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 Author :
Karen Walker is a home business consultant specializing in the
health and wellness industry.
http://www.newamericanfamily.comemail to:
karen@newamericanfamily.com
