On Your Own: Discovering Your New Life and Career Beyond the Corporation

A complete survival guide for mid-career professionals now "on their own"

Your company is downsizing and you've been let go. Or maybe you've left your job to become an entrepreneur. Whether by fate or choice, you've left the corporate life behind and are now on your own. What's your next step? This indispensable reference explores what options are available to you, and tells you where— and how— to begin. On Your Own is packed with invaluable advice and practical ideas on everything from job search techniques to tips on becoming your own boss. In addition to helpful worksheets, actual case histories, and useful references, you'll find essential information on: Reinventing yourself as your own "personal enterprise": assessing your skills, finding and exploiting your strengths, making your passion part of your career plan Self-investing to build your personal value: committing yourself to ongoing education and training Ways to promote your personal enterprise: writing articles, lecturing, creating seminars, teaching courses, networking Conventional— and not so conventional— employment options: reemployment within your present company, working at home, care giving, working on contract The four routes to business ownership: buying a business, owning a franchise, starting a business, and forming a consulting practice