The John Tesh Blog

Worried? Many of us are. Tired of it? You bet. Here's how to cope.

Money worries...you're sick of it! We all are, to whatever degree: whether it's the stress of not enough of your own money, a family member's troubles, or simply feeling the heartache of sympathy for so many in our country today struggling to make ends meet- it's hard, and there is a name for it: money anxiety disorder- the latest American epidemic (the acronym, conveniently, would be MAD.)

According to a survey in October by the American Psychological Association, 80 percent of us find the recent financial crisis a significant cause of stress—up from 66 percent last April—and women are bearing the brunt of the worry, reporting greater concern over job stability and health problems affecting their families, for example, than men are. "Money is a safety net, as in, 'I may not be able to count on people, but I can count on my cash,'" says the APA's public education coordinator for Pennsylvania, David Palmiter, PhD. "Now the thinking's gone to: 'There's nothing between me and the abyss.'"

You can find plenty of advice from financial experts on how to cope. But what about the pervasive sense of panic, which can take a serious toll on health, putting you at higher risk for a host of ailments from high blood pressure to heart disease. Science has shown that exercise and meditation are two of the most effective ways to reduce stress—but you probably already know that, and likely feel too pressured to try either. Oprah.com asked a few experts for other strategies you might not have considered.

Try hypnosis:

For years people have turned to hypnosis for help quitting smoking and losing weight, but the technique is also becoming popular among business types desperate to overcome financial stress, according to a November report in The Wall Street Journal. Generally, in hypnosis, a therapist uses verbal cues to put clients into a deeply relaxed state, where they become absorbed in their inner thoughts, then offers suggestions to shift an attitude so they can better tackle a problem. In this case, the suggestions might be "Money is energy that comes and goes" or "Your net worth doesn't equal your personal worth," to deflect the paralysis and insecurity that financial panic can cause. Ideally, clients learn the process on their own.

"Hypnosis is very similar to meditation," explains Dwight Damon, president of the National Guild of Hypnotists, who recommends trying a professional session before using the method on yourself. "While it won't make you richer, it will help you handle, and feel better about, the money you do have."

Treat yourself- NOW??

Yes! To lower financial stress, set a budget for each day and reward yourself, suggests Alvin Hall, a financial commentator on BBC TV and radio and author of You and Your Money: Mastering the Emotions Behind the Numbers. "Ask yourself: 'What is the one thing I can do that will give me the longest-lasting uplift for the least amount of money?'" During the economic downturn of 1987, Hall's treat was blackberry pie. "I'd think about it all day, and if I came in under my budget," he says, "I'd go order a slice. When I couldn't afford that, I'd visit the museum and look at Van Gogh paintings."

Become a manicurist for a friend.

Or exchange massages with your partner. According to Robert Sapolsky, PhD, professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University, who has studied wild baboons for 30 years, primates groom each other to reduce stress—and the effect seems to be more powerful for the one who is doing the primping.

Take up knitting...and you might come up with a blanket!

According to research at the Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, the repetitive motion and focus of needlework can elicit what's known as the relaxation response—a calming meditation-like state that slows heart rate and causes blood pressure to drop. In addition, a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that knitting is associated with a lower risk of dementia for those 65 and older.

See a bigger picture, or that forest through the trees.

During the Great Depression, "stress took the form of personal shame," according to historian David M. Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929–1945. His own father, he says, had "what we would call a nervous breakdown." Kennedy observes that a much healthier and more resilient attitude for our times is: "Taking some responsibility but seeing this downturn more as a systemic failure and not a personal one."

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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7 steps to take this month in your job search

Maybe it's a little extra income for the holidays you're looking for, or maybe you fell prey to an economic driven layoff from your old job. It might be a case of kids well on their own way, and you feel ready, at last, to re-enter the workforce. No matter where your job  search falls right now, though- here is a new month, full of possibilities, and 7 specific things you can do this month to get yourself back on your feet, from Jean Chatsky, career and money expert for Oprah.com.

Ask anyone with a great job how they got where they are, and you'll probably hear that they got very lucky. But successful job hunters make their own luck with hard work and lots of preparation. You can use the strategies below to make sure you've got the essential ingredients for a fruitful job search—a killer résumé and sharp interviewing skills. Looking to help your kids find a good summer job? We've got some advice for that, too, and now's the time to prepare for the end of the school year.

