THE "DASH" GUY

 

This article is a follow-up to a previous article I wrote called, “Man, You Must Have a Plan B”.

But, if you are still asking, “Why do I need a Plan B?”  The answer is, because you need another option when your initial plan (Plan A) does not work out.  See  “Man, You Must Have a Plan B” for more information.

 

So what is a Plan B?

 

If you remember from the previous articile, I indicated that a  Plan B is,  ”A  secondary option that you have put together, which can be executed, if something or someone interrupts or interferes with your initial plan. The interruption may come in the form of a change in your management, a change in your health, a change in your financial situation, a change in your employment status, etc.” 

 

What if you realize you need a Plan B, but you don’t have one in place?

Or you don’t know where to start in developing a Plan B?

 

What should you do?

 

First of all, start by assessing one of the main resources you have available to use; your current skills. In other words, look at your current job to see if you can use your skills to start a part-time business.

For example: if you are a CPA, you can start a business preparing individual and/or business tax returns during your spare time. If you are a web designer for a corporation, you can develop websites for individual and small business clients during your spare time.

 

Secondly, what if you do not like what you are currently doing career wise and definitely do not want this occupation to be your Plan B option.  But,  you do not know what you want to do.

There are several resources available to assist you:

1.) Go to your local community college and ask them to give you an aptitude test, which will provide you  a list of fields you may want to consider, based on your interests and personal preferences

2.) The Myers-Briggs Career/Personality Test is a resource used by many corporations to match employees’ talent to job responsibilities

 3.) Marcus Buckingham has a book, “Now, Discover Your Strengths”, which is a good resource to help you identify your strengthens and what fields may be a good match for you.    Buckingham offers some online tools to help you with your personal assessment.

Buckingham’s book is based on the premise that if we focus on finding a career that matches what we like to do (strengthens), then we will enjoy it and will be more successful, instead of the more traditional approach of trying to get individuals to improve in areas they are not as strong in (weaknesses).  See Recommended Resources section to order book now.

 

Thirdly, what if you are tired of what you are currently doing, you may want to consider a brand new career, based on a  personal “passion or burden” you have. 

In other words, ask yourself, “If money was not a problem, what would I like to do?”

For example: If you always wanted to teach, but settled for another profession because of the money, now you may want to consider an alternative teacher certification program, which will allow you to do what you love; teach. Or you may have always wanted to start a non-profit to help at-risk youth; this may be the time to do it.

Depending on your age and financial situation, you may be able to start a business or get a job to now do something you really enjoy!!      

 

Fourthly, you may consider going back to school to earn that degree you started but never completed, or get an advance degree, or a certification in an area of interest.

 

Finally, you may want to consider starting a home-based business.

I hear some of you saying, “Say what?”  “I don’t want to sell greeting cards, newspapers, magazines, etc.” 

If these types of business ideas come to mind when you think of a home-based business, you need to take another serious look at this area. There are a number of very viable options available today, with the improvement in technology, which a lot of individuals are utilizing to supplement or replace their income.

Also, the home-based business option provides a lot of tax advantages, even for those who are still working in corporate America. And this option can provide a means for a smooth transition, after retirement or after a job loss.

Regardless of which option you choose, you must develop a Plan B. When you have a Plan B in place, it provides you more confidence and control during those uncertain days that follows an interruption in your initial plan.

If you would like more personalize assistance in developing your Plan B or would like more specific information on some Plan B options, feel free to contact me via the email address below, personal coaching and consulting is available in this area.

 

Please provide me your comments on this topic. If you have additional topics you would like to see us discuss, please send me an email or post a comment.

 

Also, refer this site to other men you know, so we all can journey together!! 

 

For the woman in your life, my wife (Sylvia) has a personal development site focused specifically on the needs and concerns of women. The site is called, www.thedashlady.com. 

 

Also, we have a joint site focused on the needs and concerns of couples (i.e. married, engaged, and seriously dating). This site is focused on helping couples to grow together through personal development. The site is called, www.marriagerhythm.com.  

