It’s a fair statement that we live in uncharted times...a new world of tremendous changes that affects everyone of us at all levels from birth to old age, education, careers, family, home, health care, technology, retirement, cultures and even morality. Therein lies deep valleys of uncertainty and high peaks of possibilities. At the same time, we are enveloped by storms of information..so much information coming at us from all directions...what to read, watch, believe and decide?
Sometimes, through the storm, a simple story can best present basic ideas and lessons. There is no better story that has appealed to generations than the Wolf and The 3 Little Pigs. The underlying moral, of course, is that the best prepared individual, given choices, will better outlast any dramatic problems or changes with the potential to live happily ever after.
Let's imagine for this story that Unemployment can be represented as a bad wolf.
Now, a recent New York Times article has outlined how millions of unemployed people face years without jobs as the recession continues to mount, with millions nearing the end of their unemployment benefits.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35504954/ns/business-the_new_york_times/from/ET
Here are some statistics from the experts:
- approximately 6.3 million Americans have been unemployed for six months or longer, the largest number since the government began keeping track in 1948. 15 million are officially jobless.
- need 100,000 new jobs a month just to absorb entrants to the labor force.
- large companies are increasingly owned by institutional investors who crave swift profits, a feat often achieved by cutting payroll. Companies hire less or find capital equipment to replace workers.
- the declining influence of unions has made it easier for employers to shift work to part-time and temporary employees.
- factory work and even white-collar jobs have moved in recent years to low-cost countries in Asia.
- automation has helped manufacturing cut 5.6 million jobs since 2000 — the sort of jobs that once provided lower-skilled workers with middle-class paychecks.
- strapped households have less buying power which affects auto companies, home construction, foreclosed properties, retails sales and more.
Back to the story, and the simple premise that it is obvious that the threat of unemployment is like the big bad wolf’s threat to the security of the three little pigs.
In fact, let's take a creative look at these challenges with an analogy...that the big bad wolf is the unemployment attacker and the three little pigs act as the three plans that can best deal with the "huffing and puffing" of this uncertain economy.
Let’s begin this simple analogy...
A deep recession fell upon the land. More people fell out of work and savings petered out, and the menace of unemployment, like a hungry wolf, appeared in the neighbourhood. People accustomed to the comforts of middle-class life began to rely on public assistance for the first time in their lives..could it potentially be for years to come?
People began to look at three possible plans in case the unemployment wolf knocked on their doors.
PLAN #1...Hang on and hope the recession will pass. This somewhat passive thinking is like living in a twig house..no personal income, no protection at the mercy of harsh realities.
a.Try and adapt to live without a secure paycheck or unemployment check. It may mean doing without prescription medications, health insurance, certain amenities, healthier food choices, holidays, education and more.
b. Face the spectre of being homeless as a real possibility.
c. Start to believe you are the failure and blame yourself because of age, weight gain or any other "prominent insecurity".
PLAN #2... Be more proactive and look for suitable other employment.
a. Send out local flyers to clean houses or walk dogs. Check out local job listings. Send out dozens of resumes and not hear back. Respond to online ads with less than desirable offers. Take a state-financed program, many with low wages.
b. Check out more expensive investments in what are considered to be the best jobs (for over forty year olds) where you can make potentially make $100,000. Here are some examples..education administrator, strategic communication professional, community sevice co-ordinator, computer systems manager (need MBA with focus on technology) or even a small scale niche farmer (whatever that means).
c. Browse the internet filled with schemes and dreams to ransom a king's treasures. Network marketing home business opportunities abound but they are too often overly time consuming and expensive with over expectations of royalty-like leadership and followers…and, generally, they are NOT doable by the average citizen.
In my opinion these are like straw houses easily blown away with excuses and failures.
PLAN #3...Consider being a Home Business Owner with Own Your Channel.
a. Start building a main foundation as an independent team for $9 month...similar to a home business insurance that offers protection in numbers and time to learn more about entrepreneurship..the blueprint for success. There are no legitimate excuses.
b. Grow this home team cheaply, quickly, and soon it can become a serious contender to join big companies and make profits from the beginning. Even if a particular company stops producing, your team can join other opportunities.
c. Value the serious efforts to help others by setting up a Clearing House for people who cannot afford even minimal start-up costs for a home business. They can wait for sponsorship into a profitable program with perks. For example, they can get a $299 LGN (Little Guy Network) account for $24 (cost of OYC..enrollment fee plus $9 month)
In my opinion, this is the one and only home business build from solid bricks. The construction starts with master builders. You start by listening to a valuable video that outlines the program. Your "job" is to share this blueprint with others who are looking for more security.
Together you can watch the income calculator and understand the potential of a big home-based team with definite defensive skills as well as offensive strength.
Unemployment fears can "huff and puff" but there is definite protection in numbers, leveraging information tools and residual income.
The ending of this story and analogy will be written by different people in different ways.
I sincerely hope you will check out a compelling video as part of plan #3. Get your questions and comments answered. Start building your house of bricks. Join like- minded entrepreneurs standing by to help you.
If you still question the moral value of this simple story...then perhaps a poster from the late 1940’s will help to focus on why you should act today..
"There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
"One of these days is YESTERDAY, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed or erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.
"The other day we should not worry about is TOMORROW, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise, and its poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
"This leaves only one day, TODAY. Anyone can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities - Yesterday and Tomorrow - that we break down.
"It is not the experience of Today that drives us mad, it is remorse and bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring. Let us therefore… Live this one full TODAY."
