Recently I watched an interview with an electrician who had just been laid off. He said “I am 50 who will hire me?” my reaction was – I will. Why does he need to look for another corporate structure to allow him to work? Allow him now and fire him later as the only asset companies do not value is their employees.
Value yourself! Hire yourself! Consider opening your own business.
Is this the right time? Any time is the right time for the right business. Not all businesses do badly in a recession. Last recession chocolate stores did very well. I observed at Valentine’s Day 2009 that chocolate sales were up over last year. Tropic vacations may not be selling but Bed and Breakfasts close to large cities may do well.
Organic pet foods and pet toys are still selling very well.
Is it frightening to start a business? Of course but so is unemployment and working in a firm under threat of layoffs.
There will be pooh-poohers of all kinds. Most do not know their assets from their elbows. Be polite but ignore them. Only listen to other entrepreneurs and professionals.
Our electrician for example will hear ”you are too old who will hire you?”.
Instead of feeling “small” when faced with this antiquated and muddled logic he could cheerfully respond that he will be in his own business for at least 20 years and it will not take quite that long to wire their new dryer. His age is an asset not a deterant to his level of service!
Is it risky to start a business? Of course, but you are taking a risk on you not depending on a company.
Why would I hire the electrician? He has decades of skill and experience, a work ethic from before the post millennium
“I’m not responsible economy”
and he has done more than the narrow range of trades work common on cookie cutter housing developments. My bias (reinforced by work just done on my home) tells me that he will be polite, able to form clear factual sentences when responding to my questions and will be considerate of my work time by showing up on the agreed upon day.
Please visit womenlikeme.ca and read the articles on starting your own business.
Entrepreneurship is the new security!