Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Who are you if you're Funemployed?

So, you’re unemployed, thinking about converting to funemployed or you’re employed and trying to avoid unemployment. It’s all about finding some kind of security, some safety net, some assurance that you will be OK – right? Yes, funemployment sounds great – good for you Loreen, glad you’re having a good time - I’ve got a life to live and an income to generate!

So logical next steps – I’ll be looking for a job. Plus, what would I do if I didn’t have a job?!!! Worse, who will I be if I don’t have a job? What will I say to people? I’m funemployed – how embarrassing, that’s for Gen Xers – they don’t have 10 or 20 years invested in their careers – I do! Let them go explore the possibilities and stunt their career growth.

I will not suggest that you don’t look for a job or find another way to secure your financial future. Or that having a job is a bad deal, I’ve been there, I’ve done that and clearly I drank the Kool-aid! So much so, that I really thought I loved it, thought it was my passion, thought I was living the dream.

But, what if funemployment was the launching pad for your recreation? The opportunity to reinvent your career or even your life? To find out what you love, what your passions are… the sabbatical you needed to find yourself, to start living the lifestyle of your dreams? Wouldn’t that be worth the risk of trying?

I don't know about you but I was certainly tied up in the "identity" of my career. I was a corporate executive. I was important, I made important decisions and impacted the bottom line for the company (I guess not enough since I was laid off smile ). I was the "go to" person for others. I was a senior professional in human resources. I was a manager of people. I had responsibilities and projects and programs that I developed and implemented. I was somebody.

So who am I without this job? 1-800-funemployment-blogger-chick? If someone who didn't know you said, "tell me about yourself, who are you?" What would you say? Until recently, I would have listed my credentials, and corporate title, proudly discussed my multitude of amazing accomplishments and likely even handed out a glossy business card.

Now I could tell you that I’m happy, I’m confident, I’m secure, and I’m so excited to be pursuing my passion by helping other people to do the same. I’m a business owner (not an employee – yay) with the freedoms I always desired, fun exciting challenges and days filled with joy not work. I’m a daughter, a wife, an aunt, a friend, a mentor and apparently a blogger. And the funemployment journey continues!

So, there's finding that next job...and then there's finding yourself. Are you waiting on someone else to make you happy? To supply you with an identity? To give you a steady income? To give you the life you’ve always dreamed of?

I say, don’t wait…try a little funemployment journey today. I really like the person I found and the lifestyle is simply to die for…I just know you can have the same!

All the best to you in your journey!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Someday my job will come....you mean...just like my Prince?

Well, I must say that I did find my Prince and he's genuinely supportive of my current employment or should I say funemployment situation.

Do you want to know when I found him? When I wasn't looking! When I had finally decided I could live with out a Prince. When I chose to be happy just being who I was. When I gave up trying to control the situation and "worry" my way to a mate.

Could the same be true for you and your career and financial situation? If so, what does that mean for you? I'm sure you've heard it before. But, somehow it just doesn't make sense. You mean...stop worrying...stop managing the situation...just let it be?!? If you're anything like me that thought might make you squirm a little. The concept seems so foreign to us, we are so used to having a plan and working that plan. I mean you can't achieve a goal if you don't have one and you certainly can't achieve it without every step-by-step detail of the plan in place - right?! That's what I was taught...that's what "they all say".

I'll tell you right now that if we could worry our way into a great career and strong financial situation I wouldn't be the only happily employed millionaire!!

And yet...just as many of us who have found our Princes or Princesses, there are many of us out there who are happy, (despite employment status) and financially stable or even rich. Would you agree? If so, write that down...it's absolute proof that you can have the same!

If you are unemployed (not yet funemployed) and looking for your next position or employed in an unbearable job and looking for your next opportunity, let me be so bold as to assume that the ideal job isn't arriving as quickly as you'd hoped. How long will you wait? How long will you worry? How much time will you spend being upset about or frustrated with the economy? How long will you either blame your lack of time or money for your situation? Or will you continue to hope to just finally win the lottery?