 

Please visit these sites and leave us a comment about the current posts. 

    

Again, thanks for visiting this site.   

 

Randy

The “DASH” Guy

randyclark@thedashguy.com

www.thedashguy.com

Uncategorized achievement, personal development, self-improvement, success, unemployed men

If you have not read “What Happens When a Man Lose His Job (Part 1)”, I would suggest that you read it before continuing; otherwise; the suggestions below will not make much sense.

 

 

Since a man’s job is such an important part of his life. “What can he do to minimize the negative affects of the lost of a job?”

 

I would like to suggest that he do the following: Reflect, Renew, Reassess, and Refocus.

 

Reflect:

 

Instead of focusing on the negative (in this case the lost of a job), focus on the positive. My career with Company “XZY” has ended, but I am thankful that I was able to work there “X” years and provide for my family. You can be more specific (i.e. “I was able to send my kids to college”, “I was able to pay off my mortgage.” etc.)

 

Also, try to avoid negative people. These may be in the form of former co-workers, friends, or family members. These individuals are focused on the negative only. They may say to you, “Man I can’t believe they did you like that, after all those years you had with that company.” “That is not right!!”

 

Why should these negative people be avoided? Their negative comments will cause you to waste time and energy sitting around and pondering about what “happened” to you. Also, it encourages a “victim” mindset, instead of helping you to move forward with your life. It will often result in anger and frustration about a door (or opportunity) that has closed in your life, instead of the doors that are open.

 

Renew:

 

Renew your mind. Read a book you have always wanted to read but couldn’t find the time. Go back to college and complete a degree you started or just take a class to enrich your life or retool your skill set. Take up a new hobby or spend more time doing something you enjoy.

 

It is important to do what I refer to as, “de-program” your mind. In other words, get the old job out of your mind to make room for your new opportunity. Depending on how long you were with your former employer, you have spent a lot of time focused on meeting the company’s goals and objectives. The focus now should be primarily on your goals and future plans.

 

I would like to recommend a couple books to read that will help you renew your mind. “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson and “Dare to Dream” by John C. Maxwell. Click the book titles in the Recommended Resources Section to order these books now!!

 

Reassess:

 

The lost of a job is a “transition” period in your life. It is a time to reassess where you are currently in your life compared to your long-term goals. Take a look at your current skills set and compare them to the market demands, it will let you know if you need to go back to college to complete that degree, pursue an advance degree or take some classes to retool your skills set.

 

Maybe you have always wanted to have your own business, determine if that is the right option for you during this season in your life.

 

Maybe you have always wanted to teach; this may be the time to do it.

 

Maybe you were getting “burnout” anyway with your previous job, so you may want to consider a less stressful job or a job in another industry.

 

Remember a transition period is a good time to reassess where you are currently compared to your long-term goals.

 

Let me share one final note on this area. When I talk with friends who have lost their jobs, I focus my conversation primarily on this area. I tell them, “Think about where you want to go in your life.”  “What do you want to accomplish in your life time?” “What is your final destination point?”

 

I let them know, “Sometimes when we are traveling we have to transfer to another vehicle (i.e. bus, train, airplane, etc.), because the one we are currently riding on can only carry us so far, it does not go to our final destination point.” “Therefore, we have to transfer to another vehicle that is going where we want to go.”

 

The lost of a job can be a “transfer point” in your career travel plans!!

 

Refocus:

           

Once you decide which course of action you will take, commit your full attention and energy to your new venture and future, don’t waste time looking back at the “closed” door.  

 

In conclusion, losing a job can be a difficult situation, but is not the end of the world; it just might be the “boot” you needed to pursue your dreams!!

 

Please provide me your comments on this topic. If you have additional topics you would like to see us discuss, please send me an email or post a comment.

 

Also, refer this site to other men you know, so we all can journey together!! 

 

For the woman in your life, my wife (Sylvia) has a personal development site focused specifically on the needs and concerns of women. The site is called, www.thedashlady.com. 

