I've spent the last couple of days really focussing on what it is that I do and how I can turn those talents, skills or hobbies into revenue. So far I'm focussing on photography, my jewelry business and my network.

There are plenty of websites that allow you to upload your photo's and potentially derive income as people buy them. I've narrowed this down to a few sites and will spend this week reading their terms and conditions carefully before I go ahead. These require hosting costs - about US$10 per month and up plus a commission on all sales.

My jewelry business is getting closer, I've spoken with the bank and will open a merchant account which will allow me to take credit card payments. They give me a mobile card machine which I can take into people's homes and to markets etc. I've already invested in some of the jewelry so I have something to show people besides the catalogue. I think I will need to spend about another AU$2,000 to get that off the ground. I've placed the order, I'm just waiting on the stock to arrive.

My previous boss/Partner is looking at alternate homes for our consulting business and things are progressing there. One option there is that we work as subcontractors to which ever business wants to take us in. I'm excited about that.

I had lunch today with friends and told them I'd lost my job and was now looking for alternate ways to make money. They were supportive and provided some ideas and direction. I think there is some shame around being unemployed, but I figure I'm better of sharing my situation with my network because you never know when an opportunity may present itself.

I have a couple of meetings this week with the outplacement firm E&Y has hooked me up with. I'm looking forward to those meetings and the direction they will offer.

More to come...

Goodbye Ernst & Young

I figure there are a lot of people out there who have lost or may in the future lose their jobs. That happened to me last week and my last day was Friday March 13th - what a great last day at the office :-)

I was with Ernst & Young for just under two years. I was part of a small Sales & Marketing consulting group. While E&Y helps maximise earning through tax minimisation of the money you have made, we helped drive revenue up front through defined processes to support the Sales & Marketing teams.

Given the current economic crisis, they lost their courage and closed the unit - they went back to doing what they do best. I don't hold any grudges, they paid me out well and have been very professional about the whole thing. Working at Ernst & Young was a good thing.

But the purpose of this blog is to talk about what next. I thought I would use this blog to both capture my feelings and also the process of finding a new job. Looking at options and looking at different ways to make money. Legally!