If you continue down this same path, how long do you think it will be until you achieve a different result? I know I'm not the only one who has heard the famous quote by Einstein defining insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. I wanted a different result too and, spent many, many years doing the same thing and wondering why I wasn't more successful - so see...you're not alone, there are many of us out here who have tried it this way first.

What if by simply changing your thinking and doing things just a little differently you could have it all? Whatever it is that you desire - a new job, financial security, your prince or princess. Would you be willing to try? Would you be willing to take the risk? I mean you've been doing it this way...perhaps for years...isn't now a good time for you to try something different?

If so...how about letting go? How about trying funemployment my way? Not the way that they've outlined it in the media, not squandering your time on an extended vacation on someone else's dime, not just hanging out on Facebook or blogging aimlessly but really doing things differently. If you gain even one good idea, one decent job interview, one great business opportunity, or one great date wouldn't it be worth the change? I hope so. I did it, I started my journey, I took the first step, I did something a little different and I am so grateful that I did.

Come join me on my journey by starting your own. Would you like to be rich and happy? Would you like to be funemployed or fun-employed? Here's what I suggest as a starting place:
  • Spend some time doing what you really enjoy...a lost hobby, (I make jewelry myself) reading a great book (I could recommend so many to you right now - oh how they've helped my journey so far)
  • Do something nice for yourself - praise yourself, I'm sure you deserve it & it's FREE, won't even cost you a dime. Commit to giving yourself the gift of a daily compliment...how refreshing!
  • Enjoy the moment - do something that brings you back to the "present" - take a walk in the park, just sit out on your balcony or porch & enjoy the beautiful weather.
This is a great way to begin to "dip your toes" into the water of different. Start today to relax and enjoy so that you can begin the journey to embracing a different way of life. Agree to "let go" of something...whatever you can...can you stop worrying about your next job? I can guarantee you that worrying won't deliver it to your doorstep, it will actually keep it away from you. So, how about a little step away from insanity - let go of worrying about your next job for one hour...spend it instead on doing something nice for yourself. You can go back to worrying if you must...most especially if you want the same result that you have been getting.

C'mon...try it...I did and so have many others and to our delight - it works. Change your thinking and change your life!! Just because you're not worrying about it doesn't mean you don't want it or that you're giving up. It means you're willing to try to attain that goal a different way. At the very least you'll feel a little better about yourself & you could just end up rich and happy like so many others who have traveled down this path before you!

I wish you so much happiness and success!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Is your job making you rich and happy? No - then come join the bliss of funemployment!

This entry is for those of you who are currently employed in jobs that are less than perfect (hmmm, that should be a pretty broad audience). Who either don't see a light at the end of the tunnel or worse, you finally see the light but, turns out its a train!!

Let me assure you that when you change your thinking...you can change your entire life! What if the light at the end of the tunnel wasn't a train? What if instead it was:

I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Mine was the unemployment train. Many of you have been there or you have friends and family members who have been hit by this train. It can be devastating - I know that first hand - but, it doesn't have to be. It can be the greatest journey of your life!

I say jump on the train OR buy your ticket for an upcoming ride.
  • Turn that unemployment into funemployment OR
  • Be grateful for your current employment AND take a funemployment vacation,
I can promise you that with the right mindset, this is an adventure not to be missed.

Still not sure? Don't know if you are ready to enjoy your situation? I mean what is this funemployment stuff anyway? One definition from Urban Dictionary is: funemployment - the condition of a person who takes advantage of being out of a job to have the time of their life.

Not only is this the time of my life but it is my time in life. It's the time that I am using to re-create myself. Now that's fun! Ever want to be, have or do something else? Something better? More? What's holding you back? Is it time? Is it fear? Is it money?

You can have it all. I challenge you to try funemployment.

No, I'm not saying you should take a leap of faith and leave a good job if you have one. How about that vacation though? Not to DisneyWorld but, to explore what funemployment might be like. How it could benefit you to spend some time on you...have some fun...explore what you would like to be, do or have. Who knows, you may just enjoy it so much that you will join those of us who are considering permanent funemployment!