 

Also, we have a joint site focused on the needs and concerns of couples (i.e. married, engaged, and seriously dating). This site is focused on helping couples to grow together through personal development. The site is called, www.marriagerhythm.com.  

 

Please visit these sites and leave us a comment about the current posts. 

    

Again, thanks for visiting this site.   

 

Randy

The “DASH” Guy

randyclark@thedashguy.com

www.thedashguy.com

Uncategorized achievement, fatherhood, fathers, men issues, men needs, parenting, success, unemployed men

 

 

“I lost my job today.” “I was laid-off today.” Or some variation of these words has been spoken in the homes of hundreds of thousands of U.S. families during the last year. The unemployment rate is the highest it has been in more than 25 years, providing proof of the “hold” the recession has on our economy.

 

The total number of U.S. workers unemployed has reached more than 14.5 million. But, the bright spot, if there is one, is the layoffs are slowing down.

 

Since the current unemployment is 9.4 % and millions of U.S. workers are looking for work many families are experiencing challenges in ways they have never faced before.

 

But a question I want to consider, “What happens to a family when a man loses his job?”

 

Since men tend to be the primary (or sole) income earner in many families, when the man lose his job the economic survival of the family is threaten.  Depending on the age of the man, not only those in his immediate family, but those in his extended families may be affected by this sudden lost of income.

 

For example; If the man is over 40 years old, he may have kids in high school and/or college; he may be helping to support aging parents, so the lost of his income can have a “domino affect” on the entire family.

 

Even though during this season in a man’s life the financial responsibility may be at the highest point; he is able to handle it, because his income is normally at the highest point as well. Therefore; he does not mind it; as a matter of fact; he may even develop a sense of pride knowing that he is taking care of those who are depending on him.

 

But when the man loses his job and is not able to take care of his family, he can be affected in many ways.  He may feels like a “failure”; he may start to lose confidence in his abilities and doubt his “self-worth”; his self-esteem may drop to it lowest point. He may become frustrated, angry, depressed, and even suicidal.

 

Some of you may be going through this situation right now or have in the past; therefore; you can relate to the items above.  

 

The question I want us to consider, “Why does a lost of a job have such a negative impact on a man?”

 

I believe, the reason a man may experience this emotional “roller coaster” when he loses his job is because his job is not just what he does to earn money for his family, but a “BIG” part of his identity. What a man does for a living kind of “indirectly” defines who he is to himself, his family and others. His job can provide him status in the community and a big boost to his ego and self-esteem.

 

When men meet each other for the first time, one of the questions that normally come up during this initial conversation is, “What do you do for a living?”  Or “Who do you work for?”

 

Men use their occupations to relate to each other. For example, Tom may ask Bill, “Who is that guy over there?”  Bill says, “Oh; that is Bob the banker.” Or “That is Bob; he is a VP at the bank.”

 

Since a man’s job is such an important part of his life. “What can he do to minimize the negative affects of a lost of a job?”

 

In Part 2 of this article, “What Happens When A Man Lose His Job Part 2”, I will provide some suggestions to help men to deal with the lost of a job.

 

 

Please provide me your comments on this topic. If you have additional topics you would like to see us discuss, please send me an email or post a comment.

 

Also, refer this site to other men you know, so we all can journey together!! 

 

For the woman in your life, my wife (Sylvia) has a personal development site focused specifically on the needs and concerns of women. The site is called, www.thedashlady.com. 

 

Also, we have a joint site focused on the needs and concerns of couples (i.e. married, engaged, and seriously dating). This site is focused on helping couples to grow together through personal development. The site is called, www.marriagerhythm.com.  

 

Please visit these sites and leave us a comment about the current posts. 

    

Again, thanks for visiting this site.   

 

Randy

The “DASH” Guy

randyclark@thedashguy.com

www.thedashguy.com

 

 

Uncategorized achievement, fatherhood, fathers, job security, men issues, men needs, parenting, success, unemployed men