Create a Killer Résumé
Your résumé is your chance to make a great first impression. That single piece of paper (or, these days, that one e-mail attachment) will determine whether or not you get an interview. Dust off an old copy and add any new experience or skills that you've acquired since you last looked for a job. If you've been out of the workforce, consider adding any volunteer work you've done or classes you've taken that have helped you hone in on an existing skill or learn a new one.

Share a copy of your updated résumé with your friends and family, and get their input on how you can make it sharper and more compelling. Pay special attention to the questions they members ask. If you find you need to explain or amplify a certain item, it may mean it isn't as clearly written as it could be.

Practice Interviewing
You may think that the best interviewees think quickly on their feet and come up with smart, insightful answers (and they do), but for most of us, interviewing is like playing a musical instrument—it takes plenty of practice. Setting up informational interviews with former colleagues, acquaintances and friends of friends in industries you're interested in is a great way to polish your interviewing skills. So is role playing with friends.

Before you head into an interview, tell your family who you'll be interviewing with and what you know about them and the company they works for. Have members take turns asking you questions they think your potential new boss will have on their list. After you answer, ask for feedback on what you could have done better. By the time you get through that exercise, the actual interview will be a piece of cake!

Susan Strayer, a career coach and author of The Right Job, Right Now, suggests job hunters create an inventory of stories that they can rely on during an interview. Think of several successful projects you've completed, times you've taken an important role in your employer's success and praises you've received from bosses or clients, and be ready to briefly retell those experiences at the appropriate moment.

Help Your Child Get a Summer Job
If you have a high school or college-age child who's looking for summer work, he or she will need a sharp résumé and good interviewing skills. To help them find leads for great summer jobs, don't forget your local network of family members, friends and teachers, says Randall Hansen, founder of Quintcareers.com, a website for young job seekers. In addition, have  your child check out websites such as CoolWorks.com, SummerJobs.com and  ResortJobs.com, all of which list lots of temporary positions at resorts and summer camps throughout the country.

Create a Network
Think of your friends as an instant job-hunting network that can provide ideas, advice and contacts you need. Then, branch out to family and former colleagues, says Robin Ryan. Tell everyone you know you're on the hunt and ask them for names of acquaintances that might be able to help you. Go on as many informational interviews as you can possibly manage. True, there may be no openings, but you'll have made an in for when a position is available. The person you're interviewing with may very well know others in their industry that you should also talk to. Plus, you'll brush up your interviewing skills.

Target Your Search
Although it's tempting to answer dozens of want ads and send your résumé to everyone you know, the quality of your applications, not the quantity, is what will get you results, says Robin Ryan. "You can spend 20 or 25 hours a week looking for a job—after that you're wasting your time," she adds.

Determine the industries and businesses you're most interested in (and best qualified for) ahead of time and concentrate on those contacts and openings first. Remember, targeting also means adding a personal touch. Always send a well-tailored cover letter with your résumé—no form letters or mass mailings.

Use the Internet Wisely
Sites like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com can give you a great sense of what types of openings are available and what kind of salary range you can expect. And, it certainly can't hurt to answer ads that appeal to you. But answering blind ads shouldn't be the bulk of your search, says Susan Strayer. So often you hear nothing back. Posting your résumé on these sites can also be a waste of time. Better to look for openings on the websites of companies and industry associations that you're interested in.

Be Patient

It generally takes three to six months for people to find a job, says Robin Ryan. The wait can be frustrating, but the process gives you a chance to really evaluate what kind of job is right for you. Devote yourself to this process as though it is your full time job; find a way to network (which might mean finding a way to volunteer your way into networking, temporarily); rest, and treat yourself to some daily exercise (since you do have, for the time being- the time to give to it.

And- have a wonderful Monday; welcome to November!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Is honesty the best policy- when it comes to making a mistake at work?

Uh-oh. Friday afternoon came, and you realized- too late- an important piece of information that should have been included in a report that your boss is giving today. Wow- what to do? Well, first, take a deep breath. And read on- this is just a terrific, look-you-straight-in-the-eye set of guidelines if you've...screwed up by Eve Tahmincioglu, who writes a weekly career column for MSNBC.com.

If the captain of the Titanic had not gone down with the ship, would he have blamed the iceberg for the disaster?

