Key to life's rollercoasters is to be prepared

It's not hurricane season, but the winds of uncertainty are swirling around most of us. A shaky economy, health-care concerns and a war-torn world are just a few of the topics making up the eye of these stormy times.Yet, a new era, one that brings hope for positive change, looms on the horizon as we welcome President-elect Barack Obama. Indeed, before he even accepts the reins of national leadership, there is a lesson we can already learn from him: "Be prepared."

There's no doubt that Obama's presidential campaign was prepared for just about any obstacle, any dilemma that was thrown in its path. His critics and competitors looked into his past, his friends, his associates and even his religious upbringing to find something to throw him of course. But, he was prepared.

And we can all follow that same simple rule - be prepared - whether our concerns center on job security, financial challenges, personal goals or health care. Being prepared will not only lessen a blow, it can also help turn a negative situation into a positive experience. Being prepared can mean the difference between success and failure. Being prepared can enable us to fulfill our visions and yes, make our dreams come true.

Whether you are working or not, being prepared for an uncertain job market can lead you down a path of success in sustaining or even improving your situation, or better yet, creating a new one. Keep your resume and/or job experience/history up to date and handy for a number of reasons. In addition to being prepared for a sudden change in employment, it can also assist when you have to make that trip to the unemployment office. Being prepared will expedite that experience and make it more pleasant.

Checking out your own resume may also serve to remind you of the variety of skills you possess and you may realize, in fact, that perhaps you are capable of starting your own business. Be prepared to explore that venture!

Don't be surprised to find endless possibilities. Your neighbors, your family, your friends - they all need help with everything from preparing their taxes to designing their web sites, or writing a resume or something as simple as dog walking...odd jobs can turn into small businesses.

So be prepared to become an entrepreneur! Be prepared to invest! That doesn't have to mean thousands of dollars. That can mean investing your time, your skills, and your brain.

Be prepared to volunteer. Check out community service activities at your church, your kids' school, local, state and national government web sites. Be prepared to meet other community-minded people, many of which may be in the position to offer you a job or use your skill set.

You would be surprised at how many business owners and successful entrepreneurs perform community service work. Also, often times these help organizations have paid positions available.

Be prepared to learn. Join Habitat for Humanity and help build some homes. Learn how to put a home together, from laying down the foundation and constructing the frame to learning how to work with a team. Oh, and on that team may be a future employer!

Be prepared to feel good about helping others and doing something positive for your community. Be prepared to work at it. Nothing lasting or rewarding is going to come easy.

Prepare yourself to be successful. You can do that by surrounding yourself with the tools you need to accomplish your goals. Many of these tools you already have or can obtain by volunteering, taking a course at your local community college or reading up at the local public library.

If you want success, you must plan for success rather than failure. You don't set out for Los Angeles from New York by walking eastward, do you? Of course not! You have to be walking in the right direction to get where you're going. You have to...be prepared.

Farrah Gray is the author of The Truth Shall Make You Rich: The New Road Map to Radical Prosperity, Get Real, Get Rich: Conquer the 7 Lies Blocking You from Success and the international best-seller Reallionaire: Nine Steps to Becoming Rich from the Inside Out. He is chairman of the Farrah Gray Foundation. Dr. Gray can be reached via email at fg@drfarrahgray.com or his web site at www.drfarrahgray.com