Courtesy of Lazy Afternoon (via Flickr)

Much like you, when I hear people’s story of what they do to find decent work… it just upsets me that they can’t even “get in the door.”  Inspired by a recent business professional, I wanted to share a bit of his story that I thought would help.

As you’re probably aware, now more than ever a lot of people out there are ditching the ridiculous interview process and politics of just “trying to get into a good company with great benefits.”

However at the same time, it’s also getting more and more people involved in starting their own company (never a bad thing).

Although you hear that 1 in ____ businesses fail, I think it’s still something we all need to consider or at least have in the back of our minds (even if you’re working a job to finance your vision).

The reason I say that is we can’t always rely on a “regular job” to get the things we want out of life.  After all, we have things to do.  Bills to pay.  Places to go.  Debts to pay down… and it just might not be something that a “regular job” could provide (or even CARE about providing) for us.

Here is one individual (whom I’ve been getting to know a bit) for the past few months whose been dealing with this same thing.  Sick and tired of the lack of response he’s been getting in trying to get hired, he decided enough was enough – and started his own company.

Exchanging a few emails back and forth over the past few months as he’s been reading my book, I wanted to give you some insight into how a simple product of yours could make an extraordinary impact on ones life (something that you might not be able to do if you just decided to only set your sites on “finding a decent job”).

Like my friend, Chris… you can’t always make a difference if your constantly looking for jobs that may not even exist – so you might as well try and create your own (one that’s TRULY making a difference for individuals like us).

I know it’s not the end all be all way and there are still people who need to find employment in the short term to do whatever they have to do.  However, I thought it’s important to share how a product of yours might impact someone across the globe while possibly even looking or STILL working a regular job to finance your vision.

So lets go back a few months… prior to purchasing, “The Poet and the Billionaire.”  Where were you?

When I bought your book my business had been closed for 10 months, my relationship with my partner had broken down around the same time; I had significant debt (still do) with creditors demanding their money and had applied for hundreds of jobs. I had hit rock-bottom and was in the process of figuring out how I’d got to this situation and what the hell I was going to do to get out of it.

So if you don’t mind me asking… what prompted you to get a book like this?

Your description of how you looked at your situation and wondered how the hell you got there, how you’d basically had enough and wasn’t going to put up with it anymore.

It described perfectly how I felt because no-one else had knocked the nail on the head like you had… I’d gone through the real dregs of not even wanting to get out of bed in the morning, having woken up in the night with panic attacks and not knowing where to turn… I became an angry man.

I became angry because I was a talented guy but no employer was willing to give me a chance.  Because of this, I couldn’t treat my daughter to anything and basically felt that I didn’t deserve to go through what I was.

I can’t even imagine how hard that might of been as those are some grueling things to go through, Chris (especially having to support someone else). I know you had mentioned that you “were lost in a deep hole.”  How might this book helped you with figuring out who you really are and what you really wanted to do or be?

Your booked helped me with getting control back into my life. I’d been writing down how I was feeling, was keeping a diary and had started to write down ideas. I had always been very self aware and knew my strengths and weaknesses but your book was perfect timing for me (especially when your mentor talked about having a plan and writing it down).  This helped me to become a lot more focused.

It also helped me to bring my thoughts and ideas together and to start having a vision of my future. Your mentor talked of assessing your situation, asking yourself some tough questions, of having goals, being brave and making decisions. This was followed by the great advice on how to treat everything as a process and to take baby steps.

So let me ask you this… from where you were before we met, and where you are today… what changed?  Where are you now?

The words were like a shot in the arm; I felt a boost, I felt empowered, my positive nature and drive returned.  After reading it, I honestly knew that I was going to come out of this a better man than when I went in. I knew what I was good at and how I could help businesses, so I stopped applying for jobs on job boards that often didn’t exist (not to mention that most don’t even respond – often being rejected without even meeting you face to face).

That is when I took control and created my consultancy. Your book helped me to bring my strengths and ideas into focus and helped me to take those little “baby steps” – helping me to climb out of the rut I was in.

Now I have a young strategic business consultancy and paying clients. More importantly I have dreams that I know I’ll make happen.  I have drive.  I enjoy getting up in the morning. I’m breathing.  I’m smiling and laughing.

Not only that, I can take my daughter out for a meal and to the pictures without losing sleep over it. Sure I have debts and maybe not as much cash as I would like, but it’s all relative. A year ago I couldn’t buy a book without the angst of whether or not I could afford to buy it.

So how would you describe what you and your business does to help people now?

My consultancy helps businesses to realize their vision.

I help companies create a strategic plan that will drive their business towards this vision. I mainly focus on technology companies – having spent twenty years in the electronics industry.

I’ve been doing this kind of thing for many years in large and small companies and have used this experience and knowledge to create the services I offer. As-well-as helping UK companies I have international experience with and can therefore help USA technology start-ups gain a foothold in the UK and Europe.

So my point in all of this is to tell someone like you that you should never underestimate the power of an idea or a product you might have – no matter where you work, what you do, or how much money you may or may not be making.

In celebration of “The Poet and the Billionaire’s” two year anniversary I’m proud to say that most of it was written, designed, financed and published as I worked a “regular job” (or trying to FIND a “regular job”) to finance this vision.

The thing is, we don’t have to let that stop us from making an impact on someone’s life or doing the things we love doing.

My friend Chris can be reached here and I’m sure would be happy to help drive the vision of your company.  Otherwise, if you just want to say, “hey” you can shoot him an email here at chris@anchorageconsulting.co.uk.  Either way I’m sure he would be thrilled to hear from you.

If you or someone you know is experiencing something similar to Chris, you can certainly order a copy or two of “The Poet and the Billionaire” to possibly help with the situation you’re in.  Of course, not everyone will have the same outcome, but I still feel confident you will get something out of it (along with all the other products I have available on this site).

Special Note: This post is in celebration of “The Poet and the Billionaire’s” 2 year anniversary since it’s release in May of 2008. Signup here to get my free newsletter and other cool free unconventional stuff to UNnumb the workday.  However, if you feel more comfortable subscribing to the feed, you are welcome to do that instead.

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