Probably not, because it would have been considered "dishonorable" for a longtime veteran of the sea like Capt. Edward John Smith to throw off the blame, says Carol Tavris, a social psychologist and co-author of "Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts."

But today, she adds, accepting responsibility for our mistakes has become passé in politics, finance and the workplace in general.

Just look at the financial sector's collapse: too few have lined up to take the fall for Wall Street's fall.

Richard Fuld, a veteran of 158-year-old Lehman Bros., was CEO when the company collapsed in spectacular fashion in September 2008. He testified before Congress recently and blamed the implosion on everything from short selling to the government. He maintained that his decisions and actions as the leader of the firm "were both prudent and appropriate."

So what does a high-ranking CEO, or even a  rank-and-file employee gain by admitting a mistake and taking the blame? Depends.

Should you fess up or deny?
On the surface, it seems Fuld has little to lose, since he is walking away with nearly $500 million in compensation earned during his tenure at the company.

That said, there could be a hidden cost to admitting any error.

"What do we think of CEOs hiding from responsibility?" asks Angie Morgan, co-author of "Leading From the Front: No-Excuse Leadership Tactics for Women."

"Their personal integrity has gone away," she said. "Respect is the ultimate reward you can get as a leader."

In general, does it help or hinder a career to admit mistakes and take the blame? Should you fess up -- or deny, deny, deny?

There is no easy answer to these questions, experts say. It all depends on a number of factors:

·  The gravity of the mistake you made.

·  How you approach fixing or resolving the mistake.

·  And most importantly, how understanding your managers are when it comes to screw-ups.

When Morgan was an officer in the Marine Corps deployed in Australia, she made some mistakes.

On one occasion, she sent two Marines under her command into the Outback without radios or any communications tools. When they didn't return that evening, she realized their lives could be on the line.

She immediately told her commanding officer her mistake.

"He then relayed the news via radio to units in the Outback, trying to locate the last unit that came in contact with my Marines. He utilized his communication channels to get a sense of where they were last seen, which allowed him to send out Humvees in those areas to try and locate them," she recalls. "His actions were immediate."

After the Marines were found, she adds, she and her commanding officer "discussed my role in the situation and what I should have done to ensure that the situation never had occurred in the first place."

Morgan learned a valuable lesson.

"When you acknowledge mistakes, you can start looking for solutions," Morgan says.

Lin Grensing-Pophal, an HR management expert, recalls one of her past employees who made a big blunder.

The employee, a copywriter, worked on a major direct-mail initiative for Grensing-Pophal that involved more than 250,000 mailers to promote a bankruptcy book to lawyers.

"I was sitting in my office one day when she came in with a copy of the brochure and announced: 'I've made a very big mistake.' She then proceeded to tell me that instead of listing the book price as $265.00 it was printed as $26.50."

But the employee already had an action plan. "She had looked into a couple of alternatives for correcting the error. We could reprint at a cost of X, or she had found a service that would affix stickers over the price to correct at a cost of X. She offered to have the cost of correcting the error taken out of her salary," she explains, adding that the company did not dock her pay.

Three things that impressed Grensing-Pophal:

·  "She immediately came to me to admit her mistake."

·  "In reality, this mistake was owned by several people. She was the copywriter, but the proofing process we had in place involved the product manager as well as a proofreader. She didn't even bring them into the picture -- she took full responsibility."

·  "She came in with a solution in hand. She didn't just dump the problem on me."

Grensing-Pophal says that ever since, she's tried to use this same approach whenever she, herself, makes a mistake,and sees such times not as opportunities to criticize or place blame, but truly, to learn and improve."

Learning from a mistake
That's something children are supposedly taught from a young age -- how it's important to learn from your mistakes. But too many times, rather than hearing what they should do, children see a very different story when it comes to the adults in their lives screwing up, says "Mistakes" author Tavris. The message that becomes apparent to children is that making mistakes translates to stupidity or incompetence.

That is the wrong approach, she says. "People who are able to admit mistakes don't see those mistakes as a reflection on their own character and ability," she says.

The ability to admit a mistake may also depend on your own conscience, adds Paul Facella, CEO of consulting firm Inside Management.

"I think it depends on your own tolerance. If you can live with yourself and sleep at night knowing you made a mistake, more power to you," he says. "I would be waiting every day with bated breath wondering when the ax was going to fall."

