Not surprisingly, the buzz around the office today is the election. The long lines at the polls, who’s going straight after work, who is nervous about the outcome, etc. It’s an important day when one considers what’s at stake for the future of our economy and our country in general.

It may also have a profound effect on what will happen in your career. If the economy gets back on track or if continues to tank based on the decisions of the new president elect, it can mean the difference between a layoff and a promotion.

Looking back over the last eight years, my own life has changed dramatically. For one thing, I wasn’t yet married or a parent (I now have my second child on the way). I also worked for a print magazine, had no clue what a blog was, or ever thought that I’d spend my days thinking about site traffic, SEO, or social networking. So in a sense, my career took a totally different turn than I expected, even though I work for the same company. I’m sure major things have occured in the lives of many of you reading this as well. Of course, 9/11 also happened, and Hurricane Katrina, and this year, we face an economic crisis, all of which continue to impact people in serious ways. In other words, you never know what life will bring.

That’s why I’m trying to think of this election in terms of that all too common job interview question: Where do you see yourself in four years from now? So that who I vote for today, might just steer the course of things to come. Economic decisions made by the next president could affect future 401K balances or college savings for my kids. The point is, we have a chance to choose the person that we think will be best for our future, so I’m not taking that lightly. And neither should you.

In the meantime, we have to keep doing our part in adjusting to the economic climate, job shifts, and more. That means if pumping up our credentials with an educational program is what it takes to keep our jobs or find a more stable one, we need to be proactive and do that. We have to stop envying the designer handbags or fancy cars that some of our coworkers have, and spend and save wisely just in case. But most of all, we have to be positive and be ready for the changes that are coming — even if your candidate doesn’t win. Whatever the outcome, here’s hoping that the next four years take you to new career heights.

Happy voting!

So, where do you see yourself in four years?