By now, most of you know that Illinois Governor Blagojevich has been impeached. The vote in the Illinois Senate was unanimous. Many say it would have been political suicide to vote any other way. Mr. Blagojevich was arrested on December 9, 2008 by FBI agents for alleged corruption. Blagojevich said outside of his home after the verdict that he like many other Americans is now unemployed and he is mostly concerned about taking care of his wife and two daughters. What should former-Governor Blagojevich do now? What advantages might he have in trying to rebuild his career?
Unlike some unemployed individuals, Mr. Blagojevich had an idea that this may be coming. Hopefully, he has been planning and lining up something to provide income for him and his family. He will be stripped of his Governor's pension but still retains a pension from his days as a United States Congressman.
Former Governor Blagojevich should (like most unemployed people) remain calm, start planning and take immediate action. Mr. Blagojevich may be able to mine his network for those who are sympathetic towards him. They may not be able to publicly help him but may provide connections he needs. The advantages that Blagojevich has right now is name recognition on a national basis and the curiosity that people might have about him. He is an excellent speaker and well-educated. He could provide political commentary or write a book. The worst thing that you can do at a time like this is hide, brood or become extremely depressed. Mental health is a concern for all who lose their jobs. Mr. Blagojevich has another problem, however, that most people don't have who are unemployed. He must not only prepare for what he will do for income but also prepare to face the consequences of the criminal indictment.
Some advantages that Mr. Blagojevich has that other unemployed people might not have is the fact that for weeks he has been going through intense public scrutiny and unfavorable coverage. People have been backing away from him for a long time. So, he may be less surprised by rejection than others. In addition, he has been a long time politician. Politicians, athletes and entertainers usually face a higher level of scrutiny and a more competitive field that ordinary people. As a result, they are much more likely to engage in serious networking consistently and have more experience executing plans. Blagojevich was a masterful fundraiser and other disgraced politicians have landed on their feet. These include Marion Berry of Washington, D.C. who was able to create a lucrative living as a consultant. Being mayor of D.C. gave him a lot of knowledge of how things work. Dan Rostenkowski (former speaker of the United States House of Representatives) also was able to create a lucrative and somewhat lowkey career after prison.
Ordinary citizens don't have these hurdles to cross when facing unemployment. But, we can learn from these examples. Excellent communication is a must. You must be consistent and tenacious. Your situation isn't as bad as you think it is. Never, ever give up.
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