Facella, who is also the author of "Everything I Know About Business I Learned at McDonald's," says he was lucky enough to work in an environment as an executive at the fast-food chain that made employees "comfortable" about admitting mistakes.

"In most situations, if people are honest and explain what they did, and it had no true malicious intent, then most organizations will acquiesce and like that," he says.

It's all about weighing the consequences. "You can't be stupid about this," he advises. "If it was an honest mistake and your appetite for holding something like that back is not strong, I would go with your gut, pick a time and place, and explain it to your managers."

Legal implications
Part of the issue today when it comes to accepting blame, he continues, is the legal implication of doing so, which could mean everything from a loss of bonuses or even jail time.

Tavris believes the fear that you'll be fired or derail your whole career for telling the truth, however, is overblown.

"If you are a good employee, hard-working and care about the quality of your work, and make a rare mistake, then I think admitting it is the best thing to do," she says, so long as you offer corrective measures when you disclose the fumble.

And accepting blame may actually help your career.

"People like working for someone they can trust," Simons says. "And if you have an employee who tells you they screwed up, then you know you can trust them."

There's a payoff on both sides, he says. But, he stresses, "It's naïve to say telling the truth will always serve you well. You have to be able to read if those around you, and the company you work for, are worthy of the truth."

And if there's a young person looking to you for lessons on how to handle mistakes, you'll find that you become worthy of the influence you have, and really, mean what you say. Welcome to a new- honest- week!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Finding the right job for you

Are you telling yourself that a job just doesn't exist for you right now- you've been trying, for crying out loud, and nothing. Zip. But deep down inside, you know you have to keep  trying to find work, right? You, my employment seeking friend, may be suffering from many serious blows to your professional esteem. Jean Chatzky is a regular contributor to O Magazine, and introduces some pretty probing questions to ask yourself if you're struggling to land a job that's right for your life. Use the questions to get insights into your fears and anxieties about job hunting so you can help yourself get over them.

1. How do you feel about job hunting? Do you love the thrill of the hunt, or do you simply dread the whole idea?

2. How did you feel in the past when you didn't get a job you really wanted? How did you feel when you turned down a job offer? (Jean Chatzky's take: The rejection involved in a job hunt can be devastating. And sometimes getting a job offer that's not right for you and having the courage to turn it down can be just as excruciating. Try not to let past experiences cloud your outlook for the future. That was then and this is a whole new you.)

3. If you're not currently employed, how long have you been out of the workforce? What skills and talents can you bring to your search from the non-work activities you've been doing?

4. What's your definition of a dream job? (For Jean, she says it's a position that pushes her to stretch to be her best while still offering enough flexibility to spend time with her kids. She fully acknowledges that sounds impossible! But Chatzky challenges that you'll never know what you can get unless you ask. When she was hired for a staff position on a large personal finance magazine, her kids were young and there was no way she could stick around the office for late-night closes. But her bosses set her up with a computer at home so she could close pages after the kids went to bed- a deal Chatzky believes she never would have gotten if she hadn't asked.)

5. What skills do you have to offer? What weaknesses do you have to work on?

6. Have you ever been fired? How will that experience affect this job search?

7. What's your biggest fear/anxiety about re-entering the workforce/getting a new job? What strategies can you use to overcome these fears?

9. What type of new job will best help you achieve your financial goals?

10. Who might be able to help you with your search? What's the best way for you to expand your job-hunting network? 

Ask, answer, and be honest...if only with yourself. Coming to terms with some issues at work in your heart and mind could be the first big break you need...great job, next.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Keep your job search UP, in an economy that's DOWN.

Remember back when you were still in school? Your career? Well, easy enough- there's a job just about anywhere you looked! And if, for whatever reason, you didn't like the job; they didn't like you...whatever (say, that can be a really annoying word)- there's always another one around the corner, right? Hmm...not so much the case in the last couple of years, is it?

If you're searching for a job when the economy is down, understand that you need to boost your job-hunting skills, author Richard Bolles says. "Jobs do open up; jobs do fall vacant—maybe not in your former specialty, maybe not even in your geographical area, but nonetheless there are jobs out there, even during hard times," he says. "It just takes greater job-hunting skills to find them."

Richard, author of What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, shares advice on how to search for a job and have a good interview when economic times are tough.

To develop better job-hunting skills, start by assuming that the task of finding a new job is yours, Richard says. "You are in charge," he says. "Don't wait for the government—or anyone else—to come and save you."

