Reinvent Yourself

The economy has affected so many people but with building down the tradesmen are definitely feeling it. My husband is a carpenter, a framer by trade, has been unemployed for one year come April. Think of all of the carpenters, the drywallers, the plumbers, electricians, masons, concrete workers etc. These guys are having a hard time.

I noticed a trend though toward reinvention. The "handyman" is coming on strong out there. Quite a few have realized that service work is still available for many as homeowners decide to make repairs and do some remodeling. But is that enough? I would have to say no. There are too many tradesmen and not enough work to go around so more suggestions on reinvention are needed.

A bit of humility, swallowing the pride, may have to occur for some to make some money. But think long and hard guys, what can you do besides your trade? Is there some service you can offer to make money? Do you own a snowblower, or snow shovel? Can you get yourself out the door and offer to clean sidewalks in your neighborhood? So you have a fairly decent MVR? I hear that drivers are still needed for many companies. Can you do janitorial work? Have you applied with any of the "handyman" companies that are starting up? Is there another line of work you have wanted to learn but didn't have the time? Now is the time. Learn something new.

Is your wife working and now you are home with the kids? Do you do any of the housework? Maybe it's time for you to cook dinner and do the laundry. Are you willing to do that? I was doing some research for this article and found a little tid bit on stay at home mothers, but it could easily apply to stay at home dads. Here is a quote from a "Watching the World" article taken from the 2/06 Awake! magazine. If you have taken on the role of mom, then feel valuable as you now do all of the domestic work.

“Appreciate Your Mother”
Labor analysts estimate that if a Canadian stay-at-home mom with two school-aged children were paid for all the work she does, her annual salary, including overtime pay, would be $163,852 (Canadian). The figure is based on current market wages and a “100-hour workweek, consisting of six 15-hour days and one 10-hour day,” says the Vancouver Sun newspaper. Among the responsibilities of a stay-at-home mom are those of day-care worker, teacher, driver, housekeeper, cook, nurse, and general maintenance worker. The newspaper offers the following advice: “Appreciate your mother: She’s probably underpaid.”

Make the most of your time off. Do your honey do list (no money? See my article: Sprucing up the house). Go to the gym. Take on a hobby that won't break the bank. (More on hobbies later.) And no matter what don't let your self esteem go into the trash. It is not you, it is the economy.