Book excerpt: Recession makes it hard for everyone. Rising unemployment, weak stock markets, tough credit markets, weak demand, fierce competition for that weak demand, uncertainty about when this will all end are just a start. It seems like there are just too many things out of our control during a recession. It takes a lot to make a significant difference in a good economy. In a bad economy, it takes a significant effort just to produce something meaningful. Rather than going all out (when it is MOST required, ) most people choose to give up quickly, thinking nothing will happen anyway. In other words, they choose to participate in a recession. While this is generally true, there is one thing that is under our control-to have an UPBEAT attitude that's recession-proof. How we survive through the recession and thrive will depend largely on what each of us did before we reached this place and what every one of us will do during these times.