Unwelcome Change, Or a Chance

· Evaluate which is the most feasible option to pursue.

· Act to make your plan real.

· Maintain your dream to make sure it lasts.

Yes, this is another self-help book but, hey, right about now, a lot of people could use an inspirational handbook to deal with the emotional and financial fallout from the economy's slowdown.

I think about the thousands of workers throughout the country who have lost their jobs because of the downturn. They can whine that they've been done wrong, or they can find a way to turn the situation into an opportunity.

What if this is your problem? You've got a job but you want to change careers, except you're afraid you won't be able to pay your bills.

Think about this, the Blanchards say: "Don't be afraid of making less money. It's a serious mistake to sacrifice passion for a larger paycheck, even if that means sacrificing some of the things you enjoy."

This book is packed with stories of people who changed careers or employees who decided to become entrepreneurs. As young adults, the Blanchards left low-paying state jobs to open a kitchen-supply store. They eventually sold that business and opened a restaurant in the Caribbean. They now commute between Vermont and the island of Anguilla.

But this book isn't just about following a dream of entrepreneurship. It's about shifting in a direction that makes life more fulfilling, financially and emotionally.

And the Blanchards aren't naive. They know change can be difficult. I know it, too.