Comments on: Coping With an Uncertain Green Economy

By: Debbi

Debbi — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:49:39 +0000

Good advice – thank you for the reminder, it is SO easy to get sucked into the computer and to become isolated. When this happens it’s easy to forget what your real goal is…. Good luck to those starting their own businesses – I think that’s where the true recovery is going to come from.

By: Pascale

Pascale — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:24:45 +0000

Leon,

You have a knack for writing about what many of us feel and don’t always articulate. Thank you for this posting and thank you to responders for sharing. This long job search period is really isolating for many and can really wear down confidence levels. All the point you make are really valid but have to say that for me getting out and being physical is very helpful. Walking. running. biking and interacting with other people balances out the very self focused act of computer based job seeking.

Appreciate your work!

By: Leon Kaye

Leon Kaye — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:54:43 +0000

Another reply from a good friend & former colleague of mine:

Take advantage of “free” advice from life/business coaches. Many life and business coaches have articles and suggestions available on their sites to give potential clients a sense of what it would be like to work with them. Much of this material is incredibly helpful from exercises on determining areas of need and focus to articles and leadership and surviving a job loss or using social networking sites. It just takes a google search and who knows one day when you are successfully employed, you just might take advantage of their services.

By: Mikael

Mikael — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:56:47 +0000

Nice post Leon. Great insight! Hope all is well

By: Maraya Cornell

Maraya Cornell — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:21:02 +0000

Great article, Leon. Point #1, especially, applies also to us freelancers and independent contractors. We MUST shower and make the bed before we start the day!!

Let’s talk about pitching soon.

By: Lori Spagnolo

Lori Spagnolo — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:48:37 +0000

I agree these are tough times, and sympathize. And honestly, I think it’s always been somewhat rough being a “professional environmentalist,” having been one for about 20 years. There seems to be an unwritten rule somewhere,that if you make money at a green profession that you are somehow not a “true” environmentalist, and that the non-profit sector (emphasis on NON) is the most noble way to go. I say all this because after working in the traditional employment sector for many years, I now have my own business marketing for a green manufacturing company, which provides me with what I like to call a corporate paycheck with all of the money and none of the guilt. This may be a possible solution for some of you, and I can vouch for the legitimacy of the business and its potential. (We tend to team up with lots of moms, but that is by no means a requirement!) And just for the record, I have a master’s in marine policy and graduated (a long time ago) with degree in environmental policy. I have been fortunate to have worked in lots of places including a Congressional Office, a DC think tank, and several government agencies agencies and non-profits.
I would encourage you to check out the website, and hope I haven’t breached any posting protocol, but my interest is truly and simply in seeing other green professionals succeed.

Best of luck,
Lori

By: Paul Blagbrough

Paul Blagbrough — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:15:48 +0000

Hi Leon, I agree with your article and as we’ve often heard its worth remembering that there are now real opportunities to do what we find inspirational in life.

For me I gave up looking for a job and set up my own company, things are definitely not going easy, I have no clients yet, but I am definitely loving every day.

Good luck to all

Paul

By: Tracy Sassi

Tracy Sassi — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:41:21 +0000

Coming from a recent layoff and trying to “transition into a green-collar job” myself I find your article very uplifting. You can get lost in the sea of jobless websites and surf all day if you let yourself. I’ve found that getting outside is definitely a positive ray of sunshine even if it’s in my backyard for a picnic lunch. I’ve also reconnected with many of my old workmates that I haven’t spoken to in years. At this point in my career I want my job to mean more than a paycheck and if that means waiting for the right green job than I feel what better time than now.

By: Leon

Leon — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:02:30 +0000

Thank you, Anjali:

Let me respond to what a close friend wrote to me when I sent her a draft:

I totally agree w/the set a schedule/get out of house daily thing. I remember working out and going for long runs was something I regularly did when I was unemployed. Maybe the natural endorphins helped w/the stress. 2001 was also the year I trained and completed the marathon, which I had planned to do anyway, but I think it was also good in that it gave me a sense of achievement, when I wasn’t really feeling like I was accomplishing much when it came to landing a job.

I think keeping in touch w/friends is vital, though at times it’s hard b/c you fear all the questions of the job search, when you don’t really have any updates to share w/anyone. Or you can’t do all the normal entertainment things like dining out, movies, things that cost $ etc, and so low-key activities are preferable. It’s great when people understand, but sometimes they forget.

Networking, sending resume to everyone who can be of assistance or who will circulate it amongst their friends and colleagues was also helpful. Temping is also recommended, to keep up on skills and to also help w/the getting out on a daily schedule routine. I temped for about 4 months before my job at a private school finally came through.

By: Anjali

Anjali — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:29:27 +0000

What a great article. I especially like the “don’t work for free” point – it becomes a little hard sometimes to distinguish if what you are offering to do is possibly going to lead somewhere or will just take your time away from other, more productive pursuits.

Thanks, Leon! I think I’m going to print this and put it up on my wall.