6 Critical Steps for the Unemployed ppt

Laid Off Now What?!?™ 16 Critical Steps for the Unemployed ‘What I now?’ Quick Start Guide for those in-between adventures By Laura Dawn Lewis Copyright © 2003-2010 Laura Dawn Lewis Published by Couples Company All Rights Reserved Laid Off Now What?!? 16 Critical Steps for the Unemployed Smashwords Edition ISBN: 978-1-4581-0898-2 Laid Off Now What: Thriving Financially through Unemployment EAN-139781451548808, Paperback Edition First Publishing July 21, 2003, ISBN 0-9671042-3-8 Re-released October 6, 2009 This publication is designed to provide competent and reliable information regarding the subject matter covered However, it is offered with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering legal, financial, or other professional advice Laws and practices vary from state to state and if legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional should be sought The author and publisher specifically disclaim any liability that is incurred from the use or application of the contents of this book Although based upon true stories, certain events in the book have been fictionalized for educational content and impact Cover Design by Laura Dawn Lewis www.LaidOffNowWhat.com - TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Quick Start Guide: Outline of the 16 Steps CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 2: CHAPTER 3: CHAPTER 4: Contacting Unemployment Offices Under-employment Self-employment Assistance Programs Maximum Unemployment by State Additional Resources for Unemployed CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 6: CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 8: CHAPTER 9: Options when losing your home CHAPTER 10: Social Networking Sites Directory Do’s & Don’ts of Social Media CHAPTER 11: CHAPTER 12: CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 14: CHAPTER 15: CHAPTER 16: About the Author _ INTRODUCTION Welcome and congratulations You’re being proactive This means you’ll make it through this transition in your life quickly and confidentially What you’re reading is a free quick start guide that includes a summary of the critical steps you need to take when you lose your job I know not everyone can afford to spend $9.95 on a book so I wanted to make sure this information is available to anyone who needs it The faster we as a nation get people back to work, the quicker we all benefit This ebook is compiled from the first chapter of the book Laid Off Now What?!? The Great Recession Edition, Thriving Financially through Unemployment The book goes into minute detail about everything summarized herein and is designed to be used as a reference manual on how to save money, make money, deal with creditors, find a job and bypass the gatekeepers preventing you from achieving your next position whilst unemployed or under-employed You can acquire the full book where you got this download or in paperback through several booksellers If you have questions, contact me through LaidOffNowWhat.com or subscribe to my twitter feed @laidoffnowwhat Let’s get started You may have expected to lose your job, or it may have come from out of the blue Regardless, when it comes, it seems you are never really prepared for it You’re laid off—now what? This book is all about the ‘what’ As you begin to take stock of your situation, it may seem insurmountable That’s normal and it’s normal to have anxiety, doubts and fears True, you may be carrying high credit card debt and other loans averaging 21% or more Your savings may be depleted or are less than the debts you owe The value of your home may be less than you owe Over the past year you’ve watched your stocks and retirement savings lose nearly thirty-percent of their value The cost of COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) consumes a significant portion of unemployment benefits leaving little else for food, shelter and transportation These are a few of the annoying little realities for the newly unemployed or what is facetiously referred to as the pinkslip party The timing couldn’t be worse, right? Honestly, is there ever a good time to lose your job? Of course not, especially if the only safety net you had, a steady paycheck is gone Now what you do? First and foremost, don’t dwell on what is wrong, why it happened or the obstacles before you Let’s get that out of the way now These challenges will be addressed and you will find tasks, tactics and actions you can take to mitigate their negative effect on you and your family in this series Worry never produces results It only produces anxiety and doubt, neither of which supports success So why worry? THE GOOD NEWS? This is temporary and you will survive, thrive and get through it THE BAD NEWS? Nearly 20-million Americans and hundreds of millions of people world wide currently share your situation, which means you’ve got lots of company Henry David Thoreau wrote: “If misery loves company, misery has company enough.” Vow now to leave the keeping of company with misery to others This little eBook is about getting you to a less crowded and far more productive place A place misery is not welcomed and where hope leads the way It’s part of the Laid Off Now What series, a series of manuals for the unemployed dealing with the financial, psychological and job seeking strategies necessary to thrive through unemployment and get you back to work (and your life) quickly This is an abridged version in a quick-start format designed to help you avoid the most common mistakes the newly unemployed and those seeking employment make