Thursday, February 18th, 2010
The December Issue of the AARP Bulletin contains an article about individuals who were laid off from their jobs after the age of 50. Some were 60 and older. It tells the story about how the individuals started their own enterprises and found satisfaction in them.
The article also reported that 15 percent of workers ages 50-64 are self-employed and that 25 percent are 65 or older. Are you in this age category and out of work? Do you still feel you have the knowledge, skills and vitality to be a contributing member of the workforce? I’m sure you do. Why not consider starting your own business. It doesn’t have to be large. Maybe just you.
Where do you start? Well how about a hobby you’ve enjoyed. Can you turn it into a paying enterprise? Or can you take your business skills from your previous employer or employers and turn that into a business enterprise? Not sure how to do it? There are many organizations out their that can help gain the knowledge you need to get started.
There are Small Business Development Centers around the country with excellent counselors that can help you. The organization SCORE can also help. The latter two organizations are sponsered by the US Government and are free. There is this web site which offersfree information and you can also go to our LINKS button and you’ll find a “link” to many more sites.
You may be laid off and Over 50 but you can start a successful business venture and find great staisfaction in doing so. The opportunity is not without risk certainly, but you have a lot of help out there. Take advantage of it and good luck.
Posted in 50+, Faces Over 50, General Business, Home Based Business, Self employment, Technology, entrepreneurship, global business | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
In 1991 I was downsized when the company I worked for decided to move to another state 2,000 miles across the country. Out of work and worried about how I was going to pay my bills, I did what most of you, who have been laid off, are doing. I started looking for a job.
Back then I thought I wanted to work in the non-profit world where I had extensive personal experience and it was going to be a career change. I began networking and applying to any non-profit organization that I thought could pay me a decent salary.
Nearly a year of interviews with various organizations led to a six month interim General Director’s position at a four branch YMCA. For the most part the work was enjoyable; however, I quickly realized that it was not what I wanted to be doing, nor did I want to work in the non-profit sector. In fact, I often found myself sitting in an interview wondering why I was there and trying to figure out how I could politely end it.
What I really wanted to do was to be more in control of my own destiny, by having my own business. I had spent a nearly a whole year looking for work and another six months working in an area where I didn’t want to be in before I started my first business venture.
I’ve had a number of business ventures in the past seventeen years, all of which have prepared me for what I really love doing; coaching, and advising individuals on reaching success in their life and business. I haven’t completed my journey yet, but I assure you I know exaclty where it is I want to go and accomplish.
How about you? Do you know where you want to go? If so, great! Spend time preparing yourself to get there. If not, take time to analyze yourself to see where it is you really want to go. Zero in on it, and begin to think and prepare yourself to get there. Keep a positive mental attitude, no matter how difficult that may be at times, and visualize your being where it is you want to be. You may surprise yourself and get there sooner than you expected. And, like me, you may not finish up where you thought you would when you started out.
Posted in 50+, Economy, General Business, Self employment, Success Principles, entrepreneurship | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008
An Employee Handbook is an effective tool to communicate and orient employees to your company’s beliefs and performance expectations. It is an excellent way to describe your mission statement, code of ethics, policy on discrimination, sexual harassment, and other important policies affecting the employment relationship.
The handbook should cover everything an employee needs to know to ensure a successful career at your company. In addition to the above, it shold also include a description of work hours, overtime pay, vacation policy, holidays, dress code, employee hygiene, employee benefits, a glossary of terminology important to your business, and an organization chart.
By providing an employee handbook you do not want to give the impression that you are guaranteeing lifetime employement. The handbook should cover all legal notification requirements to prevent lawsuits, but don’t try to spell out what an employee should do in every situation.
We’ll have an article coming out soon describing in more detail what an employee handbook should contain.
source
Posted in General Business | No Comments »
