50 Ways to Make Limoncello When You've Been Laid Off

"Even when you receive a kick in the ass you are moving forward" [Moises Marques]

The Lemonade Movement is inspiring indeed. We might make Limoncello, instead. In Italy, people are quite used to bootstrapping. Or else everyone would have reason to be quite depressed. Unemployment rate there at 8% in October - 2 million people without a job.

Thanks to Chris, I caught a glimpse at a clip you should watch. Watch it regardless of whether you were laid off or not. Then answer this question for me: do you know who you are? I don't mean your title, that means little here. I mean your craft, your skill, your love and strength.

Career vs. job thinking

Many make the mistake of looking to others to find the answers. As long as you do that, as long as you depend on others to define you, as long as you wait for the job to tell you who you are, you're not going to be free to become that person.

Many wait until the job is no longer there to start thinking about taking charge of their own career. Don't.

I have plenty of experience here. Having been part of two companies exit strategies and one start up that is no longer, I can tell you that even when you expect to transition out, it's not painless and easy -- without an action plan. None of the cliques works, either. What works is a plan for yourself -- a road map for your own learning and career.

What are some of the things you should do today to realign with your own purpose and work?

Idea generation for uncovering career opportunities

Starting your own business

1. Tac Anderson is giving away business plans, see if there's a spark there

2. Check out the small business administration site for programs and services

3. Read Reality Check and The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki (request them at the library)

4. Hook up with a company that helps market start ups, like Team and a Dream

5. Escape from Cubicle Nation if you think you're next, or want to make the move

6. Find a coworking community, or create one.

7. Discover how to really kick ass

Working on your promotional kit

8. Read up on LinkedIn, ask your savvy friends to give you a tour, and read Jason Alba's blog

9. Find a better way to show contract work on your resume

10. Write a professional biography to use for informational interviews

11. Customize and personalize cover letters and your resume

12. Brand your point of differentiation from other candidates

13. Get free business cards 

14. Create an online portfolio

15. Learn to be situational in presenting yourself. One single elevator speech won't do it anymore

16. Get business references. Identify those people who have worked with you and feel comfortable vouching for your results, and ask them to either be a referral or write a referral about you on LinkedIn, for example

Finding job openings

16. Look for online community and social media jobs at the Online Community Report, on Web Strategy's site, on the Jobs in Social Media and Social Media boards, with companies that get it, at the Community Guy's site, on Forum One Networks, at New Media Hire

17. Get advice from a social media headhunter

18. Use social media strategies to find a job

19. Meet recruiters on Twitter by following the list I created. If you're a recruiter, and would like to included on the list, leave your Twitter handle here and I'll add you

20. Ask yourself if you're the right public relations candidate. Check out job descriptions. Do you need a skill update?

21. Learn how to identify and avoid job scams

22. Work for free, if you can do it, in exchange for experience. Here's what Charlie Hoehn did

23. Go for project work that could become full time, or at last tie you over

24. Solicit and go to many informational interviews, but don't waste those people's time. Show up with a specific plan of action, or set of things you ask of them: 3 leads, one contact at company "xyz". Make it easy on them to say yes. Do all the work

25. Know that your best jobs are often through your network

Schmoozing

26. Be helpful, I really mean it. Become a reliable source of information on your industry, or specialty. This is kind of like blogging, as it positions you in people's mind as the "go to" for a certain topic

27. Join and participate in a community of like minded people, like Marketing 2.0, or a LinkedIn group

28. Attend events in your city. Getting out and face to face with people is important

29. Maximize event attendance, here are 5 tips

30. Turn to professional associations to help. Yes, you read correctly, build a resource for others in the process

31. Prepare, prepare, prepare. This warrants highlighting

32. Research companies in your area, or make a list of companies you aspire to work at. Then match that list with people in your network. Drive the process, and be specific (and limited) with your requests

33. Follow up diligently and with the same passion you would use in a project/work situation. If you're not enthusiastic about meeting people and working with them, even at a network level, they'll think you won't be in the job and not recommend you

34. Stay professional at all times. Never, ever, ever descend into negativity about anyone. That's bad PR

35. Don't sell. Networking is just like social media. People are quite resistant to a hard sale, especially if you're new to the scene

36. Do tell. Be concise, effective, memorable. This last one means you do more active listening than yapping

Freelancing while in search

37. Take 30 days to become a freelancer

38. Talk to your friends and neighbors about your availability

39. Look to agencies for projects. Can your expertise help them take an offering to the next level? Question to agency types - do you welcome this kind of collaboration? How would you suggest someone go about it?

40. Hook up with interesting assignments at companies. See networking for suggestions on how. Freelancing is a good way to test the waters on cultural fit

Take your career to the next level

41. Learn a new skill. For example, you could tuck into Web analytics and try a lot of the stuff on your own blog. I see Web analytics as a strong component of marketing jobs of the future

42. Have a strategy and set SMART goals - specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely

43. Borrow a page off Chris Guillebeau's book and conduct an annual review

44. Experience social networks and media by building participation into your plan

45. Apply for an unpaid internship (if you can) in an innovative company

46. Stay hungry for new experiences. This is more attitude and approach, but we know that they are essential

47. Go back to school, if *you* feel it will help you grow. Don't do it for the three letters, that's a whole lot of cash if you do it just for the piece of paper

48. Find a new vocation by volunteering for an organization that caters to that field

49. Innovate! Create a new way of doing something and build a process around it to market as you look for the next opportunity

50. Stay positive, find ways to be energized and keep asking bigger or better questions

***

Do you have more ideas and resources? Links I can pair with some of the points that have none? Share them in the comments.