These mistakes cost people hundreds of dollars a month in lost savings and months of unproductive time I created this free book to highlight the critical steps each person needs to take the minute they know they are going to lose their job or on the day they I’ve written this book in a familiar rather than technical or textbook style Each section is selfcontained, meaning the information you need to deal with a specific challenge presented in whole without requiring the context of the previous or proximate section You not need to read the steps in order or even the entire book to benefit Take what you need Don’t waste your time on what you don’t Each person is unique and arrives at this point in their life with different needs, experiences and skill sets With that said, let’s get started Welcome to your next adventure! Laura Dawn Lewis, Author, LAID OFF, Now What?!? Series THE 16 CRITICAL STEPS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED WHAT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR FIRST WEEK A Quick Start Guide You’ve got a lot to this week and most of this will be preparation, which if done well, will save you a substantial amount of time, grief, stress, and energy in the weeks ahead Begin working on these tasks the day you’re given a lay off notice, or the day you realize it’s time to start looking for a new job THE PRIMARY TASKS YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH DURING WEEK ONE ARE: CHAPTER 1: Schedule all doctor appointments CHAPTER 2: Submit your expense report CHAPTER 3: Check out your health care spending account CHAPTER 4: Call your state’s unemployment office—or—visit their website CHAPTER 5: Sign up for Sxipper, RobboForm, or another form-filling software CHAPTER 6: Make a target list of the companies you want to work for CHAPTER 7: Make a list of your assets and liabilities CHAPTER 8: Prepay as much as possible CHAPTER 9: Hope for the best but plan for the worst CHAPTER 10: Update your resume and cover letter CHAPTER 11: Create your online networking profiles CHAPTER 12: Begin collecting samples and testimonials for your Webfolio* (Professional-level careers and above) CHAPTER 13: Cancel ALL Automatic Payments CHAPTER 14: Get your oil changed in your car Deal with any basic maintenance, registration and smog test issues now CHAPTER 15: Get a general e-mail address (yahoo, hotmail, gmail) to use for your job search CHAPTER 16: Update your address book Send an e-mail out to everyone in your network It may seem like a lot to do, but you can get it all done If you’re married, have teenage or older children at home, or are living with another adult, many of these tasks should be done together The loss of your job affects everyone in the household and if your children are old enough to understand this, going through this process with them will be invaluable to their future It will also teach them essential skills they will not learn in college while impressing upon them the importance of economizing and being careful with any and all assets you have This includes unplugging appliances not in use and turning lights off when leaving the room to save on electricity, (which is something you can start now) With that said, let’s get to work CHAPTER 1: SCHEDULE ALL DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS (Annual physicals, eye exams, and dental cleanings) before your benefits expire Do this immediately and not wait Ask your employer exactly when your coverage ends Then verify it with the insurance company Some insurance policies end the day you leave; others go through the end of the month You'll want to use the next week if your insurance is in place to get your annual physical, dental cleanings, and eye exams Schedule all appointments for your children as well If your children are in the middle of orthodontic care such as braces, ask your doctor how this treatment is handled if you no longer have insurance Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) such as Kaiser or Pacificare can make this step difficult They tend to set routine appointments months in advance Do not take no for an answer and not let them put you off If you have to, bypass the appointment setters and speak directly to your doctor Insist on the next available opening and make sure he/she understands you cannot wait six-to-eight weeks because you will not have insurance then It could be a year or longer before you have insurance again Most companies have a 90-day waiting period before benefits go into effect once you are hired Do what you can now to get as much as you can from the coverage you have During your final check-up, ask for copies of your family’s medical records Keep these in a protected place such as a relative’s home, safe or safety deposit box, or scan them into a portable hard drive Several people we’ve interviewed have had a doctor disappear for various reasons, some legal and some not As the economy continues to crumble, even doctors are getting caught in the vise and with them, their medical records This is one problem you don’t need now Having a copy of your records prevents it You have a right to them Do not let the HMO or doctor tell you differently CHAPTER 2: SUBMIT YOUR EXPENSE REPORT Make sure you get in writing that your former employer will compensate you for any company expenses that have not been submitted and any promises they have made to you before leaving Most employers will require you tender your last expense report within five working days of your leaving This can include any approved expenses such as mileage, coffee, and