There ARE other ways to create an income... you just have to see them!

When you are unemployed and looking for ways to create an income,
it's possible to get too focused on "looking for a *job*" rather than looking for *opportunities*. There *is* a difference.

A *job* (or, employment by an institution--whether it be for a small business, a company, or a government agency) isn't the *only* way to make a living.

Sometimes it helps to look in places and areas you originally had not considered. It helps to look at industries or institutions or fields unrelated to the industry, institution, or field you had worked with before. Or unrelated to what your degree is in. Maybe there was some activity you participated in during high school, college, or on the side that you really enjoyed. Is there a way you can convert that activity into a paying income source? Would people be willing to pay you directly for your services in this area? If so, maybe you can recreate yourself as owner and proprietor of a small small business to produce your income.

Between 2001 and 2004, some enterprising formerly employed folks caught my attention.

One, a recently laid-off Windows Graphic User Interface (GUI) software developer, started his own windows (the kind in houses and other buildings) cleaning business. From the news article in the local paper, it seemed he was happy with his new venture. He enjoyed his new freedom from the cubicle, and enjoyed being in more control of his destiny. And, he said he was making a decent income from his efforts.

Another entrepreneur (who also designs websites), started his own pet excrement pick-up business. With an amusing take on his newfound business, he has his phone number and company name and URL (http://www.doggydoodyduty.com) on his pickup truck. And also seems to be making a very nice profit. Although he still deals with excrement, at least it's not the bovine excrement he would most likely get at the office. And, it looks like his business is now expanding out of the local area and into other cities!

The third entrepreneur is my neighbor. He got laid off from his job as a facilities manager at a high-tech company about the same time I got laid off. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has extensive heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) experience. So, he bought a panel van, threw a ladder and rack on the roof, and after taking a contractor's class and getting licensed as a contractor, starting his own HVAC repair and installation business. For the first two years he was extremely busy... but happy that he wasn't stuck in a cubicle. He could now schedule service calls when he wanted to spend the time doing the work. When he needed to take a break, he just wouldn't schedule any work for that period. He and his wife took a bunch of nice week-long vacations to Reno and Vegas during these *scheduled* breaks. A lot more vacation than most of those working stiffs still tied to their cubicles could ever take. Then, his wife was laid off from her accounting job. So, he hired her to be his accountant. He had also dabbled and gotten extremely good with his hobby of photography. He had amassed an amazing array of photographic equipment with the newest features. His wife also enjoyed the hobby and also was an excellent photographer. So, in addition to their HVAC business, they started a wedding and senior picture photography business. This, too, has become an extremely profitable sideline now turned full-time business for them. Now, instead of fighting the traffic to commute over the hills to work every day, he rides his bike to the local Starbucks and enjoys a cup of coffee while watching the traffic. And he works when he wants to, and plays when he wants to. And vows that he will never go back to the cubicle.