Just because someone else found success in one area, that doesn’t mean you will too
With the topsy-turvy job market in which we find ourselves today, there is no shortage of people who have found success doing it their way. Stories abound about people who have started their own businesses, thrived in a non-profit, found success in a new culture at a new corporation, etc., etc.
What does this tell us about today’s job market? Maybe it’s the tried and true: there is more than one way to skin a cat. That certainly seems to be the case.
But there is an underlying message for today’s older job seeker. Your solution to the job-search puzzle may be very different from… well, anybody.
No matter how similar your backgrounds, your experience or the circumstances surrounding your unemployment, what worked for your compatriot, may not necessarily work for you.
Just because you know someone who successfully launched their own business, doesn’t mean that you will as well. Entrepreneurial pursuits are somewhat unique.
Not everyone is cut out to be in business for themselves, or to run their own businesses. As an entrepreneur, there are 101 things that will demand your attention. Making payroll. Cash flow. Collecting from slow, or no-pay customers. These are things that an employee simply takes for granted.
On the other hand, some people can only survive within a structured organization such as a corporation. Have you ever heard an entrepreneur boast about how working for a corporation would never be in the cards again?
The same holds true for the non-profit world. If you’ve worked at for-profit company your entire career, the culture of the non-profit may be quite a shock. This is also true for those switching – in any direction – among for-profit, non-profit, government employment, self-employment, etc.
While some people can handle the vagaries of juggling two (or even three) part-time jobs at once, it does take a particular kind of individual to do that. It’s not for everyone.
The bottom line is that it’s your life, your career. What works extraordinarily well for one person may be a disaster for another. Choose your next move carefully. Don’t chase after any fad or trend. Don’t do it just because someone else did it.