sandwiches for meetings, parking fees, travel expenses, office supplies, pre-paid magazine or association dues, cell phone bills, and other miscellaneous expenses To be reimbursed you need receipts and itemized bills for phone or other reoccurring expenses If in doubt, submit it The worst that can happen is they’ll say no Make copies of everything before you submit it You may also get paid for any unused vacation time and/or sick time If you are in sales, you can generally negotiate two to four weeks out on collected revenues CHAPTER 3: HEALTH CARE SPENDING ACCOUNT You may have several thousand dollars more than you thought if you took out a tax-free medicalspending account Typically you elect to have a certain sum pulled out of your paycheck every month to pay medical expenses This full amount is usually available to you by January 30th of each year, even though it will take you a full year to of contributions to fulfill the total Most plans provide a credit card for you to use Here’s how it works This is an actual example: Let’s say in October when you completed your benefits elections you designated the maximum amount of $4,000 to be set aside Perhaps you have kids who need braces or you are anticipating surgery or some other medical procedure Commencing January 1st, $153.00 is deducted from your paycheck every two weeks before taxes Suddenly in March, you find out your department has been laid off At this point you’ve contributed less than $1,000 but you can use the full $4,000 Check your contract immediately Most not require that you pay back what you haven’t contributed, which means you have an extra $3,000 to spend on medical bills, you didn’t know you had And since these are medical expenses, you may not have to pay taxes on that extra $3,000 either What can you spend it on? Any medically approved expense: Lasik surgery, dental work, medical weight-loss programs including purchasing the food, drugs, surgery for deviated septum, and other health expenditures The bottom line is, if you don’t spend it you lose it In the following case, a person used $3,500 for Lasik surgery and the remaining $500 for a weight loss program through a company called Lindora® At tax time in 2009, he reported it on his taxes but did not have to pay taxes on the sum Nor did he have to pay back the $3,000 he hadn’t contributed How can the medical benefits programs afford to this? Because the terms require you spend the money on approved medical care and many people don’t use up their full amount because they don’t look in to all of the different things they can use it for If they don’t use it, the company keeps the money This offsets the small percentage of people who take out the full benefit amount early in the year and then lose or quit their jobs before the end of the year Yes, even if you quit your job, this is one benefit you take with you How long this advantage will stay in effect is yet to be seen If you have the funds, use them immediately There is always a chance the loophole will close You might as well get the benefits while you can It may be possible to use these funds to pay for medical insurance as well which could allow your family to maintain coverage, even if you’re unemployed Check the terms of your contract Every company and state is different The example above was in California during 2008 CHILD OR DEPENDENT CARE AND OTHER PRE-TAX DEDUCTIONS: A similar scenario may be available for deductions you’ve elected for child care and other services Read the contract to see if you’ve got money you didn’t know you had CHAPTER 4: CALL YOUR STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE or visit their site online Contact information for all 50 states is included further on in this chapter Don't feel guilty about this You and your employers have been paying into this fund your entire working life You've earned the money you are going to receive through your hard work File the day you are terminated, unless it is in December or June The reason you may want to wait during these months has to with fiscal years That is covered below Call your state's unemployment office or visit their website Most states begin the benefit period from the day you call or file, not the day you were let go You will not get paid for the first week of unemployment in most states (although in some they count the day you call as the first week, i.e., let go Friday, call, become eligible the following Monday) It will take three-to-four weeks to get your first check, longer if you were fired because they must an investigation In most cases you will still receive compensation even if you were fired The exceptions are termination for misconduct (lying, cheating, abusive language, etc.) or criminal acts CONTACTING YOUR STATE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE: Some states are easy to work with Others are nearly impossible and make the process a dehumanizing experience First try to everything online Links to each state’s unemployment division are provided for you in this chapter You can also choose to call, but this is not recommended The links later in this chapter will take you to your state’s phone numbers as well When calling your state’s unemployment department, set aside four to five hours one day to just continually redial the number until you get through Use a speakerphone if possible You’ll need to listen to the five-minute instruction each time to see if you are lucky enough to actually be allowed to hold or you get the “I’m sorry but the maximum number of callers on hold has been reached Please call