by Andy Wood on February 12, 2008

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Recession.  It’s the word on everybody’s mind these days.  Congress, in an election year, is scrambling to give people some of their money back in order to avoid it (which begs the obvious question…).  All the media, the experts, and the average Joes are all talking about some aspect of it.  Somebody did a poll a couple of days ago, and it seems the average American believes if we’d just get out of Iraq, the recession would get better.  Uh, OK, I guess.

What most of us are interested in is, can I keep what’s happening in a national and global economy from happening to me?  Yes!  But first it’s important to understand that economists are measuring only one thing.

What to recession-proof your life?  Get a bigger definition of the word, “economy.”  Try this one as I first heard it from Jack Taylor :  Economy is the exchange of all the commodities of life. 

If you’re finding yourself a bit short on cash, or if you’re worried about it, why not try a different kind of currency?  Here are seven ways you can be wealthy, with or without money:

1.  Leadership

Everybody leads, and the best leaders add value to themselves and the world around them.  Look for ways to extend your influence.  Here’s a hint:  don’t start by trying to tell people what to do.  Start by serving.  Caring.  Acting on someone else’s behalf, for their benefit.  Be an effective team member.  Help somebody else succeed or reach a goal.  Help somebody who needs help.  It will make you wealthy and influential when you need help.

2.  Insight

Live your life in the relentless pursuit of understanding.  Brian Tracy reminds us that if you read an hour a day in your field, and you will complete 50 books in a year – and be in the top one percent of your field.  When God invited Israel’s new king, Solomon, to ask for anything, he requested – not gold or power or fame – but an understanding heart (1 Kings 3:6-9).   Here was a man who faced enormous political and family baggage, and the task of building a new temple in Jerusalem.  A little power and money might have been nice.  Instead, he asked for wisdom, and got much more.  So can you.  Learn.  Listen.  Grow.  Be wealthy.

3.  Ability

No one can do everything, but everybody can do something.  Whether it’s natural ability, an acquired skill, or a spiritual gift, you have a talent mix that makes you wonderfully unique, with breathtaking potential.  You can also develop new skills, or improve on the ones you already have.  Don’t wait until you’re standing in an unemployment line to figure out what you’re good at.  And don’t use your abilities just to consume them on yourself.  Look for ways to invest in others, and in God’s kingdom.  And build your own “dream team” of people who can do what you can’t.