The recession is both a global and a local thing. That is to say, it is happening to everyone out there, and it is happening to each one of us individually. While the economy as a whole be struggling to keep itself afloat in the recession, determined, smart individuals can do this relatively easily.
Technology is there to help.
Those of us who easily understand the latest, cutting edge technology will find it easier to
• Retain jobs,
• Run businesses profitably, and
• Find new ways to make money
Let’s find out how.
Retaining Your Job in a Cutthroat Market
Probably the best favor a sharp employee can do to herself is to become indispensable in the office.
You will always have a job if you can do this. Now, most people have a handicap when it comes to technology. Your boss may need a pamphlet formatted for publishing using InDesign software.
Your supervisor may need the taxes done using new accounting software. Your office may need a VPN system set up, or a dedicated server installed. Hey, your lumberjack company may need you to get the run of a new design of machinery.
If you are the guy that can quickly learn techie stuff, you are in luck – no employer will ever want to let you go. Nobody wants to hire outside help when there’s a maverick in-house. Make yourself indispensable and keep a smiling face when you are asked to do a bit more work than others. Remember, that extra work is the small price you pay to retain your job when the axe is falling right and left.
Running a Profitable Business
Whether you run a large automobile manufacturing plant or a basement business, it always helps to implement the latest technology. I would define technology as something that can do five people’s job for what it costs to pay two people. Get the latest technology, and you save on salaries and benefits you would have had to pay the manpower it replaced.
Take the example of sophisticated accounting software like Quicken. This single software can replace almost the entire accounts department of a company. In recessionary times, a trimmed down, lean workforce is the best way to run a business.
Technology Finds You New Ways to Make Money
If you are a fast learner of technology, you can quickly switch from business to business, or job to job, as the case may be. Especially in the online field, there’s a lot of variety in the kind of businesses you can get. Suppose you are a graphic designer – that means you know one kind of technology.
If you are very good, you can probably learn new things like animation, or web designing, or building useful software, whatever. But if you can be versatile like this, there’s no stopping you. You can do one thing, see an opportunity, do something else, and move on to newer things.
As you can see, there’s so many ways technology can help you bust out of recession at the individual level. It always pays to learn new technology.