© 2006-2009 Valeria Maltoni. All rights reserved.

Comments

[Joseph Fiore]

This is awesome stuff Valeria! I particularly like your use of the refreshment Limoncello to advance this refreshing and much needed discussion, its concepts, ideas and the overall need to whet our appetite to do greater good for ourselves and others.

Joseph
@RepuTrack

[John Spence]

Valeria -a wonderful post as always. Fifteen years ago when I was let go from a major consulting firm -- after the shock wore off – I realized it had simply accelerated the process of me going independent. At the time being a soloist was something of an anomaly. When I applied for a home loan a few years later, the banks did not even want to talk to me, they kept saying it was too risky to loan money to an independent consultant. My answer to them was that I represented much, much less risk than someone with a “regular” job. If you work for one employer and they decide to lay you off, you are unemployed. But as an independent I had nearly 2 dozen clients, if one client fired me I still had 23+ ways to bring in income. That seems eminently more secure to me, since my livelihood depends directly on my skills, creativity and dedication – and who will work harder for me…than me? I'm now entering my 16th year on my own and could not imagine working any other way.

About 11 years ago I had some down time without any major engagements and decided not to go after any for a while, a little like being unemployed, albeit by my own choice. I took four months off and spent half of every day at the gym and the other half of the day at the library. At the end of my self-imposed sabbatical I was 23 pounds lighter and had a ton of great ideas. I highly recommend this as one way to fill your time while pursuing new opportunities.

Lastly, in just the past few years I have finally began to see my work is much more of a craft and myself as a kind of artist. This has brought eminently more depth and meaning to the work I do and helps me feel like I am doing more than just making a living... I am making a life and making a difference.

Limoncello is actually quite delicious!

[Melani Ward]

Valeria,
This is a fabulously rich post - so many great resources and ideas. So many I had never thought of and didn't even know where to go to look. Thank you!

Melani

[Danny Brown]

Wow - nothing I can really add to this except this is awesome, bookmarking and sharing right now, Valeria.

Cheers!

[Bruce Christensen]

Valeria,
My day job is running a construction equipment manufacturing company.
I have had the gut-wrenching job of cutting staff on several occasions during the last couple of years. I am saddened every time this happens, and wish that I could do more for these great people.

Thank you for sharing this list. I will share it with each of our former employees, so that they can squeeze something good out of all of this.

[Nikki Stephan]

That video is very powerful and your suggestions for discovering career opportunities are invaluable! I know some people who could really benefit from your tips. Thanks for sharing!

[Joe Lima]

Valeria,
THANK YOU. A wonderful list indeed, full of amazing resources and ideas. I have a couple of bottles of Limoncello from Positano..might be time to put one in the freezer.

[Melissa]

Talk about a ton of resources and ideas! This is a great compilation for job seekers.

[Jamie Favreau]

Thank you for this post. I am one of those job seekers and I had to share this with a lot of people because in MI well it is really bad here. I am optimistic even if I have gotten off track as of late.

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Joseph - thank you. That is one of my favorite digestivi, especially the cream of Limoncello ;)

@John - what I like about you is that you didn't become a cynic, like many (def. a cynic is a passionate person who stopped trying), but made a plan. And look at you today! The concept of craft has resonated with me over the years. Craft is easier to put your arms around than "art" and it reminds me of the guilds, where skilled workers used to collaborate and learn from each other. Had to chuckle at the bank reference. Those who follow the "rules" without ever exercising critical thinking, will continue to be ill equipped to innovate into growth.

@Melani - the idea was to provide a starting point to built upon. So I'm glad you found it helpful.

@Danny - and sharing you have. Thank you!

@Bruce - funny how I didn't know that. I've known you as the marketer turned entrepreneur. I'm lucky, I never had to let anyone go for any reason.

@Nikki - thank you for helping spread the word.

@Joe - it's good policy to always have a handy bottle of vodka and Limoncello in the freezer and one of Champagne in the fridge - for emergency situations, you know. No idea how often you might feel the need to celebrate life, love and good friends ;)

@Jamie - that is the biggest danger, becoming unfocused. If you have time, do read today's post on focusing on problem solving - that is what companies desperately need. They don't need yet another person who can do a list of tasks, they need someone passionate about solving a problem. Have you thought of leading a support breakfast where you guys meet regularly and become accountable to each other of progress? That might help. Let me know how we can help in this community.

[Fred Groth]

Follow your dream and dream BIG. Last year my wife and I quite our professional jobs of 15 years, packed up the kids, and moved from Colorado to Sonoma CA to make Limoncello – legally. The process to start a new business (HelloCello) and doing something we loved revived us and provided a mid-life awakening. We are now producing the world’s first certified organic Limoncello from Sonoma wine country grapes. To take a dream and turn it into reality took a big leap of faith that most people questioned as crazy. But now Limoncello di Sonoma is a success and seeing it on the shelf and getting praises from top chefs and mixologist provides a feeling that was missing from previous jobs. Why wait until you are forced to make a career change. Check out our Limoncello story at www.hellosonoma.com

[Valeria Maltoni]

Fred,

I've always liked the drink, and only after I saw your comment, I thought some folks might think this was some sort of "affiliated" marketing post. It isn't, of course.

Thank you for coming in and sharing your story with us.

[Feed DDB India]

Hey! fantastic post...interesting concept of making lemonade when its dark and gloomy :)

we liked this post so much, we put it up on our blog http://is.gd/5mkoK

Thanks a lot :)