The famous questions posed to students at Harvard, Cambridge and MIT – how will I pay for my economies in transition? How will I finance my living expenses during this transition period? In a recent piece in the Financial Times, titled “The economic downturn is leaving many people wondering how they are going to transition to their futures”, there was a suggestion that the transition periods we experience in life could be handled better by hiring professionals to help us. In fact a recent article on the transition coach Art Robertson implied that individuals who are undergoing a transition would benefit from using a company to help them with the transition.

A simple way of framing the question is “how will you pay for your future economies in transition?” And there is a theory behind this – namely, that if we have a clear roadmap of what we want out of life then we can work towards achieving it. An example of this would be an accountant helping a business to set up an international operation. They would advise the entrepreneur on which route is best to take to realize their dreams.

The same theory could work in reverse too. If an individual were to embark on a particular job or project knowing exactly what they expect from it then they would be more likely to work hard and achieve their objectives. Such knowledge would motivate them to exert extra effort to get things done even when it sometimes looks like the obstacles standing in their way may be insurmountable. Such individuals would also be less likely to procrastinate or not take action when opportunities present themselves.

However there are times when such knowledge is not enough. This is where hiring a professional can make a real difference. Just as the accountant would be better placed to advise the entrepreneur on ways to channel their capital, so too would such an expert is able to help guide entrepreneurs in the right direction. This expert could be the answer to many of the questions that an individual might have about the economy.

If you want to take my economies in transition quiz for me then the first question is where do you stand? You are probably where most people who are still employed are. The unemployment rate is above 8%, full-time employment is difficult to find and full-time workers are facing pay cuts. So are you worried about where you fit in? Is your financial situation looking dire? Do you feel that even if you manage to hold on your job you will be miserable?

Answering these questions are not easy. No matter how bad the economic outlook is there is no guarantee that the job will be secure. In fact some industries are suffering as they are forced to downsize in response to less clients coming to them for work. However one thing is for sure. No matter where you are today if it were your choice you would still be working in an economic downturn economy.

So, if you are unsure about where you fit into all this is good news. There is a very bright future for anyone who wants to take my economies in transition quiz for me. You see, as things stand today with the global economy so very much better than it was in past years there is going to be plenty of opportunity to move up and take advantage of this growing economy. So, if you understand the state of the economy today and where it is going you have just as good a chance at making a lot of money as those individuals who are currently stuck in jobs they can’t stand. In fact the number of jobs being lost or downsized is faster than the number of individuals applying for them. You see, the number of companies needing to cut their budgets due to poor economic conditions is also increasing as well.

If you knew where the economic value was going to be you would be able to pick and choose which economic resources to invest in and which ones to bypass. You would have taken the bull by the horns and would be sitting on a gold mine right now because if you understood the state of the economy you would know exactly what to invest in and where. As I mentioned before this will be a transition puzzle for some individuals and if you believe in a free market then you are probably one of those individuals. But, you also have to realize that there will always be some sort of winners and losers in any economic environment. You would be the winner if you knew how to spot those opportunities before everyone else does and you would be the loser if you missed out on any opportunities that might arise in the future.