again later.” On the website for this book, LaidOffNowWhat.com, we’ve assembled copies of the Unemployment manual for each state if available HINT: MAXIMIZING YOUR BENEFIT Most states’ fiscal years end June 30th If there is to be a boost in benefit payment amounts, generally these occur only for claims filed AFTER the start of the state’s new fiscal year Occasionally states will raise benefits January 1st instead If you become unemployed close to June 30th or December 31st, find out if the benefits will rise in the next quarter BEFORE filing Claims filed before stay on the old rate Waiting up to a month, if you are coming up on your state’s end of fiscal year, could mean hundreds of extra dollars per month for you It is in your best interests to determine if a rate increase will occur in the new fiscal year and if delaying your filing will benefit you financially ABOUT EMERGENCY EXTENSIONS Occasionally the federal government will extend unemployment benefits up to 26-weeks During the spring and summer of 2008, most states received additional funds from the federal government to extend unemployment benefits Each state’s rules vary Some will allow you to apply funds retroactively Others require you open a new claim and others have various different methods of disqualifying people You’ll need to check out your state’s policies Even if you are disqualified, challenge it The worst that can happen is the state will say no After being out of Los Angeles for eight years, my network had scattered FaceBook enabled me to connect with multiple people I'd been looking for through other means, instantly, supercharging my ability to connect with the right people There is no job board here Rather, this is the same as sitting around with friends and saying, “I'm looking for X, you know anyone who is hiring?” You'll get out of it what you put into it Have fun but use discretion and keep your profile private! STUMBLE UPON: www.stumbleupon.com What They Are: This is a social networking site that allows you to make comments on content and interact with others who have similar interests This site takes advantage of the surfing nature of the web, thus enabling people to share the sites and articles they find Unlike Digg and some of the rating sites, SU allows in-depth analysis and comments, giving it a richer meaning, especially for people involved in research, journalism, foreign affairs, or business Who Uses This? Some use it for social sharing and others like me use it to enhance their work How does that work? I've been part of the SU community since 2004 and have had several conversations with its founder One of my “jobs” is journalism, so I maintain a blog under a pseudonym on SU that allows me to test out different theories I cover the Middle East, politics, and religion, so I often want to feel out a story or subject prior to submitting it to various editors Needless to say, it's an outlet that lets me write provocatively and gather feedback It is this feedback that allowed me and my writing partner to receive a number of international and high-profile journalism awards these past two years MYSPACE: www.myspace.com What They Are: This is a social networking site with blogs, pictures, and all the teen angst you stand The core market for MySpace is people between 12-24 years of age, though they are increasing their membership with the over 35 crowd MySpace caters to the junior high, high school, and college crowds Many use it to hook up and date; it's appealing to that demographic but a bit juvenile and loud for adults This is a good place to network for entry level jobs in business or your standard commodity jobs in retail, food service, hospitality, and such As this demographic ages, the site may become more sophisticated Or they may migrate to more mature sites like FaceBook and LinkedIn Who Uses This: Mostly Generation Y and those under the age of 30 seeking Friends who want to talk online Single people who want to meet other singles Families who want to keep in touch map your family tree Business people and co-workers interested in networking Classmates and study partners MySpace is the holy grail of teen marketing, so if you have products or services this age group buys, you need to be here FRIENDSTER: www.friendster.com What They Are: With more than 95 million members worldwide, Friendster is a leading global online social network Friendster is focused on helping people stay in touch with friends and discover new people and things that are important to them Who Uses This? Like MySpace, Friendster is social networking for the under-30 crowd, predominantly junior high, high school and college Your online profile via the social networking sites will be essential if you are seeking any position above entry level, retail, or food service This can either be your greatest asset or your worst nightmare DO’S AND DON’TS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Do post achievements Do post previous jobs that enhance your ability to get the job you want It’s okay to leave off positions that have nothing to with your career or companies you were at for less than four months Do include your profile information on your resume if you’re on a professional networking site Leave off your contact information Do include a PROFESSIONAL photograph If you don’t have one, get one Do join your school’s alumni group and any groups that tie into your area of expertise Groups are where you’ll get the best leads and job opportunities Do approach people you’d like to know, even if you don’t know them, but make sure you have some