Have the willingness to work hard at your job hunt. "Don't just give it 'a lick and a promise' and then give up," Richard says. "Working hard means putting in time—lots of time. This also means using more than one job-hunting method to find those jobs that are out there."

Take the time to do an inventory on yourself, Richard says. Make a list of what you have to offer to the marketplace. If you think you know yourself so well that you don't need to do this kind of homework on yourself, think again, he says.

Update your knowledge. "Go beyond what you learned about the job hunt back in high school or, worse, out 'on the street,'" Richard says. "The job hunt is one of the most studied human activities there is. You've just got to familiarize yourself with that research. The life you save will be your own."

Research the specific position. If you do this before you go on the interview, you'll be able to talk about why the job interests you, Richard says. Also, ask about what kinds of skills the job demands. Try to talk about how you have those skills and experience. "In the old days, it was sufficient for you just to claim certain skills; now, in what are called 'behavioral interviews,' employers want you to give evidence," Richard says. "You should do this in the form of a story, or stories, which have the framework: problem, action, results."

Gauge how well the interview is going. You can tell if an interview is going well by watching the time sequence of the employer's questions, Richard says. If the interviewer's questions stay rooted in the past, like "Tell me what you've done," then things have not gone well, he says. If the questions end up being mostly rooted in the present, for example, "What are your favorite hobbies," things are going better, Richard says. Only when they end up being firmly rooted in the future, like, "Where do you see yourself five years from now?" can you assume the interview is going very well, he says.

End the interview appropriately. If you decide you're definitely interested in the job and the interview has gone well, Richard says to end the interview by asking, "Based on all that we've talked about, can you offer me this job?" "The worst they can say is 'No' or 'Not yet,'" he says. "But it's amazing how often that closing question of yours turns the interviewer from 'I'll call you next week' to 'Yes, I do want to offer it to you—when could you start?'"

So when can you start...with a refreshed and positive look toward the job you want? Today? Absolutely. Enjoy your weekend-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Labor Day- facts to share

Today is Labor Day.  It's a day to commemorate an end of Summer, a beginning of another school year, and if you've got a parade, a picnic or a festival lined up today- Hooray!  It is, also, a national holiday to celebrate the American worker.  Today's celebration of Labor Day is, no doubt, ironic for some; frustrating for many.  For millions, it's a day just like any other, with no job from which to receive this paid holiday, and few opportunities looming on the horizon.  Indeed, countless workers today, while grateful for the job they have, still suffer stress and worry about the security of their employment.  No one is unaware of the challenging times our country is facing, from the burst of the housing bubble to an economic turndown that has seen a jobless rate nearing 10%.  Fifteen million Americans are without jobs, and employment forecasters don't see a quick return to previous employment levels for several years to come, though our economy is showing signs of a slow repair.  Wow.  What's to celebrate?  Plenty.  We are a country created and supported by visionary leaders and citizens, and a country populated today by people who still believe in, and work to maintain, those core principles.  This Labor Day may hold its share of irony, but I want to put my hope in a future where there is great reason for all to celebrate "the American worker" in years to come. 

So how, exactly, did we see the beginning of Labor Day?  The U.S. Department of Labor provides this history:

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

And it is appropriate to hold out hope that if you are searching for a job this Labor Day, that you'll be celebrating your status as an American worker long before our next Labor Day.

Happy Monday to you-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Think there's no way to create your own emergency fund? Could be time for you to simply "re-think" your options!

Got low earnings and no financial cushion?  Can't spare hundreds of dollars a month? Join the club. And find out for yourself that you can nickel-and-dime your way into a comfortable cash cushion, with loads of tips and ideas collected by Peggy Freedman for MSN Money.

Personal-finance experts advise having three to 12 months' worth of living expenses socked away.  That can be overwhelming, even downright scary, especially to folks who could be facing financial crisis already!  Even saving the $500 that MSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston suggests may seem impossible.

If you're in a low-earning job, it can seem like a futile effort to find your way to that elusive emergency fund.  But here is where a little faith, optimism, with a pinch of creativity tossed in, can help you inch your way there.  Can you squeak out $10 a month from your pay?  Then, my friend, that's where you start. If not, read on.  We're not giving up yet!

