“Every morning around nine she gets me out of bed crying, GET A JOB!”

If you remember that song, you’re a little old. In these times, the number of people, at a young age, who find themselves in need of a job is incredible. The question is why? Some will say it’s someone else’s fault. The plant closed. The owner sold his business. The owner made too many bad business decisions. Whatever his reason, it doesn’t change his situation.

Here is another question. Do you have any fault that you discover for your current employment problems? When things were going well, did you think ahead and buy an employment insurance policy? How much does an employment insurance policy cost? A little extra time to learn how to earn some money if your current job went south. Or did you just enjoy the moment and assume that things will be like this forever? Well that’s water under the bridge.

The real question is – what now? Remember that old song -There’ll Be Some Changes Made? It was something like: there will be a change in the weather and a change in the sea, somehow there will be a change in me. Well, something like that. That’s the first fact you’ll have to come to terms with. That old attitude that all I want to do is go to work, come home, and get paid is a thing of the past.

You are going to have to accept the fact that this economy is crumbling in front of you. Unless you know how to do something most others don’t, or unless you’re willing to do something most others won’t, prepare for trouble.

Teamwork is good. But one thing, if you’re going to win in this game, you have to be able to create your own shot. Now that’s something most others don’t know how to do or aren’t willing to do.

There are considerations that you will have to accept. If you are going to improve your current situation, you will need to put the word “LEARN” back into your vocabulary. I know it’s going to be a bit difficult trying to get the old clock working again, but that’s the mental adjustment that needs to be made.

You have to accept the fact that, to some extent, you will have to create your own income opportunities. You are going to have to start working for yourself and not exclusively for someone else for at least a period of time. You’re going to have to find that recession-proof industry and profession where your future lies.

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Some are good with tools and some are good with computers. Determine your strengths, choose your industry, and do some research to determine your new career path. That’s how it is. It’s time to go back to school. Of course, learn as much as you can on your own in your spare time before spending any money.

Here are some recession-proof industries you might consider: healthcare, education, energy, international business, security, environment. I’m not going to walk you through each one. It is time for you to take the bull by the horns and prepare for the next twenty years of your life.

I will spend more time on the part-time income that will help you keep the bills paid while you “learn for the future.” These are all opportunities that you can create for yourself with very little out-of-pocket investment. I’m sure you can think of many more.

A) You’d think that when things go bad, people would cut back on drinking and gambling. Wrong, both are on the rise.
B) House and/or pet sitter when people leave home on vacation. When times are tough, the chance of people breaking into a home will increase.
C) Lawn care and lawn watering.
D) Software – Get a type of software like payroll or income tax and become a pro at using it.
E) Soak Station – Buy a Festival Set and Rent Space at Carnivals
F) Carpet Cleaning – Rent one when you have a job or buy a Rug Doctor to get started
G) Floor Polishing – Rent a commercial buffer and hire commercial premises and offices
H) Home repair – Handy Man Services
I) Copy Job: Lease a printer/copier and contract jobs for churches and other groups.
J) Parking Striping – Rent one from the tool rental and contact jobs
K) Night surveillance – Apartment buildings and shops
L) Basketball Referee – Gets paid $15 to $30 per game
M) Boy/girl supermarket: contact with the elderly in housing complexes for the elderly
N) Alterations – Know how to sew? They charge $30 just to hem.
O) Light Truck: Transportation, Delivery/Larger Truck: Home Appliances Delivery for Retail Stores

There are many more. Just start thinking and GET TO WORK.