connection with them, usually through a group Do use proper English and check for misspelled words or slang Do include your webfolio A detailed explanation of webfolios is included in book The trick to using social networking sites is to be prudent as the potential to offend looms Be aware that anything you post up can become part of a government or company database Decide if you want the whole world knowing what you put up Your opinions shouldn’t cost you a job, but they can Here’s what not to put on a public profile: Do not discuss your sex life Do not include political views unless this is part of your job and that is what you get paid for If you want to be able to discuss ideas openly, use a handle, pen name, or some other identifier Do not disparage or libel anyone Do not post your address unless it is your business address Do not post provocative pictures of yourself or others The following is an example of a completed LinkedIn profile CHAPTER 12: BEGIN COLLECTING SAMPLES AND TESTIMONIALS FOR YOUR WEBFOLIO The latest job-seeking trend with management through C-level positions is something called a webfolio Webfolios are being used in all fields, not just the creative fields, as proof of what you do, how you think, and tangible evidence of the skills you bring to the table If you haven’t seen one before, feel free to use mine as an example: http://www.couplescompany.com/curious/webfolio.pdf CHAPTER 13: CANCEL ALL AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS This is one of those steps that if missed, can really send you into a financial tailspin The objective here is to control as many aspects of your cash flow as possible, thus minimizing surprises you can’t afford right now How you cancel an automatic payment without having the service drop you? Get a prepaid cash card from American Express®, Visa® or MasterCard® Substitute this for your current debit or credit card; make sure you delete all information for your previous cards Load the prepaid card when you have the money available Most auto-pay companies will try several times before dropping you CHAPTER 14: GET YOUR OIL CHANGED IN YOUR CAR DEAL WITH ANY BASIC MAINTENANCE, REGISTRATION, AND SMOG TEST ISSUES NOW This is self-explanatory You know when your vehicle taxes are due, so get any required forms such as Smog Test certification now Concurrently, a walk-around on your car If the tires look worn, replace them now Take care of the Freon for your air conditioner, change the oil and air filter, replace the wiper blades and engine coolant Get your tires rotated While the mechanic rotates the tires, have him check your brake pads Take care of as much as you can now You can’t afford to be without a car while looking for a job, and if the credit card companies get wind that you’re no longer employed, you may not have access to the credit you’ll need to fix any problems in the future CHAPTER 15: GET A GENERAL E-MAIL ADDRESS TO USE FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH Have you noticed as soon as you post your resume, suddenly you begin to receive spam? The biggest favor you can yourself is get a Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email address that you use exclusively for your job search Once you land a job, you can discard it This prevents spammers from inundating you in the months and years ahead Be sure to choose an e-mail address that represents you professionally CHAPTER 16: UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS BOOK SEND AN E-MAIL OUT TO EVERYONE IN YOUR NETWORK It’s likely that your e-mail address book needs a little TLC If you were fired from your previous position, clean out any e-mails that go to your former boss or others in the company you not want to keep in contact with as well as any clients that may have caused issues If you’re missing key people’s e-mails, search FaceBook, LinkedIn, and MySpace for those people and ask for their e-mails Delete any that are out of date and create a group Put all the e-mails that represent the people you want to network with into this group Make sure you include the link to your LinkedIn or other social networking files in your signature as well as your phone numbers What should your e-mail say? Keep it short, less than 100 words State that you’re back in the job market Describe what you and what you’re looking for Provide a link to your public profile online (LinkedIn, Plaxo, Xing, etc.) and ask people to keep you in mind and let you know if they hear of anything you might be good for You not need to tell them why you are no longer working Keep it positive and focused on getting the work In summary, during your first week out of work you want to accomplish (or at least make a massive dent in) the following tasks: Schedule all doctor appointments Submit your expense report Check out your health care spending account Call your state’s unemployment office—or—visit their website Sign up for Sxipper, RobboForm, or another form-filling software Make a target list of the companies you want to work for Make a list of your assets and liabilities Prepay as much as possible Hope for the best but plan for the worst Update your resume and cover letter Create your online networking profiles Begin collecting samples and testimonials for your Webfolio* (Professional-level careers and above) Cancel ALL Automatic Payments Get your oil changed in your car Deal with any basic maintenance, registration and smog test issues now Get a general e-mail address (yahoo, hotmail, gmail) to use for your job search Update your address book Send an e-mail out to