Unemployment creates opportunity. Strange to say, but it is true. Amidst the turmoil that follows the loss of a job is the quiet confidence of real, positive change. The numbers are staggering; 20% unemployment among all males in the U.S. (conversely 80% employment- the lowest since the stat was kept in the mid 1940's), 17.5% combined unemployment/underemployment, almost 11% overall unemployment (at least twice and almost 3 times the level of virtual full employment seen just 24 months ago). Yet, in spite of these numbers, there is opportunity.

These posts are written for a broadly targeted audience consisting of the unemployed, the underemployed, the self-employed, and the autonomously employed. While the first three are easily understood, the fourth refers to those unique individuals that are relatively secure in their position, have little or no meaningful oversight, but do have to produce results.

So with this backdrop and for this audience we embark on our journey toward Sales, Marketing and Client Relations excellence. We will start with a list of books under the topic heading of "The Basics". If you are seeking change or change has found you, there is no better way to deal with it than to review the writings of Spencer Johnson, M.D and his work entitled "WHO MOVED MY CHEESE".

Mentally preparing yourself for how you react to change is important. Also important is your financial well being. As a former financial advisor I could provide you a laundry list of statistics, ratio's and issues all topped with a certain sense of prudence. However this is not the place or the time for all those accounting details. You need to focus on the larger picture; raising your kids, college, your own time frame for retirement, and the lifestyle that suits you. While you are set to embrace change you still have to put effort into maintaining or realizing certain financial obligations. Just as Spencer Johnson helps with change, Lee Eisenberg helps you keep track of your financial goals in his book "THE NUMBER".

Both of these books are offered on CD and can probably be found in an MP3 or iPod format as well. Either way, you can get through them in less than 10 hours. Mental preparedness is the most important hurdle at this time. As you go through this series of postings we will come back to behavior and outlook discussions for reinforcement. As The Carpenters said "we have only just begun".

We will continue the list of books under the topic of "The Basics" next time.