What should you make of the latest statistics that show only 11,000 jobs lost last month compared with 700,000 a month at the start of the recession in 2007? Not much.

Not because it isn't good news — it's great news. And not because it doesn't portend more great news. It could be the start of more hopeful stats to come right around the new year corner. Then again, it might not.

Such statistics are any economist's guess in this complex employment crisis. But more important, they have nothing to do with how you will spend the day finding a job or improving your career. So give them not another thought.

If you're going to get within spitting distance of your next job or flourish in your field or a new one, statistics won't matter one hoot. Your success will boil down to living with and acting on this question: How will I ward off irrelevance?

There are thousands of workers without jobs and just as many with jobs who are not prepared to answer this question. How do you fare against the competition?

Can you explain how your knowledge, education, skills and mindset will help your company or a new one have a bountiful 2010? How what you know and can do will keep customers happy and new ones arriving this year and in the future? If not, you teeter on irrelevance.

But you can stave off irrelevance by continually thinking about how to stay relevant. By making self development a priority, for starters, which is by no means a new notion.

Peter Drucker, hailed as the Father of Modern Management, employed four main vehicles for self development, explains William Cohen in his book, "A Class with Drucker." They were reading, writing, listening and teaching.

So here's what you should be asking yourself:

• What do I need to read and research to help my company or a new one evolve? What do I need to learn to help them constantly make progress? What do I need to learn to enrich my own skills?

• What should I write to clarify my own ideas or influence others to help us stay competitive?

• Who do I need to be meeting with and listening to to deepen my insight so I can help my company or another prepare for the future of our industry?

• What can I teach to help form my ideas and clarify my own thinking? As Cohen points out, Drucker told his own students: "The best way to learn is to teach" and that "I teach to find out what I think."