Opportunity from Adversity

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from. -

- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross


Elizabeth Kubler-Ross was an extraordinary woman and a powerful voice in helping us to understand grief. In these turbulent times, we may feel a sense of loss even if we remain relatively untouched by the grim news of the economy and mounting layoffs. For those who are experiencing the unplanned loss of a job or devastating financial losses, the grieving process is the same as if we'd lost a loved one. But as in all grieving, there is ultimately hope. Life does go on. If you or someone you know has been laid off from work, it may be a blessing in disguise.  Or if you've survived the carnage but secretly wish you'd been pushed, this is your wakeup call too.  While you can still be thankful that you have the luxury of doing it at your own pace, don't rationalize your way into not taking action at all.

As Dr. Kubler-Ross says, there are no mistakes and we are meant to learn from all events in our lives. Take a hard look at your beliefs about work, and think about what you really want to do with your life. Get in touch with that "silence inside of you" and really listen to your heart.  It may be relieved to be out of that soul-crushing job.   Finally you'll hear its deepest desires!  We all know what we're truly meant to be doing, but most of us tune out that little voice with excuses and reasons why we should listen to others instead of ourselves.  But the little voice doesn't go away, and the universe conspires to make us listen.  Think of a sudden disruption in your life as a slap upside the head from God.  There are no coincidences.  Pay attention!
 
Rather than asking what you would do if money were no object (because that frequently results in fantasies of extended vacations and dilettante lifestyles), I prefer to ask 'what would you do if you knew you could not fail?' The answer to that question contains the key to what you really should be doing with your life. It's unlikely it involves returning to the company that just kicked you out. Make it your new "job" to move toward a new reality.  Listen to your heart and your soul and you won't be led astray. You'll no doubt look back on your layoff someday as the wakeup call you needed to get moving in the right direction.

Brilliant Business Idea of the Week
Etsy.com

Many thanks to my friend Charmaine for turning me on to this website, which is a brilliant business idea in many different ways. Craftspeople had no specific online marketplace in which to offer their creations for sale. As many of us know all too well, arts-oriented people are frequently not technology gurus, and it's daunting to set up your own website and try to make people aware of its existence. Craft fairs are time consuming and seasonal. What to do? Enter www.etsy.com, which makes it easy to offer handmade items for sale online, without all the technical gobbledegook, not to mention expense, of doing your own website. This business is an example of using not just one, but several places to look for income-producing ideas:  1) complaint or problem (craftspeople didn't have a central selling site); 2) niches and demographics (craftspeople; people who like to buy handmade items); 3) trends (a desire to buy from people, not corporations).  Take a look, and think about what problems you could solve, trends upon which you could build a business, or niches and demographics you could serve. 
Creativity breeds creativity!
 
 

Learn how to be an Opportunity Analyst with a Creative Career Consultation.  You'll learn how to identify opportunities and evaluate them in the context of your ideal life and will come away with ideas on how to create income from your passions and interests.  See www.inspiration4success.com or contact kate@inspiration4success.com for details

Posted by Kate Fessler at 02-03-2009
Categories: News and Inspiration
 

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