Let's start with your spare change

This includes every penny, nickel, dime or quarter you get throughout a week, and into a jar it goes. (Don't forget to double check pockets before laundry time, and the change that seems to find its way into the couch cushions!) How about collecting cans or bottles throughout the week and selling them, rather than tossing them into your trashcan? You can add to your plan a little more at a time by banking the occasional manufacturer's rebate.

'You can sleep at night'
There are articles aplenty offering great advice about saving big bucks- they may, or may not, provide a solution for your needs.  Some of these bigger ticket tips could be taking a second job, selling a second car in the family, or, for the singles, getting a roommate splits many costs in half!  But just about anybody can shop online for better insurance rates or pick up pennies.

Having an emergency fund can give you a stronger peace of mind.  You can sleep at night knowing if you wake up the next day and something goes wrong -- a leak in the roof, a flat tire -- you can cover it.

Save something- anything- out of your paycheck

Let's get back to that idea of $10 per paycheck going into an emergency fund. Sure, it might be painful to start (I'm joking- saving for your financial safety will not cause you pain!), the easiest way to create the habit is to set up an automatic deposit- out of sight on payday, out of mind, and one more step closer to building your fund.  Place ridiculous rules on yourself for any withdrawal you make that is truly not an emergency- any cash out must be paid back 110% and with an additional 1% interest per month until it's reimbursed.  Stumble once, and with the extra payback and interest, you'll build your fund even faster.

An alternative for how much to save?  Save one hour's gross pay each payday, with your goal to add another hour's pay each month.

Still wondering how to start? Here are more ideas:

• Change your eating habits. Pack your lunch at least twice a week. Take the "pantry challenge": pack your lunches for an entire month from food in your pantry only. Have a meatless Monday. Then figure out what you would have spent and put that in the emergency fund.
• Trim your budget. The less you spend each month, the more you can put away. "Starting Over in NY" hangs clothes to dry and uses local roads instead of a toll highway. Reader M324292 shopped around for home insurance and the $198 she saved went into the fund. De la Pena gave up Diet Coke for a month -- "and I love my Diet Coke" -- in order to bank an extra $12.

• Sacrifice a little. Drop to basic cable for a while or drop cable altogether.  Nix Netflix and get films from a library or Redbox (which can be free on Mondays). Resolve to buy nothing nonessential for two months.

• Make the savings automatic. Usually that means direct deposit. Direct deposit might not be an option at your workplace' make out deposit slips in advance "with the amount already entered for my emergency fund."

• Save the money in a separate account. Funds mixed in a checking or savings account are too easy to spend. Some banks now offer cash incentives ($25 to $100) to open a checking account. You can transfer the money to an online bank later.

• Start a second income stream. This can be anything from creating scrapbook pages to sell on eBay or Craigslist, or any other trash to treasure items in your home.  Maybe you can earn a small sum for odd jobs at work, like buying supplies for the office.

• Save reimbursement checks. Does your workplace reimburse you for miles or meals? If you've already absorbed the cost, bank the check.

• Watch for "occasional" jobs. Can't work a regular part-time gig?  Find an irregular one. Put out the word that you're available to leaflet a neighborhood, throw phone books, defrag computers, walk dogs, rake leaves or clean garages.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Everyone feels the impact of a layoff- especially a wife.

Getting laid off is a highly stressful event, and not just for the person losing their job, but for the entire family. According to an article in Time magazine, wives really feel the  impact. Take Sarah Janosek, a 47-year-old hospice nurse and mother of three in Austin. Her husband, a software engineer, was laid off earlier this year. She says when she first heard the news, it was devastating. Like many wives who work, Janosek brought in about one-third of the family’s income. Now, she was the sole breadwinner. She was able to increase her work hours, and her husband got a little contract work — but she says it’s hardly solved the problem, and she’s still angry about it.

Recent data shows that more than two million American women are married to someone who’s been handed a pink slip during this recession. Compare that to the 1.4 million women who’ve lost a job, and it seems that the majority of women are battling the recession not as a laid-off worker - but as the spouse of one. In the last year, over 71% of layoffs fell to men.  Alan Pickman is a psychologist and author of The Complete Guide to Outplacement Counseling. He says a wife’s response to her husband’s lay-off may be even more intense than his. That’s because often, wives feel powerless — both about the job loss as well as the family’s future. She can’t pick her husband’s next job for him – he has to get it himself.

