After a bit of a drought, I recently got a call from a former CEO who just landed at a new startup and needs my help. I don’t know how long it’ll last, but consulting in a downturn being what it is, it’s all good … until the next time the phone rings.
That’s really the hard part for too many of us these days. Whether you’re looking for a job or in a struggling business that’s seen better days, sometimes it feels like you’re just waiting for the phone to ring. I know that’s not all you’re doing. You sell, market, network, have meetings, whatever. You stay busy. But you know what you’re waiting for, and as Tom Petty said, “The waiting is the hardest part,” although I’m not sure he was referring to business.
Look, I’ve been working for nearly 30 years. I’ve seen booms and busts, bubbles that burst, and recessions that seemed like they would never end. But they always do. Here are a few tips for surviving until then:
- Just as every bear market has up days, even in a recession there are good days from time to time. Use them to sustain you, fill up your tanks, so to speak. I’m not just talking about your business or financial tanks; I’m talking about your emotional tanks - that well of inner strength that enables you to persevere through tough times. It’s not bottomless, you know.
- Imagine your work-life as a marathon, not a sprint. With any luck, you’ll be around for a long time and the only thing I can guarantee is that you’ll have lots of ups and downs. Settle in for the long haul. Facing obstacles is part of work and business - if you don’t have them, you’re not working. Embrace challenge.
- Keep putting one foot in front of the other every day. Call a former boss or associate, meet somebody for lunch, explore a job opportunity, think about a new idea and bounce it off someone you trust. Keep networking - not just social networking, but old school.
- Pay attention to the little things: family, friends, pets, the garden, hobbies, whatever works. Take a day, from time to time, go to the park or somewhere to remind yourself there’s a beautiful world out there and you’re alive and in it. It’s called perspective and you need a dose of it every so often to stay positive.
- Take care of yourself. Exercise, sleep, and eat right. Really. And try not to drink too much. I know it’s hard, but try.
These are my tips, but you probably have a few of your own to sustain you until the phone rings.
