NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - You can be doing everything right at work -- showing up on time, being conscientious, minding your business -- when bam! Out of the blue, your chair collapses in the middle of an interview. Or somebody sends you a confidential e-mail by mistake. Or you accidentally squirt a huge blob of ketchup onto your boss' shirt.

We spend nearly a third of our lives at work and more than half of our waking hours each weekday, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Something is bound to go wrong from time to time.

But whether you find yourself in a mildly embarrassing situation or you've inadvertently made a career-threatening mistake, there's usually a way to recover with grace and tact -- and with your job. Sometimes you can even emerge looking better than ever.

Remember, your earning power is the single most valuable financial asset you control over your lifetime, more than your house or your investment portfolio. You can't afford to let it be compromised by a wayward blob of ketchup or a misfired e-mail.

So if you've ever wished you could bounce your personal nightmare scenario off an etiquette expert or a high-level manager or an ethics guru, now's your chance. On the next few pages you'll find creative, foolproof solutions to everyday disasters. Let's hope you never need them.

How to deal with:

Public speaking gaffes, managing the boss, interview irregularities, adventures in e-mail and eating on the job.