Yes, I am suggesting that if you're already unemployed that you look at your situation in a different light...have some fun with it. Use this time to enjoy, to do for yourself, to try new things. You can't force a job to open in your field or worry your way into employment. But, you can increase your chances of landing the dream job by improving your energy level, sending out positive thoughts and showing strong belief in yourself. All things that you can gain during your funemployment. You may even reinvent yourself or start your own business! You have the time to dedicate...how will you spend it?

My sincere encouragement and support to all of you. Regardless of your current situation...the true spirit of funemployment is joy and taking time for yourself. I know that great things will come out of your journey.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

I invite you to join my journey...why unemployment is the best thing that ever happened to me!

If you're anything like me you remember clearly the intense anxiety and panic that went through your body when you heard the news...Business is down, the economy is bad so...we've eliminated your position.

Then the long pause...the shock and the paralysis sets in; I can't walk, I'm in a fog. As you find yourself miraculously walking back to your desk to "gather your personal items" it hits you - you are unemployed.
  • What does this mean?
  • What do I do next?
  • Where will I go?
  • How will I make money?
  • Where will I find work?
  • How will I tell my family?
  • Who am I now?
All of these questions and more ran through my head. The day went by in slow motion. I made it back home, I'm just not sure how.

How weird to not have to get up early in the morning and fight the traffic on the way in. After 20 years of that routine, with the exception of the rare vacation, I didn't know what to do on a "weekday" except go to work.

The first couple of weeks of my unemployment were dedicated to reclaiming my career. I was, after all, a very successful Executive in HR (I know, I know we're supposed to be the people people). At that point, I too was most certainly asking myself where is the "human" in human resources! Nevertheless, I was confident, dedicated and certain that I would just turn right around and find another job.

I did all the right things...I put together an outstanding resume, prepared a multitude of customized cover letters, got on LinkedIn, got my recommendations, connected to old friends and colleagues, built a career profile website, got on Facebook, called on recruiters in my field, called in favors and launched a full on job search. I practiced my interview responses, listed and reviewed my accomplishments, even bought a new suit just for the interviews I would have in the very near future. And then I waited...

Days went by...no big deal...then weeks...that's OK...then months...hmmm, not as good. Things didn't go as I had hoped or planned. No job, no responses to my calls, letters or online applications, no interviews. It didn't make sense to me. I thought that I had it all figured out. And then it hit me...I can't rely on anyone else. Companies are struggling and let's face it, they're not in business to keep you and I employed. They are there to make money!

Well guess what - you and me both!! So I decided to figure out a way to start a business of my own and make money for myself. And in the process I also learned the key ingredient to success...it's having fun and being happy! It's about following your passions, paying it forward and living life to it's fullest.

I started this blog today to tell you that you can do the same thing that I did. Go from unemployed, broke and miserable to "funemployed," rich and happy!!

So come be "funemployed" with me. I'm having the best time of my life, I'm free to do whatever I want whenever I want, I'm more certain of my future now then I have ever been in the past and it is my passion and goal to help you do the same thing. C'mon, let's get rich and happy together. Don't leave your life, your money and happiness in "their" hands.

What have you got to lose? If you're already unemployed but not yet "funemployed" like me...nothing. If you're currently employed but uncertain about your future then you can have your cake and eat it too! Start something today...take the first step towards freedom and "funemployment"!!

It is my intent to share my journey with you through this blog and help you achieve the freedom, wealth and happiness that I have through my challenges, my learning and my success stories.

Want to know how I did it? Keep checking back, I'll be updating the blog. Or fill in your email address above to receive words of encouragement and support. Think of me as your personal (yet virtual) coach. My goal is to help you succeed in any way that I can. I've been helping others to have successful careers for 20+ years in the corporate world. Now I'm happy to take that success model and bring it to you via the Internet world.

I wish you happiness and great success.