Photo by Jon Sullivan

Remember in Apollo 13 when they ran out of fuel and had to use the gravity of the moon to slingshot themselves back toward earth? As a country, we are now on the far side of the moon.

What I mean is this: Economists say we’re just starting to pull out of this historic recession. So, before the chance slips away, how are you positioning yourself to succeed on the other side of it? I’m hearing stories all the time now of someone using this difficult time to change their life’s trajectory, and I’m so excited to see new ideas and ways of doing business slingshot out into the recovery. It’s about time for a new way of doing media, in particular, don’t you think?

I’m no career expert, but I like to see specific suggestions when I read a post like this, so I’ll try to give you a few to work with. Here are some ways you might position yourself for the growth of your career or business in the next few months:

– READY: If you’re ready for a change in your career, think first about not just what you really want to do, but what your lifestyle will look like. If you have been thinking about becoming a freelance writer, would you like to stay at home or travel? Do you want to teach people to write in a group setting, or would you rather tutor? You have a unique opportunity to change courses right now without people questioning the break on your resume, so if you can afford it, go for whatever you really want!

– AIM: Now that you’ve got a target, research the heck out of it. Start with Google, but then branch out. If you’re looking for more magazines to write for, look up people that are well-connected with your target clients/employers on LinkedIn and Twitter lists, and follow/friend them. Then listen to them. Follow the rabbit trail of your targets online, learning what blogs they follow via Google Friend Connect and what they read on Delicious (I just discovered the usefulness of this myself! I know, I know. My husband says I’m five years late to the party, lol). What do they blog about? If they only blog for work (meaning they might be assigned to a particular topic), what is their perspective and what issues do they harp on within the context of their chosen/assigned subject matter? This takes some time, but it will be worth it to get to know the person you want to talk to. What if you discover that the entrepreneur you thought you wanted to work with is a maniac who has left a wake of angry colleagues and employees behind him? Respect your instinct if a person’s online persona is surrounded by controversy, and move on to a new target if need be.

– FIRE: Now you’re prepared. Network in new places: Twitter chats, mentoring groups, industry-specific networking lunches, or even cold-calling people are great ways to make connections if you’re prepared and really have something to talk about. I hate networking when I’m doing it in desperation for a new job, and I suspect the people I clung to when I used to do this hated it, too. I have a unique opportunity as a WAHM to network for the fun of it, the way it’s supposed to be done. Because I have the luxury of meeting people without immediately needing something from them (you may too, since we’re still on the far side of the moon), I’m not only more relaxed and enjoying myself more, but I’m also finding that people are more willing to talk to me when I ask.

– SLINGSHOT: Your positioning and hard work will carry you to success as the economy thaws. Have fun, and if you’re working on a new project that you’re excited about, please leave me a comment or msg me on Twitter. I’d love to hear about it!

What do you think? I hope this was helpful. Do you have more ideas to share on this topic? Please leave me a comment. Thanks for reading!