Wives who work have a bit more control over their finances - but not much. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, not only are married women working fewer hours per week than before the recession began, but their hours are at the lowest point since 1964 - the year these numbers started being tracked. So, women are finding ways to cut the family budget. Air-conditioning is used less, trips to the movies are cut, new clothes are postponed, and family dinners are eaten at home. This all adds up to extra work for wives. For example, more home-cooked meals means more dishes to wash, and keeping worn-out clothes means more mending. So if you’re a man looking for work, just keep in mind that your wife does understand the stress you’re feeling. Probably more than you know.

Keep in mind- hard as it seems sometimes, that what you're both going through is temporary.  A husband getting back to the same kind of work he had may not be in the cards just yet; in fact, it may still be some time before he is back to work at all, but keep in mind that you are a team, which absolutely requires working together FOR one another, and not against.

Believing in one another, and your future prospects, is always an option; despair takes up way too much room in our hearts.  Have a great weekend- 

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

The best interview you've ever had- here's the how-to

Almost any new situation for you- you're about to make a first impression.  And, whether it's a social or professional situations, that first impression counts! If we're talking here about an interview- make it a deal-maker...not breaker. Whether on the phone or in person, NESStaffing gives us some important things to consider for the impression you will make. For in-person interviews, here are some hints:

The Night Before

• Make sure you've done your research on the employer. Read the employer profile and visit the employer's website.
• Prepare a list of questions that were not answered by your research.
• Think about the possible questions the interviewer may ask and consider your responses.
• Put your list of questions, a copy of your resume, and the job description (if available) in a folder to take to the interview. Also bring original licenses, copies of diplomas and pertinent certificates, and names of references and/or copies of reference letters or performance evaluations.

The Day of the Interview

• If possible, wear a suit or, at least, a suit jacket. First impressions are lasting – Err on the side of overdressing.
• Be on time. Punctuality is all-important. If anything, be early.
• Be prepared to complete the employer's own application form when you arrive. (They may require an application form in addition to your resume.)
• First impressions count with everyone you meet, so be courteous and friendly with all the people with whom you interact.
• Go to the interview alone. Arrange babysitting, if you have young children, and if a friend or spouse accompanies you, they should not accompany you to the interview room.
• Don't be a no-show. If you are no longer interested or are unexpectedly unable to attend, be professional and give the employer the courtesy of a telephone call to say so.

The Interview 

• Shake hands, make eye contact, and smile. Sit straight and naturally in the chair.
• Let the interviewer direct the conversation.
• Think of the situation as being before a judge: don't talk too much – stick to answering the questions clearly. Ask your own questions, when they are relevant to the conversation.
• Use concrete examples to demonstrate your skills and experience.
• Be prepared to answer the following questions: Have you ever been convicted of a crime for which you haven't been pardoned? Can you show proof of your eligibility to work in this country? Can you perform the job's essential function? These questions are legal, and an employer has a responsibility to know. In the unlikely event that illegal questions (about your plans to have children, your sexual orientation, your religious beliefs, etc.) are asked, indicate as politely as you can that these questions are not relevant or legal (except in rare cases, such as in applications for overseas jobs; in these cases, if you don't answer, you may not be considered for the job).
• If you had difficulties at a previous job (with the work, the staff, the pay, the hours, etc.) and are asked, explain your position honestly and frankly. Your ability to get along with people will be a key consideration in the hiring decision.
• Unless the interviewer brings it up earlier, leave salary and benefits discussions to the end of the interview. At this time, do not be afraid to ask questions that are of real concern.
• In salary discussions, try not to be too specific regarding your expectations. If they are too high, you will eliminate yourself from consideration. If they are too low, you risk underselling your abilities. Don't make a final decision until you have considered the specifics of the job, the salary, the full range of benefits, and the cost of living. If you have to spend $300 a month in parking fees, the job may be less attractive than a job where parking is free or paid. If you want to do a Master's degree and an employer offers tuition reimbursement, then the perks can add up, particularly if it's on an after-tax basis.

