Are You CEO of Company Y.O.U.?

Who is the CEO of your company? The recession should be a constant reminder that you are and should always be the CEO of your own company: ME, INC. After all, let's be real. You are your ultimate shareholder and it is your goal to increase shareholder value.

It is easy to forget this especially if you work for a company during good times. After all, the company is taking care of you. You're making good pay, have decent benefits and opportunities for advancement. But what happens when times aren't as good such as when there is a recession and companies have to make decisions about who stays and who goes.

The truth is, if you think like a CEO during good times, you will always be prepared for bad times.

Here are 5 things you can do when you work for someone else to think like a CEO that increase shareholder value:

1. Find multiple streams of income. If you don't have your own business, you should always be involved in something that generates additional streams of income that aren't limited to your salary as an employee. This can include MLM programs, real estate, or a part time internet business.

2. Obtain marketable and transferable skills. If you work for someone else, take as many free classes as you can. Go to every training offered by the company from everything to How To Use Microsoft Word to Becoming A Great Leader. Also take on projects that challenge you so that you acquire skill sets that will become useful later.

3. Establish Good Relationships. Even if your goal is to one day be an entrepreneur, always do a great job for your employer and develoop a good working relationship with your colleagues. Despite their being more than 4 billion people in this world, I have found that the world is quite small. While you're working for someone else, develop good relationships that you can use to help your business grow later. I've been amazed by the number of people who leave their employer only to end up doing consulting or some other services for that same employer as CEO of their own business.

4. Learn the industry, about market research and sales. Do what you can to learn about the industry, corporate structure and market research. These traits will prove beneficial as you move from employee to CEO of your own company. No matter what type of business you start, understanding the fundamentals of business growth and client or customer base will be critical to your success.

5. Acquire Project Management skills. To me, this is the holy grail of skills needed to be CEO of your own company. Volunteer or take on assignments that give you project management skills. Believe me, you will work harder for your self than you ever will be the company you currently work for. To that extent, project management skills will be invaluable to help you juggle multiple projects.