Professional Independence

Although the rate of unemployment continues to rise, Americans with “job security” are still not happy at work.

A recent survey by the Harris Group of North America finds that 76% of gainfully employed Americans do not see opportunities to get ahead and grow, furthermore, 78% say that their employer often fails to retain talent. These are real indicators of an unhappy workforce.

This can be attributed to a general unhappiness with our professional choices and a “grass is greener” perception of the working life. We often assume that people that work in professions other than ours live the good life. But the reality is that other fields of employment are also overgrown with the weeds of dissatisfaction.

I want to empower people to branch out and create their own work environments – to get started with self-employment and become entrepreneurs. I have been self-employed for the past 17 years and now is the best time to get out there and start a business.

It is time to get out from underneath other people’s dreams and aspirations. Stop the treadmill of using your talents to move forward the economic well being of someone else’s business or corporation.

That’s what I have been doing for the past 17 years and I’ve never looked back.

Happy Tuesday!

Now More Than Ever – Postponed Bliss

This is a tale of two people who took different paths in their lives. One worked his entire life in a career he did not like. In fact during the past 20 years, he stated numerous times that he was working towards retirement. He really wanted to be a teacher but being a lawyer provided him more financial stability. He put up with a daily grind that he had distain for because he was able to sock money away in his 401(k) and just count the hours, days, weeks and years until he could cash in the money earned with blood, sweat and tears.

He would then start to really live his life.

Then the 401(k) went down the tubes with the economic meltdown.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have another friend who has never felt like he worked a day in his life. Every time the field he was passionate about became boring or seemed like a grind he changed careers. He’s an entrepreneur and changed the nature of his small business each time he felt it was time for a new challenge.

He refused to wait until the future to “live his life”, so he lived each day to the fullest. He has always made a decent living and his enterprise still has saying power. He accomplished that without ever sacrificing a day in the present on the altar of the future.

I see so many people bitter over what they have lost. I hear so many of them lamenting the fact that they toiled for years and earned the right to retire. They sacrificed their present and worked toward the benefits of life after work. Unfortunately, things didn’t fall into place as hoped.

Not fair.

Nevertheless, this provides a profound message for those who want to heed it. Do not postpone your bliss because there is no guarantee beyond the present moment.

DO NOT BECOME A LAWYER IF TEACHING IS WHAT YOUR HEART SCREAMS FOR.

Both of these people have about the same amount of money now. Both are in their late to early 50’s and 60’s. One is living a life where the “best laid plans” failed him while the other lives each day like it is his last.

Happy Monday and seize the day my friends!