My job prospect is getting more dismal as the day goes by. I am getting extremely pessimistic about getting a "respectable job" in the next few months because of the dearth of opportunities and the deluge of bad economic news flow. While I am looking for a job, it is not something my heart is on because I know it is going to be a temporary gig; I do not think I have the aptitude or interest in moving up an organization and devoting my life to a company; I do not want to be a company man.
My heart is in doing something that I can build patiently over the course of my life. I like the idea of an investment firm that invests in something. What that something is, is the question. My experience thus far point to something related to stock and bond investment but I am not very enthusiastic about trading papers back and forth as the core of my business. I want to get involved with something tangible; of course I will do stocks-bonds trading on the side.
What I am interested in investing in small and medium size businesses, preferably with immigrant entrepreneurs. I want to work with real people who are trying to setup and grow their businesses. If I am successful, the personal satisfaction will be much greater. Moreover, I can transfer these skills to Nepal (private equity in Nepal) or be able to conduct Nepal-US business, which is my ultimate goal. While it sounds good and all, there are couple of problems with this idea. First, I do not have the track record to solicit money. So the only way to pursue this idea is get my hands dirty by owning and operating the business; that requires a very competent and trustworthy team made up of people with experience in operations, marketing and legal. Second, the US is in the midst of a prolonged recession and starting a business in such dire time does not sound attractive, but a counter-intuitive thinking suggest that it might be best time because businesses will be valued more conservatively. The key is to find businesses that can withstand a prolong downturn i.e. those involved in basic need industries; gasoline and groceries and may be dollar-store type businesses.
Another important consideration is my financial situation. I need to earn something this at least covers my living and health insurance. If it leaves extra to invest in other ventures so much the better. I will probably think about multiple income source initially because running a business may not provide enough. Those include taking part-time gig, running another simultaneously and also getting real estate license (this is particularly important if one my businesses is going to be real estate).
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Getting Anxious
I am starting to get quite anxious about my job prospects given that my 2-month anniversary is fast approaching. I have number reasons to be concerned. First, I have applied to number of jobs. All but one rejected me. The one that gave me a phone interview was perhaps the most suited to my experience. I thought I nailed the interview but I have not heard back from them - it's been more than a week. Granted that I was not too enthusiastic about this job given its location (Canada) but it would have boosted my confidence had there been a follow-up. Second, the number of jobs that are available are thinning and I guess that's part and parcel of job cuts that been announced daily by US corporations. Third, while I am willing to compromise on the job I am looking for I doubt that strategy will work given the available pool of labor. In this circumstance, I am sure employers will find the person with the exact set of experiences; if I were to try to be something I am not, I will likely not succeed because there will others who will be more suited to the job.
I have been sick for the past 10 days or so with flu (I am still sick with cough) and while in bed I did not think too much about job prospects but now I am getting better and I am starting to think; suddenly it dawn upon me that things are not as good as they. My paycheck will run out in a fortnight and my health insurance in 6 months; thereafter I have sign up for Cobra which is not the most financially wise way to pay for insurance.
Ideally, I would like to own an investment company that invests in small to medium size businesses in the US. But that requires capital. Capital can come from my own resources or from someone else. The former would have have been preferable but that's not my situation unless I win a huge lottery. The second option is the likely route but in order to make that possible, I need a good track record that I can sell to possible financiers. Working in the investment firm would be ideal but again I do not have the experience to get a job (it's chick-and-egg again). May be I can try to own/operate a small business and try to get experience from there and this is something I am seriously thinking about. My only concern is that given the recession, jumping into a business may not be the best idea.
While I am quite excited about owing an investment company, I am NOT excited about taking medium-paying dead-end jobs. I was terribly disappointed by my experience prior to my lay-off; true the salary and benefits were great and the work was interesting but my career stalled and made me terribly miserable; my self-confidence has eroded substantially. That's the reason why I do not miss my job although I sometime miss the pay-check.
Given the circumstance, I will have to push for a job but I have to be prepared for the alternative.
I have been sick for the past 10 days or so with flu (I am still sick with cough) and while in bed I did not think too much about job prospects but now I am getting better and I am starting to think; suddenly it dawn upon me that things are not as good as they. My paycheck will run out in a fortnight and my health insurance in 6 months; thereafter I have sign up for Cobra which is not the most financially wise way to pay for insurance.
