Is It Time for Plan B?

There’s a new column in the New York Times Magazine written by Adam Davidson called “It’s the Economy.” In last week’s debut article, he explains why it’s actually not possible for the government to create jobs.

The article is clear and well-reasoned. It also contains a chilling quote that sums up the unemployment problem in the US, and why it’s so intractable.

Prepare to be Scared

Here it is: “…it is clear that far too many Americans don’t know how to do anything that the world is willing to pay them a living wage for.” Yikes.

He goes on to offer unemployed people advice about how to learn new things and move to places where there are jobs (the Dakotas, Wyoming).

A Missing Piece of Advice

He doesn’t tell people to consider starting their own businesses.

Maybe I’m crazy, but from my vantage point, if you’re unemployed and you have a skill that people would pay for (maybe just not the one(s) from your former job), that you could start a business providing that skill to people.

Create Your Own Job

There is an abundance of free help out there to start your own business. Some of the governmental agencies in the US who will help you for free are: SCORE and the Small Business Development Center.  Local community colleges offer cheap classes. You can read this blog. There is a lot of support.

I know it’s hard to start a business, and many of them do fail. But it seems painful and soul-killing to apply for jobs you keep not getting hired for, or perhaps worse, not being able to find anything to apply for at all.

Plan B

I’ve always wondered what makes people reluctant to start their own businesses. I’m sure it’s fear–the same thing that blocks me from taking action. What overcomes my fear is pain (this is sounding fun so far, right?). It’s true though–when the pain outweighs the fear, then I act.

I don’t wish the suffering of unemployment on anyone, but if that’s your situation, maybe you’d be willing to try something else. Like your own business.

What do you think? Comment below.

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