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Carey Suante is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Carey Suante and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
The economy is bad and millions are affected by it.
If you are not aware of it then, go thank God!
But, like everything else, you are not really "aware" unless and until it affects you directly.
That was what kinda happened to me.
Of course, I have heard it from the time this was all starting and have been reading about it on hundreds of blogs. I have even been keenly following people who flaunted their own start-ups because of the situation - joblessness. It was fascinating and I was even envious of them when they became successful.
Now I'm acutely aware of it, not to mention thinking and even worrying over it often.
No, I haven't lost my job, not yet anyway. But it has affected me.
Are you affected by recession yet?
@Carey: Freelancing is a great idea. I think a lot of people are afraid to make commitments to full-timers so the realm of contract work is open for people who are willing to suffer a little bit of instability.
As for blogging as a source of income ... sounds fun, but I only know a handful of people who have made it work. You have to be willing to sacrifice a lot, sort of like an artist does. And you also have to take into account that once you decide to make it your job, you HAVE to blog. For me, I'd rather keep writing as a passion than a source of revenue.
Thanks for sharing your recession woes. As for me, here's one I discovered today ...
I have unpaid parking tickets and typically Madison doesn't harrass me about them. But now they're cracking down, looking for money, and I'm getting a whole heap of notices in the mail to pay them :) ... Oh well, guess I better pony up and pay my dues ...
@ Ryan, thanks Ryan for sharing your thoughts. I think freelancing and blogging should go hand in hand. The blog showcasing your work and therefore your expertise and a place where work can find you!
@Carey: Absolutely! You're spot on.
What I wass referring to was monetizing your blog. Or making blogging your sole source of revenue. It has its downsides.
It's important to step outside the box - you'll never know if something works until you try it. Earning money through blogging is a tough gig - but a blog can certainly build your network, establish credibility, and supplement an online (freelance) business. That's where I see myself heading. I love to write, I love to inspire thought and discussion, but I want to be able to tie that in with future business ventures.
I think, right now, we should all be thankful we have jobs - but at the same time, don't let that limit your drive toward pursing passions and the things you really want to do. I could learn a little from my own advice on this.
How has THIS recession changed me? Not very much at all, since I went through the recessions of the 70s, 80s, and 90s and have come out of them in pretty decent shape.
How did I do so? Here's my observations:
1) Cut expenses to the bone. Don't spend money you don't have, and don't spend on luxurious things more than very occasionally.
2) Go for value. Make each dollar stretch as far as possible
3) Make use of every local, state and federal resource you qualify for.
4) Use your current occupation, experience and skills as a bridge to a new field or industry.
5) Be prepared to move where the jobs you want are.
6) If you take a "survival" job, learn all you can and keep looking. No one said you had to be there forever.
7) Put as much as you can comfortably spare into savings.
8) If you want to start your own business, get a local business license, and run, not walk to http://sba.gov
9) Stay fairly conventional. With the current economic uncertainty, many companies are wary of anything or anyone they would consider "too outrageous", or "too radical." For the most part, risk got them into this recession, and most will see the unconventional as high-risk.
It has certianly changed me. I got to break the barriers that limit my possibilities. I've got to try and see beyond what is possible, even. The key is to try and strive for something that once you've never even considered a possibility!
@Carey, it's great to see that you're keeping your options open. Nothing is guaranteed, but you give yourself better odds if you work to maximize your income and minimize your expenses. Those are good habits in any economy.
Don’t judge based on popularity or blind reciprocity, instead make sure they “get it” and just as importantly, that their followers “get it”. More...
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