Pandemic Labor Day

What an unusual Labor Day. 8.8% unemployment. U-6 unemployment including discouraged, marginally attached and part time is 14. 2%. Middle class who normally earn enough working visiting food banks. 4 in 10 are new clients. Those who use to help others, now need help. Newly unemployed or underemployed depending on their industry. Others may be working remotely the office.  Feels weird during the pandemic.

Parents are trying to figure out how to best educate their children, remotely or in class? How do you pay the utilities, rent or mortgage? Will they lose their home? Where can we live? Small family landlords providing affordable housing are worried they will lose properties, years of work and their hard earned money invested for their future. May see apartments converting to condos based on housing demand.

Stress on people is much higher this year. My suburban/rural county overdose deaths are up ~20%. If you feel lost or desperate, call for help. [800-273-8255 or text CONNECT to 741741] Those of us in faith know God still loves us. But we admit stress this year.

Unemployment is designed to help workers for ~6 months replacing only ~30% of prior income until you find work. Today’s uncertain world may mean many months to 2 years unemployment, taking jobs paying much less, or forced early retirement.  Unhappy both political parties cannot come up with a way to replace 70-80% of people’s income.

People who are unemployed are still as valuable as before. Successful leaders and entrepreneurs will figure out how to take advantage of the available talent to grow their business. If you are looking for a job, you have to get creative. Find your most valuable talents and skills to transfer to another industry. Gig work may have to carry you through. Downsize your home or live with roommates to lower costs.

One college friend has been searching nationwide for opportunities in his industry. In 3 month he had 2 hiring manager interviews. He is getting more interest as safety manager than chemical process engineer manager. What experiences or skills do you have that are in demand by other industries? Research where hiring is happening and see how you can help.

Be thankful for the work you have or had. Tell stories how relatives or you survived past crisis’s. Grew up with stories how my grandparents thrived during the great depression, and how hard it was for neighbors they fed. Remember former coworkers, friends and family. Reach out and remind then “This too will pass”. 

In a year or two the economy will be growing briskly. Very optimistic about where we will be in 5 years. But getting there may involve pain. Enjoy the holiday weekend.

New York Times - Minivans at the Food Pantry

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/us/food-pantries-hunger-us.html

Layers

Life and careers are built in layers. 

Baby’s first is to lift their heads. Next they roll over. Then start reaching for things and pulling their selves forward. Next start crawling. Then pull their self upright and using support to not fall over. Take first steps holding on. Those brave first steps. Toddling. Walking. Running. Skipping.

It is not that babies don’t fail. They fall over and over. But they see everyone else walking on 2 legs, so they assume they can do it. 

Second look how important skills are. We would not trust surgery to a high school student. Doctors are developed through general studies, science classes, medical studies, learning how to research, practicing techniques, supervised practice sessions interviewing patients, learning procedures, observing surgeon’s, and preforming first procedures under supervision. Only then are they allowed to practice surgery, and even then hospitals supervise doctors.

Our skills start young how to play, do activities, repetition, study, learn languages, math, socialize, fail and recover. We learn more depth in all these topics plus sports and after school activities. Basics.

We go to college to learn how to study, to think, use research, to do research, to come to wrong conclusions, then be guided to better conclusions. More importantly we meet many more people who are different than us - hometowns, looks, wealth, beliefs, opinions and politics. They aren’t evil, but think different. We compare thoughts, debate, and learn from each other.

At work we learn to serve the customers. They too have different needs, wants and desires. To be successful we prepare business cases, estimate costs, market and sell ideas. We get promoted and learn to lead and manage people. To teach the skills that will make them successful as our legacy.

All these layers are not the same. Some are much more important than others. Some skills take longer to develop. Others have little value. Nor do they stack neatly. 

Instead a few key talents push you upward. Which are your key skills?

What Are You Doing to Make Your Life Better?

Just came from a Volunteer appreciation dinner. The church recognizes people giving for all these different activities.  People there planning for the future, teaching religion, funeral services, social justice, choirs, feeding the homeless, leading groups, ushering, greeting people, and in line with my skills - set ups, tear downs, serving coffee and doing dishes. All these people are doing the little things that build a better society.

Your life will not get better until you do something different than you are doing now. Something that stretches you, makes you uncomfortable, meeting new people, or try a new skill that you aren’t really sure you will succeed at.

In college my professors said our knowledge is always changing. So we are not teaching you the facts, we are teaching you how to learn for after you graduate.

Taking a class on navigating office politics tomorrow. Office politics are not my favorite subject. Would rather keep my head down and work. Would rather scrub walls and the floor than deal with politics. However if the right decision needs to be made, would like to have input and contribute where I can. So will take a class to improve skills for the future. 

So the question is, what are you doing to make your life better?