What To Do While You’re On Furlough

So, the government shutdown in the U.S. has hit home and you’re… um… at home. You should definitely start with knocking out that “honey-do” list, but even that’s only gonna last so long.

Probably the single greatest thing you can do for yourself during this time is to start making yourself furlough-proof for next time. These ideas probably won’t put money in your pocket this week (although they might) but they will definitely leave you in a less vulnerable position should this happen again.

Build Your Network

We’ve all heard, “Its not what you know, its who you know.” Well, what better time to catch up with “who you know”, especially if they’re taking a few days off also. You’ll come across as a go-getter and stay on their radar when new opportunities come around. As to meet them for lunch or coffee and invite them to bring a friend to use their introduction as an implicit recommendation of you and your skills.

Expand Your Skill Set

Read a book (or two) to pick-up a new skill or hone an existing skill. When we’ve been working in one job for a while, we can get complacent with our skills because, let’s face it, they meet the requirements! Use this time to see what other people in your professional area are doing and add it to your skill set. Don’t want to read a book, ok. Watch some video’s on YouTube. Here’s a good one on building an Upside Down Fire. Video’s not your thing? No problem. Check out my podcast from this morning (Meet Them Where Their Needs Are) to hear how to pick-up a free audio book on selling.

Outline Your Next Book

You know they say everyone has at least one great book in them. While the idea of writing a book might not sound all the great, starting with an outline will at least give you a framework for working on it a little at a time. Did you know that November is Nation Novel Writing Month? No, well check out NaNoWriMo.org.

Start a Business

Yep, that’s right… start your own business. Just like writing, I believe we all have at least one good idea in us. We just need to cultivate that idea and have the confidence, and courage, to offer it for sale to someone else. Have no idea what to do, that’s not a problem either. Here are a couple of ways to generate some ideas…

• Ask – Yep, that’s right, just ask. Ask you local convenience store owner, oil change guy, landscaping, dry cleaning, neighbor, fellow little league enthusiast… basically, anyone you might run into. And if you’re having trouble starting the conversation, try something like this, “Hey, I’ve been furloughed this week and I’m thinking about starting a business to help out {insert appropriate group here, eg Dry Cleaners}. What would you say is the number 1 problem you face in your business right now.”
• Answers.Yahoo.com – Check out the top questions. They’re top because they’ve been voted up because lots of people want to know the answer. If its appropriate, write a short eBook (7-10 pages) that answers the question and charge $5 for it.
• Google – Go to the Google search bar and type in “How To” then scan the list of suggested search topics. Find one you like

This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list of way to generate business ideas, but it should get you started.

Knowing is not enough…

…success requires action. That’s something listeners to my podcast hear every day. The bottom line is you can continue to take the hand that’s dealt to you every time it comes around, or you can take control of your own circumstances. See, if you want different results, you have to do things differently. Take your future by the horns, define your vision of freedom, set goals that move you closer to that definition of freedom, then get to it!

What Are Your Plans

What are you planning to do with your new found free time? Share your thoughts and questions with us in the comments below.