Reply #22: Here's a totally left field suggestion that might work ... [View All]

[HamdenRice]

Lately I've been thinking about this a lot in terms of my future -- a mid life course correction, in my case, but in your case thinking about a different road.

What about starting a progressive type business? You have an MBA -- put it to work! And your partner is a lawyer! Even if she can't practice here, she still has the skills, insight and knowledge of law in general. What a team you would make together!

The reason I have been thinking about this a lot is because of my favorite pub -- in Brooklyn, called Moes (yes, after the bar in the Simpson's). It is co-owned by a young African American woman about 25-30, and it has become one of the hottest (but down to earth, friendly type) bar in an up and coming neighborhood.

I've been going there from time to time after work for years. About a month ago, I was there and I asked the owner how she ended up opening a bar.

You'll never guess the answer!

She had been laid off from an office job in the media area. She had a friend who was an unemployed actress. And these two women felt they needed a little income to support free lance writing and acting. It was kind of a lark. It turns out to be a great place, incredibly lucrative. By now, it runs itself, and she comes in to check on things a few times a week. She basically supports a couple of artist, writers and other creative people as bar tenders, and a Mexican immigrant as a bar back.

During the 2004 election, she hosted fundraisers for Kerry and has lots of anti bush posters in the place.

It occurs to me that a lot of us who get credentials in the professions think that we have to work for someone else, that business is somehow exploitative and undignified -- but it isn't, if you do something positive and are not exploitative to your employees.

I'm not saying open a bar -- that's risky and takes a certain expertise. But what about consulting? Have you checked out this web site?

http://www.developmentex.com/oppsummary.jsp?action=search

Literally hundreds of international development consulting gigs -- but basically you have to be willing to go into a free lance business on your own.