created on: May 24, 2009   Last Updated: May 27, 2009

Unemployment Survival Guide: Part A

Gripping the railing with all his might the sailor stares in disbelief. Fierce waves pound the hull of his ship as it quickly sinks beneath his feet. Moments pass and he takes stark note that water is already breaching the deck, running down the stairwells, and filling the insides of the stricken vessel. He has seconds to act and thankfully he is familiar with the evacuation routine.

Don the floatation vest, launch the lifeboat, maneuver away from the sinking ship, initiate the location beacon, and hang on for dear life. This will be one wild ride, but the sailor has done what is necessary and, because of it, his chances for survival have gone from slim to hopeful.

In essence, what the sailor has done in the above scenario is given himself a sheltered space on a wild ocean after a catastrophic event. His clear actions, while not stopping the ship from sinking, have nonetheless saved his life and given him an enlarged chance for rescue.

Being on a sinking ship is one thing. Survival procedures in those circumstances seem self evident. Even though it's not something a person faces very often some things come by instinct and getting into a life boat when a ship is sinking is one of those things, but what about other catastrophes? What about watching your employment security sink beneath you while you hold onto the rail of uncertainty for all you're worth? What do you do when the waves of economic recession and financial insecurity wash across the deck of your life and seep into the stairwells of your emotions? Jumping into a life boat is a no brainer on a real ocean, but what do you do on the trackless ocean of life when the job ship sinks?

Let me suggest to you that your actions in the unemployment storm are as important for your survival as your actions in a marine event. Your physical life may not be in danger when you lose your job, but your emotional life is. Your clear action in this circumstance will determine how you come through, surviving or thriving.

I write this series of articles from personal experience. From the time I was old enough to knock on doors I have always had a job. Snowstorms in the winter meant it was money making time as my friends and I would hustle through town, knock on doors, and offer our snow clearing services. Even back in the 70's we would come home with fifty or sixty dollars in our pockets from a few hours work. In the summer it was lawn mowing, picking up groceries

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