I found this cartoon in the New Yorker a few weeks back and felt inclined to share it with the world.

What does this cartoon have to do with business and entrepreneurship? Everything.

So often, we stop short of living the life we’re capable of living (sounds cliché, I know)… We don’t believe in ourselves, think we’re incapable, or forget how powerful we are as humans and more specifically, as individuals. This especially rings true in times of crisis when everyone becomes panic stricken.

When there’s a will, there’s a way…You or your significant other may have just lost a job, but it doesn’t mean it’s the end of your career. On the contrary, your career is just beginning and it’s the perfect opportunity to do what YOU want to do this time around. Whether you’re looking at finding a new job, career, or starting a business you’ll soon realize that you’ll have to work harder than ever, but seize the opportunity and make sweet lemonade with bitter lemons.

Reach into your toolbox and tap into your inner wisdom… Sometimes the answer really is in front of your eyes or filed away in your mind. The guy in the cartoon is on an island waiting to be saved from adversity, while all this time, the power was within him. So many of us are finding ourselves in this situation these days and don’t realize that the power to succeed is ours.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to realize this… you might be missing huge opportunities.

Celebrity stylist Kristi Brooks is back! Learn how to recreate your wardrobe without spending money. She has styled everyone from Sharon Stone to the most desperate of housewives…and now she’s here to help us!

EG interviews Kristi Brooks, Celebrity Stylist – Part 2 from Skovi on Vimeo.

Kristi Brooks has been in the fashion industry for several years, doing everything from celebrity wardrobe and marketing to television and editorial. She has been profiled in InStyle Magazine and appeared on E! News and TV Guide Channel as a fashion expert. Her work has appeared in publications including People, USWeekly, InStyle, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, and Ebony magazine to name a few. She also dressed celebrities for television shows including Desperate Housewives, The OC, The Sopranos, Entertainment Tonight, and Will & Grace. Visit Kristi’s website The Style Lab.

It seems as though everyone either knows someone or knows of someone who has been laid off in the past year. Being laid off a job you love or a job you’ve sacrificed so much for over the years can be both excruciatingly painful and fearful. So much is going through your mind: What will people say? What will people think? Why me? What did I do? What could I have done differently?

If anything, understand the following:

Layoffs are about numbers, not people.
Companies have grown so big, everything is about the bottom line on a spreadsheet. The majority of people do realize that companies don’t differentiate between the employee who has dedicated two-dozen years to the company and the person who was just hired last year to push papers. Corporate layoffs are, for the most part, conducted in a very numerically efficient and institutional manner.

It doesn’t matter how hard you work, your company can still lay you off.
When employees first hear of corporate layoffs, their first reaction is to work harder and make themselves indispensible to the company.  You can work as hard as you want, but in most cases, it won’t change a thing when the person at the tops takes a look at spreadsheets.

Openness is the best policy.
No matter how many rumors circulate around the company regarding layoffs, nothing in the world can prepare you for the shock of actually losing your job. Anger, hurt, embarrassment, and fear are a few of the many turbulent emotions that circulate through your mind and body.

How do you pick yourself up and move on with your life? Openness, I believe, is the best policy. People want to help, but you need to be open and tell them what you need from them. Be open about your experience, qualifications, and new direction.

My mind is going in a million directions right now. I’m not sure what to think or even what to write about concerning recent events in the stock market. It’s certainly hard to ignore.

As small business owners, the best thing I can do at this point is give you a few words of wisdom and encouragement during these difficult times:

Call in your financial power team.
Perhaps it’s time to take a good look at your overall financial situation. Call in your financial advisors, accountants, money managers, etc. to give you a report on how you’re doing and help you assess your spending habits.

Be frugal.
Saving is the key. I’m not telling you not to spend money, but I’m simply reminding you to save for a rainy day. If you don’t immediately need it right now, think twice before purchasing. It’s better to have some money in savings and be cushioned than to spend it all and have nothing when the rain pours. However, be sure you aren’t holding back too tightly. Sometimes you have to spend some money in order to make money.

Don’t obsess.
People at the news stations are paid to deliver news. They are all sitting in their comfy jobs and receiving their regular paychecks in exchange for giving you the economic news of the day. Always remember that fear and embellishment sells. I’ve lived through numerous hurricanes and have seen the way reporters grossly exaggerate reality on the ground.

There is still money floating around in the world.
People still need to buy and sell shelter, clothing, and food. Despite the economic situation, I’m guessing there are still long lines at the Disney parks and cars still parked at malls.

Market, market, market.
The difficult times are when you need to market the most. Don’t forget to market your business and be creative about bringing in clients.