It’s Beginning To Feel A Lot Like 2008–2009 Again — Let’s Get Ready To Survive Once More

I was in my late 20s when the “big recession” of ‘08-’09 happened. Here’s what I wish I’d done differently then, knowing what I know now.

Don’t Kid Yourself: This is Bad

The current state of the world economy is a grave & serious situation.

I was one of the ones hit hard by the economic contraction that occurred between 2007–2009. I ended the decade by moving across the country to chase a job in my dying industry — radio broadcasting. What happened in 2009 ruined my entire 30s financially.

I spent a lot of time hunting for a “better job” through 2010 — a mistake.

Stop And Do a Career Audit Instead

Figure out where you really are versus where you want to be instead of trying to find another job doing what you’re doing.

A “new job” wasn’t going to help me, but it was familiar, and felt “safe.” What I really should have done was face that my industry was dying and the world was changing. I didn’t have to like it, but I did have to accept it.

But I didn’t accept it. I thought a geographical change would fix things. (It didn’t).

You 100% Need To Diversify How You Earn Money

Be careful if you work full-time for a large, publicly-traded corporation. Here’s why.

In ’08, I was working at Westwood One, writing radio news. Then-CEO Thomas Beusse’s LinkedIn Profile now reads:

“Reduced operating costs by $30 million annually by centralizing common functionalities.”

He furloughed us. We spent 5–7 months not knowing what would be in our paychecks. Would we get half? Less than half? It was terrifying.

Beusse? Got a golden parachute in ’08. Didn’t work again until 2010 (per his LinkedIn profile).

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