Day 3.
(I stole this image somewhere)
The problem with being unemployed and versatile is not being sure of what you want to do. For the first time in my life (well sort of) I feel completely out of control. Sort of unsafe. I consider this a weakness. There’s definitely a few options here:
Do I?
1. Go back to school?
2. Freelance?
3. Seek full-time?
4. Consider a second career?
5. Create a start-up?
Almost endless…
Whichever possibility does create something though. It’s called risk.
Now to calculate the variability of failure on these risks.
1. I could possibly end up completely poor and destitute, or homeless (scary). I might completely abhor the fact that I have to choose something immediately to survive instead of by less pressure. I’ve been in a position of poor already (yes without meals, living in a third world country, etc) – my desire is to not return.
2. I might have to move from NYC (the place I’ve worked on being almost my entire adult life).
3. I might not accelerate in my career as previously planned (Yes, I was one of those people). Imagine having a vast skillset and still not being able to be hired!
Another theory of this forced downtime — maybe this is the break that I have always needed. I’ve worked since I was 14 years old. I hardly had breaks in between. I’ve always done some sort of freelance, work study or side project that took up my time. So being involuntarily unemployed leaves me wondering:
1. Should I catch up on sleep?
2. Should I budget better?
3. Should I rethink my goals?
4. Should I take the required break between jobs? (I did just take only 2 days off before starting that last one.)
At least I’ve started running again (I ran 3 1/2 miles yesterday).
At least I am being proactive. I’ve applied to places that I desire to call home. Now, hopefully they recognize that I’m a hard worker and hire me.
Simple. Right?
(By the way, if you believe there’s a stigma of writing about my lack of a job — imagine how the recession went in the beginning, maybe it’s just catching up with me now. At least I am slightly more prepared to handle it. It’s only day 3 — but I won’t wish this even on my worse enemy.)
Sandra
Day 3 and you’ve already begun applying places and plotting out so many different futures? Not a lady who let’s the grass grow under her feet!
By the way, that header font is gorgeous.
Keith
Sorry to hear about your involuntary unemployment. But it does sound like you’re on the right road and laying out all of your options and the risks involved with those. I know many people, that wallow in self pity for weeks or months before getting to the point of creating a plan, so kudos to you for being ahead of the curve.