by Linda Green Pierce
I'm a big believer in continual training and life-long learning. This week I participated in a recruiting internet seminar which I found helpful in its reminders. "Recessions are normal; recessions are healthy." I was reminded that they happen every eight or nine years in the United States and that in the last 35 years, we've endured four. I was reminded that they do end, most lasting one to two years (semi-good news if you consider we're now being told we've been in a recession for the last year.) There was also a lot of upbeat advice about staying calm, not wasting energy complaining and to listen to or read positive views, such as Warren Buffett's that this time is an incredible opportunity. But for job seekers (and recruiters), some of the information was worrisome: "Recessions get rid of competition, recessions thin the crowd and recessions reward the nimble."
So -- do you have to be the BEST out there in order to survive? No. Best is always good and we strive for that. But in reality what you have to be is slightly better than the rest of your competition.
One suggestion to you to ensure that you survive and thrive is to take this down time and invest it in your professional development. Whether it's a formal program (offered from your firm, if you are fortunate, or one in which you invest in personally), or as informal as listening to motivational audios as you jog or using jott.com (technological sticky notes) for positive ideas while you are on the move, improving yourself is a good recession strategy. An accountability partner is also an excellent choice so that you hold each others' feet to the fire. CLE credits anyone?
These are good times. To improve your mind, improve your attitude and improve yourself as a lawyer.
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