At a Loss?
Never fear. Here's all the pumping, priming and know-how you need to lift yourself from the pink-slipped masses and turn the loss of your job into a business even your former employer will envy.
All the newspapers scream that another company has laid off
thousands of workers. You never thought it could happen, but
suddenly, there you are—one of those thousands.
Your first impulse: panic. What will happen now? To your family,
your future? Maybe you're angry, or even relieved. Whatever
your reaction, it's perfectly natural to be unsettled. We like
to believe we have control over our lives, and when that control is
taken away, we're uncertain and insecure. But if you've
ever dreamed of running your own business, now is the time to take
control and do it. Here are four steps to prime you for a business
of your own:
1. Turn Rejection Into
Motivation.
Did your former employers appreciate your talents and work ethic?
Probably not. Don't stew in anger or self-pity. Show them what
you're made of.
Content Continues Below
Once, in an important meeting, I announced I'd sell 100,000
books in one year. Someone let out a short, high-pitched laugh.
That laugh echoed in my mind every time I picked up the phone. The
larger the company I was trying to sell to, the louder the laugh
would resonate, and the harder I'd try to make the sale. I sold
100,000 books in eight months.
| | | RESOURCES | Do you have what it takes to start a business? Find out here. Read our RoadBlock
Busters article to determine what's stopping you
from starting a business and what you can do about it. |
| |
2. Embrace Change.
The secret of change is to focus on the new path, not on the
comfort of a worn trail. The new path is often where you'll
find the most fertile ground. Of course, you can expect to
encounter adversity, but, as the Roman philosopher Seneca said,
"Adversity introduces a man to himself." Instead of
thinking about all you've lost, focus on the possibilities
ahead.
3. Design Your Life.
Success is the ability to design the life you want to live.
Now's your chance to do something you're passionate about.
What do you care about more than anything else? What would make you
look forward to going to work each day? A passionate love of your
product or service will drive you on your new path.
4. Develop a Strategy.
Having a clear purpose, setting realistic goals and thinking
strategically can help you get past even the greatest adversity in
the battle for success.
Author Caroline Schroeder once said, "Some people change
their ways when they see the light; others when they feel the
heat." In the heat of a layoff, you can die or live. The only
way to live is to make a change. Why not make it the start of your
own business?
Page 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 