christy nelson explains now how workers should focus their goals and develop an after-recession actionplan. ♪ >> reporter: theresa is a performer, a vocal coach and a mother. to make more money while exploring her creative side, she's become a face painter, too. >> the kids enjoy it, i enjoy it. puts a smile on everybody's face. >> reporter: she has a post-recession plan for her life, including ways to build her businesses. >> i'm not going to get stuck. i refuse to do that. i'm going to look to the future. >> reporter: she's on the right track, according to susan. >> you have a huge advantage right now. don't wait until the end. now is the time to be looking at that so that you're perfectly positioned for when we come bought of the other end of this, and we will. >> reporter: start by writing your goals down. she says networking is essential now. and on the job, do your best work to avoid layoffs now and secure your position later. if you lost a promotion or had your salary cut during this recession, now is the time to start thincking about how to del with that. valuable employees sho

christy nelson has details. >> reporter: michael paulus believes he was cheated out of his money whenocal company offered to help him track down a refund he was owed. >> no where did it say this had to do with my property taxes. they wouldn't tell me anything over the phone. if i call, they said you have to come in with an i.d. they were very, very cloak and dagger. >> reporter: paulus went to check it out. he was asked to show i.d. and sign some forms. not understanding until too late that he'd given that company permission to not only find the money but to keep the entire amount as a fee. he thinks he was deliberately misled. >> these companies are raking in thousands of dollars doing this and it's illegal. it's just unethical. >> reporter: betsy price thinks it's unethical, too. >> people can always get their money back from government themselves without paying for it. >> reporter: price says the companies in question research public records looking for unclaimed refunds like if a property tax value is lowered over for a homestead exemption. homeowners will get postcards like this