Lost Your Job? Good for You!
By Karen Walker |
Losing your job is a shock no matter how it happens. Fired, laid off,
downsized-it's all spelled 'unemployed'. But once the shock of a job loss wears
off, you might discover there can be real benefits to being unemployed By
looking for the positive aspects of your situation, you can start to achieve the
life you've always dreamed of.
The first benefit of being jobless is
that it gives a person time to re-evaluate life. Where am I going in my career
path? Is this where I want to be? How does this mesh with other areas of my
life? In what areas do I need to create more balance? Take some quiet time to
reflect on where you are now, and start to carve out a path that leads to your
ideal life. Put in writing the answers to these questions so you can look back
on them in the future and track how you are progressing towards your
goals.
Another benefit is that being jobless forces you to reassess your
job skills. Do you have the skills and experience to do the type of work you
really want? If not, what will it take to get that level of skills and
experience? What skills do you already posses that you'd like to build and
improve upon? Once you have a list, get busy honing those skills to get where
you want to be. There are many resources for additional training and support,
something for every budget. It doesn't hurt to ask about sources of training
available in your area. A call to your local Job Service office can put you on
the right track. And of course, read. At the library, a bookstore or on the
Internet- there is a never-ending list of resources available in print.
Somewhere there will be an information source to learn the skills you
need.
The biggest benefit of unemployment may be the doors of opportunity
that will open when you are free to make changes. Now is your chance to go after
that dream job. Or maybe you've always wanted to own a business. Depending on
the type of business, how much you have to invest of your own funds and the
credit you qualify for, there is a world of options available to you as a new
business start up. If you desire a high level of support, purchasing an existing
business or franchise may be an option to look at. But be careful! Often owning
a small business means trading in a boss for the equivalent of a job (since you
still have to show up at the work place every day), only with longer hours,
lower pay and a host of other expenses and headaches you didn't have before.
Since you’ll be working long hours, make sure you love what you do.
Maybe
the thought has crossed your mind more than once that it would be nice not to
rush off to work every morning. In that case, a home based business might be
good for you. Statistics show that 50% of households in the U.S. have some sort
of business operating out of the home. The tax advantages of owning a home
business are often touted as a reason to get in the game. But there are more
important benefits than saving dollars on taxes, such as flexible scheduling.
Hours saved not commuting or being stuck in an office can be spent with family
or pursuing other interests instead. There are no nights, weekends or holidays
to work unless you choose to.
Having the freedom to choose your own
paycheck is another benefit of any business you own, though perhaps more so with
a home business due to the lower overhead of working from home. There is no
storefront to maintain, few, if any, employees and forget the headaches that
come with managing people. These are but a few of the benefits of working from
home. Some types of home business even allow a person to earn recurring income,
so that you can continue earning money whether you are working or
not.
Maybe your job has not ended yet, but will soon. All better for you!
By utilizing this time now to get going on your next income venture, you will be
well on your way when the current stream of income stops. In today's economic
climate, even if your job seems secure, having the extra 'insurance' of other
income doesn’t look too bad, either.
So, if you are newly unemployed, or
about to be, try seeing this change as a source of inspiration, an opportunity
to change your life for the better. Go after that dream job, or pursue one of
the many other options available to you. What have you got to lose? Remember,
fortune rewards the bold, so step out there and go for it! In a few months time,
you may be heard to tell someone, "Lost your job? Good for you!”
About the Author
Karen Walker is a home business consultant specializing in
the health and wellness industry.
http://www.newamericanfamily.com
email to: karen@newamericanfamily.com
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