| My wife and I were both effectively | | | | been outsourced, downsized or, God forbid, |
| eliminated from the traditional corporate | | | | terminated (a better word than Fired!) No |
| work force in the early 1990's. It was | | | | sense hiding the truth. Lying is such hard |
| traumatic. We were college graduates. We had | | | | work. You have enough on your plate.Where to |
| climbed the corporate ladder, rapidly, | | | | Go for Income?If there is one recommendation |
| inexorably. We enjoyed six figure incomes, a | | | | every corporate ex-employee should recognize |
| second home, club memberships, prosperous | | | | it is this: Time is not your friend! After |
| investment accounts, wonderful benefit | | | | the shock of your release, a few tears, maybe |
| packages, a College investment plan for our | | | | a beer or two, immediately start assembling a |
| three kids, sports cars and extensive travel. | | | | Personal Business Plan. Honestly consider |
| We were devastated! But, it became the best | | | | every detail in your current life situation. |
| thing that ever happened to us, children | | | | Including: |
| included.We went from regularity, a false | | | | |
| sense of security and believing that we | | | | * Your Age * Short Term |
| enjoyed a bit of that "Master of the | | | | Needs |
| Universe" complex, to really considering | | | | |
| things we had taken for granted. Yeah, we | | | | * Relocation Options * Window of Time |
| were down for a few weeks. The house was | | | | |
| glum. What was next? However, fairly quickly, | | | | * Savings * Expenses |
| we realized that we had to make things | | | | |
| happen. Things weren't going to be falling | | | | * Interests * Family |
| into our laps. We needed to start thinking | | | | Flexibility * Severance |
| like entrepreneurs.It can be difficult | | | | * Health * Corporate |
| re-learning to think like an entrepreneur. | | | | options * NetworksBen Franklin, our |
| Why do I use the word "re-learning"? Simply | | | | great Founding Father, used to settle |
| because, we are all entrepreneurs at some | | | | difficult questions in his typically logical |
| point during our lives. A kid cutting grass, | | | | way. He took a piece of paper and drew a line |
| or working a paper route is a budding | | | | right down the middle. On one side he marked |
| entrepreneur. The ritual of seeking a job | | | | a +, on the other column he marked a -. Then |
| requires a certain amount of entrepreneurial | | | | he considered each element of his problem and |
| dash. Selling one-self to the opposite sex | | | | honestly placed that issue in the appropriate |
| requires self-marketing and packaging. | | | | column. When he had exhausted his list, he |
| Presenting a thesis and selling arguments to | | | | counted the items assigned to each column. |
| professors is an entrepreneurial act.Until we | | | | The side with the most entries indicated the |
| enter the corporate world almost all of our | | | | proper decision for old Ben to take.Do this, |
| efforts share elements of entrepreneurial | | | | as honestly as possible. More often than not, |
| activity. Then the Mr. Big Corporation enters | | | | there is an interest, a skill or hobby that |
| our lives and things seem to change. Report | | | | you have always dreamt of utilizing as your |
| at this time, to this address, to Mr. Smith, | | | | source of income. It worked for us. We love |
| your boss, for an agreed pay packet and a | | | | sales and marketing. That became our avenue |
| certain benefit package. Do this | | | | of financial resurrection, and more |
| consistently, and fairly well, and we will | | | | importantly, it has lead to a freedom and |
| move you along at our pace, the classic | | | | lifestyle more exciting and varied than we |
| "Career Path". Our actions become focused on | | | | would have considered possible. Making a |
| job performance, judged by the Corporations | | | | living doing something you love is a blessing |
| standards. We adapt professionally. We also | | | | and many more people can achieve this today |
| adapt our family and social life to the | | | | than ever before in history.A cell phone, a |
| corporate ethos.And then, that ethos was | | | | computer, inter-net access and a web-site can |
| gone. We had to adjust and rapidly. Here are | | | | be the basis of a business. Over 700,000 |
| a few recommendations we found of great value | | | | people alone make a living in full, or part, |
| in successfully making the change from a | | | | on eBay. Think like an entrepreneur. What did |
| corporate to entrepreneurial lifestyle. First | | | | you do for Mr. Big Corp.? Approach similar |
| we broke our lives into manageable | | | | clients and customers with a customized, |
| components, a bit of introspection here. | | | | targeted list of services. Put your years of |
| | | | experience to use. Research the market for |
| Put Family FirstNothing earth shattering | | | | opportunities. Write a realistic business |
| here, we had been good parents. The children | | | | plan for your new enterprise. There are more |
| were a joy. And yet, we knew we could have | | | | start-ups in the United States every year |
| attended more recitals, games and parties. We | | | | than every place in the world; combined. It |
| immediately began to be more active as a | | | | pays off to be an entrepreneur in the |
| family group. We enjoyed activities together | | | | USA!Work from home. Attend trade shows. |
| more and began to appreciate how quickly time | | | | Consider being a re-seller from shopping mall |
| slips away. When children grow up, they move | | | | kiosks. Contract out services to call |
| on. That opportunity to be involved in a | | | | centers. Be a consultant in your area of |
| daily basis is gone. Don't waste a minute of | | | | expertise. Send out Press releases on your |
| this precious time.As much as possible, we | | | | project. Your network of past work associates |
| kept the children generally in the knowledge | | | | and clients is your best future customer |
| loop on current business affairs. All of a | | | | base. Partner with a Company already in your |
| sudden we weren't going to work. How do you | | | | field, come aboard as an independent |
| hide that? Also, we made every effort to | | | | contractor. Work part-time for several firms |
| place a positive, forward- looking face on | | | | until something opens in one. Wow them with |
| our reality.Family Budget PrioritiesWe sat | | | | effort, positive attitude, results, and |
| down and seriously analyzed current assets | | | | creativity.The Mr. Big Corp's of the world do |
| and liabilities. What did we spend that was | | | | not owe you a career. They make decisions |
| not really a necessity? Starbucks? Dinners | | | | based on market realities. That shouldn't |
| out? Movie Rentals? Underused automobiles? | | | | mean that your continued success potential is |
| Pool Service? We discovered that our | | | | limited or damaged. Your opportunities are |
| lifestyle could be well maintained by simply | | | | open ended.Geoff Ficke is President of |
| being more aware of our spending patterns and | | | | Duquesa Marketing, Inc. An international |
| considering each purchase. Was it a need, or | | | | consulting firm with over 35 years experience |
| a want?We also involved the children in | | | | in creating customized strategies and |
| spending decisions particular to them. Was a | | | | business plans, product development and |
| club necessary? What about that two week | | | | funding opportunities for entrepreneurs, |
| summer camp? A new formal might not be in the | | | | inventors and small business expansion. Mr. |
| budget. They were remarkably mature and | | | | Ficke is also a Senior Fellow at the Page |
| agreeable to the idea of relative shared | | | | Center for Entrepreneurial Study at the |
| sacrifice.The Social Network | | | | Business School, Miami University, Oxford |
| | | | Ohio. |
| Be direct with friends and family. You have | | | | |