The End of the Interview

• If you are interested in the job, but the employer does not make an offer during or at the end of the interview, inquire about the next steps in the process and when you might hear from them. Make a summary statement about the job and why it would suit your interests and abilities.
• If you are offered a position, thank them and ask for some time to consider the offer. Ask permission to contact them with additional questions. Even if you think you are not interested in the job, it would be best to consider your decision outside of the pressure of an interview – what is it about the job that is making you think it's not right? Is there a trade-off of any kind (e.g., a slightly lower salary but better hours)?
• If you are asked to come back for another interview, write down the name of the person with whom you are going to meet, the time, and the interviewer's telephone number and email address. (You will want all of this information at hand, in case you have to reschedule your appointment).
• Thank the interviewer.

After the Interview – Give Yourself a De-Briefing

• Make notes about what points you made, what points you wish you had made, and what points you wish you hadn't made.
• Ask yourself if you learned all you needed to know about the position.
• Did you talk too much? Too little?
• Did the interview go well? How do you know? Did you feel relaxed, confident? Did you share a laugh with the interviewer? Did you get the impression the interviewer was attentive, interested, enthusiastic, encouraging?
• Think about the interview objectively. Remember: practice makes perfect and interviewing is no exception.

Interested in the job?

Be sure to write a thank you- email at the very least!
Not Interested?

Write to the interviewer and make a summary statement about the positive aspects of the job, then clearly (and tactfully!) point out why it is not what you are looking for. Be explicit about what you are looking for. The interviewer may have such a job in the future.

Always do research in advance and take every interview seriously: show you have knowledge of the employer and the ability to articulate your experience, skills, and goals. Being prepared allows you to ask better questions and demonstrate your interest to the employer...which, could mean what for you?  Let's say it together:  THE JOB!

Good luck-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

The final step to your building your best resume? Your references- just who do you know?

You've worked hard on some re-vamping of your resume- congratulations!  Your resume: the history of your life, no less!  But we're not quite done- Your Resume, Part Deux- the people you know.  And, important to a potential employer, how well do they know you?  Your reference list, which may or may not be requested by a potential employer, might be an evolving list.  References which are the perfect fit for one job might be the right ticket for this interview, but maybe not the best resource for another.  Your list of references should be a range of both personal and professional networking that you've done over the years.  NES Staffing Solutions's Heather Eager helps to put the last finishing touches on your resume, because one of the greatest mysteries associated with applying for a job is how to create a good reference list.

One key to remember is even if you don’t know whether references are necessary, it’s good to think of some people you might want to consider just in case. But that’s just one consideration to make regarding reference lists. Here are a few others that you might want to keep in mind …

Make Your List Employer-Specific

While it’s great to have your list of “reliables” to work with for every job that you apply for, some references are better for some jobs than others. For instance, suppose you’ve held jobs at both a non-profit organization and Fortune 500 company as a mid-level sales rep. Now you’re applying for a job at another non-profit organization in a slightly higher position and would like to use your boss from the Fortune 500 company as your reference because you had a better rapport with him.

While a reference from a manager at a Fortune 500 company is incredibly impressive, it may be better to use a reference from a member of the non-profit organization you worked for. A reference from the organization would be more employer-specific because he or she can attest to your knowledge of the non-profit world. Of course, when making this choice, it’s good to consider how long you worked for the organization and how much of a contribution you made. If you didn’t make a huge contribution to the organization, or can’t find a good reference, then the Fortune 500 company may work better for you.

Help References Turn Your Negative Points into Positives

On almost any job you’ve held, there is the possibility of you having made a minor – or even major – screw-up. Either that or you may have had a weak trait that seemed to be the underlying theme of your stay at an employer. No matter what your negative point may have been, it’s a good idea to help your reference turn that negative into a positive.

For instance, if you had a problem with being organized at your last employer – and you have listed a reliable reference from this company – it’s good to let that person know how the experience you had while working for them helped you to grow (be sure at this point to thank your potential reference for the invaluable opportunity it gave you.) Go ahead: let your reference hear the confidence you now possess!  Also, it’s good to remind your reference of any great or memorable accomplishments that they can mention when the hiring manager calls.

Don’t Forget to Obtain Permission

If you’re going to use a person as a reference on your list, it’s important that you obtain permission to use his or her name. This not only makes sure that the person is prepared to make comments about you if asked, but also, it ensures that you don’t request a recommendation from a person who might not pick up on the positive vibe you're' hoping to create; even worse, might not think very highly of your work ethic or capabilities.

Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to create a good list, your next step is to attach this list to your newly spiced-up resume, and you, my soon-to-be-interviewed-friend, are about to take off!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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