Ideally, I would like to own an investment company that invests in small to medium size businesses in the US. But that requires capital. Capital can come from my own resources or from someone else. The former would have have been preferable but that's not my situation unless I win a huge lottery. The second option is the likely route but in order to make that possible, I need a good track record that I can sell to possible financiers. Working in the investment firm would be ideal but again I do not have the experience to get a job (it's chick-and-egg again). May be I can try to own/operate a small business and try to get experience from there and this is something I am seriously thinking about. My only concern is that given the recession, jumping into a business may not be the best idea.
While I am quite excited about owing an investment company, I am NOT excited about taking medium-paying dead-end jobs. I was terribly disappointed by my experience prior to my lay-off; true the salary and benefits were great and the work was interesting but my career stalled and made me terribly miserable; my self-confidence has eroded substantially. That's the reason why I do not miss my job although I sometime miss the pay-check.
Given the circumstance, I will have to push for a job but I have to be prepared for the alternative.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Day-Dreaming
It has been more than a month since I last posted my entry. Needless to say not much has ensued during the interim. I have half-heatedly searched for jobs; thus far gotten 1 interview but no follow-up, and few rejects. I became sick with flu last week and was bed-ridden for most of the time - this is the 1st occurrence in my memory. Before my illness, I had started to become quite undisciplined and more worryingly nonchalant about my job prospect.
While in bed last week, spent quite a lot of time day-dreaming. Usually such dreams entails me being a very successful investor with knack for knowing the dynamics of the market. With hindsight it is quite possible to have become a very successful investor and hence a filthy rich person if I had followed the cycle; worked at a start-up from 1996-99 then started a hedge-fund that shorted tech stocks during 2000-03 and longed real estate and industrial cyclicals from 2003-07 and shorted everything since then. I would used all those money to something tangible to Nepal.
While day-dreaming is a waste of time time it does have positive aspect besides being fun and enjoyable. It highlight the deepest desires in me. Based on my recent day-dreams, I do have very deep desire to do something in Nepal preferably in the economics/business sectors. Unfortunately, I do not have the capital necessary to make things happen; having $5-$10 million liquid would have made it possible for what wanted to do; live in Nepal comfortably while being able to afford to travel the world at a whim; oh well, what can you do.
The reason why I am not too excited about getting a job is because it does not fulfill my Nepal-centric goals. I will be toiling for 60+ hours a week, like past 5 years, and at the end of the day be satisfied with a salary and benefits; think life ought to be more than than that. I WANT TO BE AN INVESTOR IN NEPAL but before that I need capital and reputation to go along with it; being a salary man is not get me anywhere; besides I am hitting 40 soon; ouch.
I will incorporate a company (need to talk to a lawyer friend) that will partner with someone with operational experience to buy and grow a business. And that way I might get the experience needed to jump-start by business idea.
While in bed last week, spent quite a lot of time day-dreaming. Usually such dreams entails me being a very successful investor with knack for knowing the dynamics of the market. With hindsight it is quite possible to have become a very successful investor and hence a filthy rich person if I had followed the cycle; worked at a start-up from 1996-99 then started a hedge-fund that shorted tech stocks during 2000-03 and longed real estate and industrial cyclicals from 2003-07 and shorted everything since then. I would used all those money to something tangible to Nepal.
While day-dreaming is a waste of time time it does have positive aspect besides being fun and enjoyable. It highlight the deepest desires in me. Based on my recent day-dreams, I do have very deep desire to do something in Nepal preferably in the economics/business sectors. Unfortunately, I do not have the capital necessary to make things happen; having $5-$10 million liquid would have made it possible for what wanted to do; live in Nepal comfortably while being able to afford to travel the world at a whim; oh well, what can you do.
The reason why I am not too excited about getting a job is because it does not fulfill my Nepal-centric goals. I will be toiling for 60+ hours a week, like past 5 years, and at the end of the day be satisfied with a salary and benefits; think life ought to be more than than that. I WANT TO BE AN INVESTOR IN NEPAL but before that I need capital and reputation to go along with it; being a salary man is not get me anywhere; besides I am hitting 40 soon; ouch.
I will incorporate a company (need to talk to a lawyer friend) that will partner with someone with operational experience to buy and grow a business. And that way I might get the experience needed to jump-start by business idea.
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