Global financial crisis. Economic meltdown. Market crash. Credit crunch. Mass layoffs. Recession. The second great depression. These are just some of the gloomy words and phrases that have dominated the headlines last year and are still finding their way into the front pages as we begin a new year. To many of us, the headlines seem to be more real. How many of you reading this have lost their jobs in the last couples of months? How many have lost their homes, their business or their life savings?

Even if you are not as unfortunate, I'm sure you have felt the chill of the crisis in one way or another. Your grocery budget may be getting less and less sufficient. Your business may be seeing less and less clients. That store in your neighborhood that has been there forever just closed for good the other day. All these things have probably made you wonder if you can beat the economic recession.  

Indeed, no matter who we are or where we are, we have all been struck by the global financial crisis. And the worst part is, the end of the crisis is nowhere in sight. There is a general feeling in the air that things are only going to get worse. And that no bailout plan, no matter how much it costs, can save us. The option to beat the economic recession is an impossible thing to do.

The good news is that – and yes there is a good news – we can do something to lessen the blow or even to thrive in these so-called hard times. As the Chinese see crises as being bearers of opportunities, we too must look deep into the heart of the current economic problem and seek for things that can propel both ourselves and our businesses forward. Yes, we can beat the economic recession.

Whether you are an employee or a business-owner, what you need during these trying times is to develop a new set of skills, a new attitude and a new mindset that can set you apart from your competition or rivals. Yes, you can indeed recession-proof yourself and your business if only you are willing to change and to adapt to this new and unfamiliar territory.