A quantum of solace in this economy: Plan B
...by which I don't mean the morning-after pill. I was talking to my friend Penelope Trunk, CEO of Brazen Careerist and the bluntest career expert I know, and it seemed evident to me after our conversation that in this economy, we all need a Plan B. That's right: an actionable, practical strategy to fire up if and when Plan A goes kerplooey.
Don't have a Plan B? Here's how to create one:
1. Assess your skills. Figure out what you're good at, then list everything else you can reasonably do on a resumé without outright lying. Like, my skill is writing. That's pretty much it. But I could probably wield that skill in a number of different directions, like, say, I don't know, copywriting or public relations or doing the fancy lettering on a menu board.
2. Assess your connections. Who could get me a job writing out menu boards? I have a former colleague whose husband owns a couple of restaurants. Maybe he needs a menu-board writer.
3. Assess your readiness. If you're laid off at year's end, are you ready? What about next week? Tomorrow? In my case, a week from Monday?
I've thought it through. Here's my Plan B: my elderly dad moved in with me recently. He's got a little money saved up. I figure the going rent for a room in a New Jersey home is, oh, probably about the same as my salary. I mean, including laundry service and all. My Plan B is to bleed my old man dry.
What's your Plan B?
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1
A career as a menu-board writer may be an actionable strategy for you but it's hardly practical...what about online ad writer? I hear they desperately need a few new people over at McNeil Consumer Healthcare, makers of Motrin...
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2
Plan B? I'm still working on Plan A.
I've been thinking about this a lot. One thing you never see in my field--pharm advertising--is editors over 50 who aren't department heads. I did that job for 5 years and I would have to be a day away from living on the streets to even think about doing that job again. I've got 10 years to go before I have change careers. I guess I should seriously think about it.
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3
I don't have a Plan B, but my Plan C is to move to a tropical beach and set up a smoothie stand. My husband will climb coconut trees, and I will work the blender. We will sleep in a hand-made thatched hut. We won't have health insurance, but our health problems were work-induced anyways.
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4
Ger, I think Prkly's got the job for you. You could be my Motrin connection.
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5
What about "Zack and Miri make a porno"?
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6
My "Plan B" is to get this country to cancel Christmas and save the $476 billion it is presently planning to spend. Here's how:
http://saturdaymorningpost.com/2008/11/07/shop-till-we-drop/
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7
There's always filling out Obama's job application.
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8
Hey Lisa! Long time no visit for me.
My plan "B" is to stick my head DEEP into the sand, pretend my 401K is doing just fine, pretend that old term "job security" still exists, and pretend the world isn't imploding.
What do you think about my strategy?
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9
I'm with you, Mitch McDad. If you can't see it or hear it, it's not there.
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10
Staff Writer,
That plan would be the worse thing for the economy right now. That $476 billion will go to retailers and their employees, who really need it. The whole point of a stimulus plan is to replace falling levels of consumption (and investment).
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