| Mesa, AZ - With job cuts by major employers | | | | critical experience to their competitors. |
| exceeding more than half a million in the first six | | | | "On the other hand," continues Howey, "for the |
| months of this year, workers on all levels are feeling | | | | person who wants to escape the corporate rat race |
| the squeeze. "Its no longer business as usual," says | | | | and start a business of their own where they can |
| Martin Howey, CEO of TopLine Business Solutions, a | | | | use their experience consulting with other businesses, |
| Phoenix-based consultancy training firm. | | | | the time has never been better. Small and medium |
| "The days where an experienced or highly-trained, | | | | size businesses are struggling with the same issues as |
| highly-compensated executive can lose his or her job | | | | the big companies, but they cant cut jobs in order to |
| one day and land an equal or better job within a | | | | cope. Instead, smaller businesses have no choice but |
| reasonable time are rapidly vanishing, and its causing | | | | to turn their efforts to growing their businesses, |
| personal and family stress and financial concerns for a | | | | generating more revenue, and operating at their |
| valuable segment of the U.S. workforce. But forward | | | | optimal capacity and efficiency. |
| thinking executives are quickly turning these | | | | "Massive layoffs and cutbacks are rapidly filling the |
| negatives into better lifestyles, and in some cases, | | | | market with people who have the basic knowledge |
| small fortunes for themselves, their families, and their | | | | and skill of how to help struggling businesses, but |
| newfound clients." | | | | most lack effective marketing and implementation |
| Last month alone (June 2005), U.S. corporations | | | | systems. With the right tools and systems in the |
| announced plans to eliminate 110,996 jobs, and the | | | | right hands, high six-figure incomes working less than |
| numbers for July could be higher, making the outlook | | | | 30 hours a week are very doable." |
| for executive re-employment for the remaining | | | | Howey, a 38-year veteran of corporate consulting, |
| months of this year even more dismal. | | | | founded TopLine Business Solutions two years ago, |
| "On one hand, its a sad situation," said Howey, | | | | after creating a similar European-based organization |
| whose firm specializes in helping business executives | | | | and building it to a Certified Accountants Valuation of |
| become self-employed consultants. "Its sad that | | | | $12.4 million in only 6 months. TopLines more than |
| executives with so much valuable experience are | | | | 200 associates undergo a week-long intensive training |
| being displaced and their families and their financial | | | | program that includes client acquisition, identifying |
| futures are being negatively affected. Its an equally | | | | areas of opportunity, and creating and implementing |
| sad situation for American businesses who have | | | | corrective solutions and productivity systems. |
| come to depend on this experience to build their | | | | TopLines associates operate under a fee-based |
| successful enterprises, but are no longer in a position | | | | licensing arrangement and pay no ongoing support |
| to take advantage of it and may be losing that | | | | fees or royalties. |