everyone in it and let them know you are looking for your next adventure Complete these tasks and you’ll be months ahead of everyone else Not only will you save money on your monthly budget, but you’ll be better positioned to get and receive the plum job offers sure to come your way Good Luck on your next adventure! END _ ABOUT THE AUTHOR A consummate expert at getting a job or gig, even in a down economy, Laura Dawn Lewis has landed over twenty-five positions or projects in the past 23-years Throughout college it was not unusual for her to be working four jobs at once while attending university full-time Born in Rochester, New York in 1966 Laura is the eldest of two daughters She spent her junior year in high school as a Rotary International exchange student in Brazil In 1995 she graduated from Central Washington University with a BS in Marketing By 1996 her life began taking a new direction as after being fired for challenging the unethical practices of her boss, she chose to begin writing her first book That book led to the formation of Couples Company in 1999, the online resource dedicated to keeping relationships together Her professional career began with The Washington Post Company where she served in a number of positions and later included CBS Radio Network, Los Angeles Business Journal and The Press Enterprise An accomplished writer and journalist, due to her focus on Middle East and political issues she generally publishes under her writing partner’s name Together they've won several international awards for journalism, the most recent in 2008 for coverage of humanitarian issues in the Middle East Though politically conservative, she is a staunch supporter of human rights, constitutional rights and individual freedoms The bulk of her philanthropic work exists to expose assaults on each and eliminate the fear created through xenophobia and misinformation Here latest projects include the four book employment series, Laid Off Now What, The Recession Edition and the Christian children’s book The Storybook Advent Calendar and Carols collection, co-created with Michael Brech, British musician and songwriter as a fundraiser for churches and non-profits Her first book was best-selling erotic series: Sensuality Volume One™: The Collection of Bedtime Stories for Adults™ Lewis resides in Los Angeles, California with her cat, Sinatra The Laid Off, Now What?!? Series Book 1: Thriving Financially through Unemployment (on sale now) Book 2: Surviving Unemployment Psychologically (coming soon) Book 3: Insider guide to landing your next job fast (coming soon) Book 4: All three together PLUS self-assessments and workbooks (coming soon) Book 5: 16 Critical Steps for the Unemployed: A Quick Start Guide (on sale now) To be added to our mailing list, e-mail us at: LaidOffNowWhat@gmail.com or visit us at LaidOffNowWhat.com Follow me on Twitter at @laidoffnowwhat Or @promocalendar More BOOKS BY LAURA DAWN LEWIS All books available in digital format 2012 Event Editorial & Promotional Calendar (2011) 2011 Event, Editorial & Promotional Calendar (2011) Sensuality Volume One (2002) Sensuality Volume Two (2010) Laid Off Now What (2003) Laid Off Now What: Thriving Financially through Unemployment (2010) The Secrets of Being Happy by Dr Richard Bandler & Garner Thompson (LD Lewis, Editor) (2011) The Storybook Advent Calendar—24 Christmas Stories for Advent (With Michael Brech, Illustrations by LD Lewis) (2008) The Storybook Advent Carols Collection Songbook—40 Popular Carols (2009) Three Weeks to Freedom (with Wafa Abu Shmais) (2003) SHORT STORIES & SINGLES The Stages of Intimacy, (non-fiction) (2010) Seduction’s Sun (2003) The Marionette (2003) Midnight (2003) The Couch (2003) Happy Birthday Justin (2003) The Last Resort (2003) Wilshire (2010) The Speakeasy (2010) Thomas & the Christmas Orange (2010) What is God, Mommy? (2010) The Perfect Christmas Candy (2010) The Three Trees (2010) Finding Christmas (2010) A Strawberry Christmas Tree (2010) MUSIC, NLP & AUDIO PROGRAMS Storybook Advent Carols Collection Volume One: American Christmas Classics (2008) Storybook Advent Carols Collection Volume Two: British Christmas Classics (2009) Storybook Advent Ultimate Carols Collections (2010) Storybook Advent Holiday Ringtones (2010) Storybook Advent QDreams Holiday (2011) Holiday De-stressing Volume for BrainFit (available June 2011) Holiday De-stressing Volume for BrainFit (available June 2011) Holiday Energizer for BrainFit (available June 2011) Holiday Spirit Infusion for BrainFit (available June 2011) Sensuality for QDreams (releasing Fall 2011) Laid Off, Now What?!? for QDreams (releasing Fall 2011) Books and music are available in tangible and electronic forms In January 2011 Lewis merged Couples Company with two other companies The web property is re-launching early summer of 2011 _ Websites: www.CouplesCompany.com www.LaidOffNowWhat.com www.StorybookAdvent.com www.BrainFitXl.com www.PRPlanningCalendar.com WWW.QDreams.com/qd/LDL ... book to highlight the critical steps each person needs to take the minute they know they are going to lose their job or on the day they I’ve written this book in a familiar rather than technical... because they don’t look in to all of the different things they can use it for If they don’t use it, the company keeps the money This offsets the small percentage of people who take out the full... unemployment office—or—visit their website CHAPTER 5: Sign up for Sxipper, RobboForm, or another form-filling software CHAPTER 6: Make a target list of the companies you want to work for CHAPTER 7: Make