As a sales professional are you ready to meet customer expectations for the future? Kiplinger Washington Editors released their latest published report about future customer needs in relation to new jobs — the outlook looks promising.

According to the December 18 The Kiplinger Letter, over 60% of businesses say it’s difficult to find qualified workers, despite a loss of about 8 million jobs. And that’s because many skills are in short supply (machinists, programmers, engineers, scientists, healthcare workers, pharmacists, network specialists, etc.)

Earlier this year, I joined 38 top business, marketing & sales experts  (including Jay Conrad Levinson, Robert Allen, Michael Gerber, Tom Hopkins, Laura Ries, Jacques Werth, Seth Godin) to share our best ideas to succeed in a tough economy.

Scott Aughtmon captured this info and produced a phenomenal e-manual (2 volumes) titled How Your Business Can Survive and Prosper In A Recession.

Scott just informed me that he is giving it - currently selling at $47.00 - for FREE but only until January 5th.

His only request - as a contributing author, I can extend this offer to our loyal customers and subscribers - but that you do not forward this email to any friends or colleagues. There are no strings attached.

In addition to tips on staying employed for life, Mike Zimmerman’s article Income for Life — Guaranteed! in the October 2009 issue of  Men’s Health also covers what to do if you find yourself downsized.

Strategy 1:  Reassess what “important” means to you.
“Your time, energy, and money always go to what's important to you, no matter what you say is important,” says Larry Winget, author of It's Called Work For A Reason. “Part of your preparation is to know what's really important.” In your plan, ask yourself: “Do I want it, or do I need it? Can I live without it?”

Winget says, “You have to know in advance what you can't live without. I once had an unemployed guy tell me, ‘I can't disconnect my cable -- the final episode of The Sopranos is in 2 weeks.’ I said, ‘You're an idiot.’” Knowing now what you truly can’t live without will make all your choices easier on the day you actually have to enter that mode.

Well, it is only a few weeks before we have a new president. And I must tell you, I have never been more excited about America’s futures. I know, everyday we hear bad news on the TV and read dire headlines in the newspaper. But I feel there is a resurgence of basic values that will extend into the business world. Companies will need to reassess how they deal with customers and how they can get the best “value” from their people.

That has always been a major priority for me and Performance Based Results. Investing in your people is probably the most advantageous thing you can do to make lean times work to your advantage. That’s why I wrote Top 10 Tips to Stay in Control When Your Market Feels Out of Control.