Be Prepared

Each day it seems as though another company is laying off a large number of employees. Just the other day, it was announced that Borders Group, Inc. eliminated 274 corporate positions. Having worked for them for close to twelve years before becoming a fulltime freelancer, I still have a few friends from that bookstore chain. Unfortunately, some were part of the cut. Even when I was employed there, the climate was always tense with rumors of restructuring and we were all fearful for our job. I was one of the few fortunate ones who managed to make the best out of an unsettling situation and discovered that being forced from my comfort zone was the best thing that could have happened to me. After all, it’s been close to three years now and I’ve managed to maintain my own business. It occurs to me, however, that I had been unwittingly preparing for a new career while still with Borders even if I didn’t realize it at the time. While still with the company, I began keeping a file of business cards of those who might be helpful in case I ventured on my own. In my mind, at the time, I toyed with the idea of quitting so that I could focus on my own writing and consulting career, but it just was never the right time. I doubt it still would be had Borders not made the decision for me. Fortunately, I’d already laid the groundwork, which is what I encourage everyone to do.

Whether or not you are hearing rumblings on the job of restructuring and layoffs, the best advice I can give is to prepare for the possibility by expanding your horizons and figure out what could be the next step for you. You certainly don’t want to be caught off guard. Maybe you won’t need to act on it, but if you do, maybe a hobby you have could become a full-blown business. Stranger things have happened. Maybe it’s possible to spin a cottage industry from your present employment, as long as it isn’t compromising you or them in any way. Or maybe you could go back to school to learn something that truly inspires you. There’s much to be said for inspiration, which is often what helps us succeed. I know someone who went back to school to become a nurse, after having lost her job. She couldn’t be happier. In these precarious times, it’s worth considering now what you would do if you lost your job before it actually happens and throws you into a tailspin. Either way, it’s important to be prepared for possibilities and have a safety net of sorts at the ready.