In my 14+ years in management, I have been through many downsizing initiatives and even a company bankruptcy filing. As a manager, I have been faced with the difficult task of deciding which of my staff will have to be let go, due to no fault of their own. If given the choice, management will always choose to retain employees who are on time, stand out, interact and go above and beyond consistently. If you are perpetually late, always complaining and avoid the boss at all costs, you will probably be among the first to go. Follow these steps to help stay employed, no matter what the economy is doing.

Have you noticed the price of gasoline this week? I paid $2.69 per gallon for regular unleaded on Valentines Day. Yesterday, I forked out an amazing $3.14. That’s nearly a 16.5% increase in less than a week!

Here is a delicious low fat, low calorie snack. I found a tortilla with 0 fat grams and 90 calories per 2 tortillas! (that’s 8 chips) Add home made salsa and you’re in heaven!

My daughter planned to make my wife and me breakfast in bed this morning. However, it snowed last night and school was delayed by two hours. So, back to bed she went! Oh well, it’s the thought that counts. I sent my wife flowers at work and got her a heart shaped box of sugar-free chocolates and a card. I actually got home from work by 6:00PM and made her dinner. We had a wonderful low-fat meal.  Connie got me a thoughtful card and we had a great Valentines Day!

Congress passed the much anticipated  Economic Stimulus Package today, opening the door for checks to be mailed to more then 130 million tax payers.