***Five Career Rules for Surviving the Recession

1. Don't be part of the story. Stop reading the papers, listening to CNN and checking on your 401k. Focus on the positives, not the negatives. Even if you are hit by the recession, focus on what you can do, what’s good in your life, not on the doom and gloom the media is pushing.

2. Plan for the worst, and the best. Start budgeting today to build your cash position, and reduce expenses, just in case your salary or job is cut. Keep your resume fresh. But at the same time, plan for the best. Look out for promotion opportunities, work on your own business, and follow your dream.

3. Be real. Know that if want to change jobs it could take much longer to find the next opportunity than in strong job markets. Think twice, and then a third time, before giving up your job. If you don't have a job, think about taking one with less money or prestige. Don't pretend everything is fine when it's not. Ask for help if you need it. Remember, ‘hope’ is not a strategy.

4. Be smart. Look at which industries are doing well and which are not. For example, green companies are expanding while retail is shrinking. Read trend spotters and think about what the future holds. For example, bringing spirituality into the workplace is a growth area. And learn from history. What happened during the last recession, which sectors led the recovery?

5. Be nice. Be nice to yourself and to others. Work places are more stressful than ever. People are worried. Many are suffering. Give the other guy a hand or a kind word when you can. Take care of yourself, your family, friends and co-workers.