What would you do if you were fired today?

It could happen for the reasons might not have anything to do with you, the economy or the great job you're doing. But they could have a lot to do with your company.

What better example than Enron?
Many hardworking people at Enron -- up the ladder from the help desk people, programmers, systems and networking experts and project managers to senior managers--lost their careers and their pensions. Everything could collapse right under you: your career; your big plans for yourself and your family.

So what would you do if you suddenly were handed the proverbial pink slip? Odds are you've never given it a thought. The ideal time to start laying out an emergency scenario in case you suddenly lose your job is when you're employed and hopefully building money reserve.

What should your "What if I get fired?" plan look like? It ought to contain plenty of information outlining possible action strategies. If you're suddenly laid off because of a company scandal or mismanagement of funds--a la Kmart, Arthur Andersen or WorldCom--the course of action is clear: Hit your onetime competitors up for a job.

But if the problem is your industry--if the construction industry pulls back because of overbuilding, or the financial services industry suddenly nose-dives because the GNP plummets--another action plan has to be employed. Take your skills and apply them to an industry that could use them.

Imagine every possible what-if, and then come up with a convincing solution. The more options you have, the better your chances of recovering quickly if the worst should happen.

Why do most of us panic when we unexpectedly lose our jobs? That's easy. We're shocked, mortified, stunned; some are hurled into a serious funk because their lives are turned topsy-turvy. But the real cause of the panic is because we don't have a clue about what we're going to do next.

You get the idea. Start crafting your what-if scenario. Other than family and close friends, don't share it with anyone.Update it religiously, because things are changing by the moment. If a lead comes up, a door opens, a new, potentially valuable friend is made, jot it down with accompanying e-mail addresses, phone numbers and dates. The more information, the better. There is no such thing as having enough information.

End result? It's going to increase your security and confidence level, not to mention give you a good head start on your competition.

Ref: Bob Weinstein, www.gannthead.com