You are not alone if you are currently between jobs or working at a job that just isn’t bringing in the money that you need to really live, rather than just exist. As the saying goes; “I’ve been there and done that.” No fun… and it shouldn’t be.
Do you go to bed wondering; when are things going to change? “When am I going to see the “light” at the end of the tunnel?” “What am I going to do?”
Being between jobs is a job with lots of over-time. You have to spend every waking minute thinking, planning, and pursuing your next job. The “shotgun” approach really isn’t the smartest way to go. By that, I mean, going out there and willing to take just anything. Employers can sense that.
If you were an employer and you had a pile of application forms sitting on your desk, would you be more interested in meeting with and interviewing someone who seems focused on what they want, or somebody who seems desperate?
If you’re going to look for work, spend your time and energy on job openings that you have an interest in and really could see yourself digging in and spending a decade or two with the company. It’s even better if you decide which kind of work you would like to be doing and only approach companies in that field.
Here’s a tip; if you’re in the interview and the interviewer gives you one of those; “I’m sorry, but there are other candidates for the position that seem more suited and experienced,” ask, “Who do you know that could use my skills, aptitude, and positive attitude in this industry?” Do not ask, “Do you know someone who could…”
The first is an open-ended question where they will have to give you some sort of an answer. The second question can just be swatted away with a “NO.”
You can’t sleep until noon and stay up all night watching TV. Every waking moment, and I’m talking about 14 to 16 hours a day pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, and getting a little rejection thrown in your face. So many people just send a resume’ out in response to a classified advertisement and then sit back and wait. That’s a waste of time. Let the people that you are competing with wait for the phone to ring; YOU have to MAKE the phone ring, or your ears ring with a loud “YES, we can use you” from an employer you approached.
As far as underemployed goes; I revert back to a saying that I truly believe in and follow to this day; You can sell your time, but you can’t buy it back. You have to get top dollar for everything that you do.
Remember, you’re not paid for the week, or the hour. You are paid for what YOU put into every hour of that week. If you want more money for your labor or brain power, you have to offer more to your employer.
Asking for a raise… is really nonsense. Making yourself more valuable with new skills, management techniques, and communication abilities will be quicker to be rewarded. The days of working for 30 or 40 years for a company and then retiring are past. You have to take care of you (and your family and loved ones).
If you feel you are underemployed, or under appreciated… do a little probing. Talk to the competition, find out if there’s a greener pasture that you should be grazing (working) in.
Another approach, and it’s the basis for this article, is beginning a home based business. Kitchen tables are magical. The successful clothing company ESPIRIT was started by two women on a kitchen table. Two women that knew they wanted to start a business and just sat down (at the kitchen table) and began tossing some ideas around.
Some pointers on a home based business; Really do some “soul searching” and by that I mean, really think about what kind of business you would like to have. Don’t be afraid of the unknown.
You may want to start your own import business, but you know nothing about importing. There are plenty of sources to help you understand it. I began manufacturing items in Asia and importing them to the United States, because it’s something that I just wanted to do… and I began, and I still do it.
Decide if you want a tangible or intangible business. In other words, do you want to make your garage a warehouse and fill it up with stuff and then sell that stuff, or do you want an intangible item or items. Things like an eBook, tutoring, and down loadable software would be examples of intangible items.
Working from home can be great (I’ll warn you that the refrigerator calls often), but working from home can have its limitations, especially if you are raising a growing family. Sometimes concentration is a little tricky, but since you work from home, you can get all the peace and quiet you need after every one has gone off to bed.
Your hours are your own and you can tailor them to your lifestyle. Work a few hours in the morning and then take a break and go to the market. Work a few hours more and tend to the children after school.
Rather than watching useless television, surf the web for new products, product ideas, or information that will help you be more successful.
Just because you begin a home based business, does not mean you can sit around and do nothing. Since you don’t have a commute of anymore than about 3 minutes from your bedroom to the kitchen table, you still have to go to work. But, without the stress of driving on a congested highway and being cut off by some knucklehead. Less stress translates to more productive time on your business.
The absolute greatest thing about a home based business is that you can begin right now, immediately, with a pad of paper and a pencil. Just start writing down things that you can offer from home. (Hint; the internet offers so many possibilities)
See how easy it is to begin. What are you spending your time on right now? If your response is, “looking for a job.” You’ve missed my point. Who says that you only have to do one thing at a time?
Dedicate, and I do mean dedicate, ten hours a day to REALLY looking for a job and another two, three, four hours a day developing your home based business. You’ll never find what you want until you start looking.
In looking for a job, you may come up with an idea for a home based business or vice-versa. It’s easy to begin, but a little harder to keep following through.
Don’t expect to come up with the perfect home based business in thirty seconds; although it could happen. You won’t find it, if you don’t look for it. Wishing doesn’t work, I’ve tried that.
Once you start thinking about a home based business to start, your thoughts will begin to move in that direction. What if? What about? What if I? What if we were to? They all start popping up.
It’s a digital world and trying to make a second income making wooden wagons is a bit laborious. It’s easier to rev up the computer and look for something easy to sell or market to begin with.
If you don’t have a computer don’t worry. Ask a friend, neighbor, or relative for some time on theirs. Computer coffee shops are very common… there’s always the library. More and more libraries have computers for public use.
What I’m saying is; quit putting up obstacles. Tell yourself, better yet, really promise yourself, that you are going to begin a home based business either in conjunction with looking for a new job, or after you come home from your under–paying, appreciated, mundane, useless, boring, and dead end job.
If you are reading this article; you are probably reading it off of a computer screen… some of you might be reading a print out from a friend to help you think about starting a home based business. Which ever the case may be, it all begins with you looking.
It’s, and I can’t emphasize this enough, important that you keep your cards close to your vest. In other words, I wouldn’t announce to the world that you’re going to start a home based business until your home based business is up and running.
People really don’t favor those that are out-shining them… a little thing called jealousy creeps into the equation. You tell someone you’re going to start a home based business and they’ll probably tell you how you can’t do it, it won’t work, and you’re wasting your time… and this is usually before you get a chance to tell them which type of home based business that you are going to start.
Under-achievers always know everything, but it’s funny how they never get anywhere with all that knowledge. Have you ever wondered about that? Protect your goals and ideas like they are the family jewels. If you think about it, they are, because they are what is going to turn your life in a new direction.
It boils down to just a few things; If you go about looking for a job with a lazy, half-trying, waiting for the phone to ring attitude… I hope you like eating tuna fish. If you begin thinking about a home based business to start only five or ten minutes a day, you’re just blowing smoke and wasting your time.
Serious time and effort produces serious results. Once you and everyone around you knows that you are serious, serious and wonderful things will begin to happen for you.