In an economy wracked by layoffs and downsizing, finding a new job often means changing career paths. Despite the financial strain and emotional turbulence that comes with job changes, there is good news. Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Making and fixing things with your hands is a dying art in America, as I see it. Based on lessons I learned from creative play as a child, we've made "be creative and work with your hands" into a national campaign to save the American skilled workforce.

We're all worried about America's economic turmoil, millions of lost jobs, and Washington's "deer in the headlights" paralysis. We're facing the biggest challenges in decades. But while policymakers have temporarily lost their compass, the rest of us can keep our vision clear. Let's go back to basics....