Never work full time

[coollikeme]

I used to work full time at a Hilton hotel. I thought I was having a good day at work, but right around 2pm they call me into their office. They told me I was mean to a customer and fired me. I asked them who was I mean to. They never gave me an answer. A new company took over, They had all ready fired 5 other co-workers, so I guess I was next. Most of the people they fired were good workers. My wife and I were lucky we had a part time business going at the time, or we would have been in trouble. That will be the last time I ever work full time for some else again. I work part time now and work my business full time. Life has been so much better. With the exception of 19 hours a week, I control my life. The part-time job I have now is one that I actually like. But if I left the job tomorrow, it would not matter. I love that control. Most people think getting a job is secure but, it is not. Your job can let you go anytime, for no reason and that is that. I hope that if you continue to work for some one else, please make sure you have a back up plan and a emergency fund. Because, you never know what will happen. I am not trying to make you scared, just aware. Thanks for listening.
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[gberardi]

Being afraid is better than being unaware. Thanks for the information!

[John Wesley]

Power to the people!

[coollikeme]

Pfizer just lay-ed off thousands of workers, Just like that. So they can meet their bottom line with no care for their employees. Please make sure you have a back up plan. A 6 month emergency fund or stocks and bonds. Most people just get to comfortable, just trying to make you aware so you don't get traped. If you are living check to check your employer knows that, and they are in the driver seat and will take advantage. Especially if you just bought a house or car that is an employers dream. Your best protection is a part time business, of something you like to do. Good luck jobs can giveth and taketh away.

[investorblogger]

I like the current posting on this website http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...a-millionaire/ as I think that this makes a lot of sense.

I'm now able to work on the other side of the fence as an employer. I believe now that every employee should at least get the opportunity to try this once in their life. It really is an eye opener to how things are done on the other side of the fence.

I will tell you, though. Our small business benefits or suffers based on the commitment of our employees. In big corporations, both good and bad employees find getting noticed a challenge/reward. But in small business, such as mine, good employees can make the business, while bad employees really can destroy the business.

In either case, removing the element of fear is really a step towards freedom.

As an employer, I find it difficult to imagine going back to being employed. Tis true, though, I would make much more money working for someone else, I'd get statutory holidays, sick days, etc., and all the other benefits of being employed. But running my own business provides some thrills that I can't find working for someone else. I just hope that I can keep doing this.

Kenneth

[Andrew Brunelle]

That is the whole probelm with a job. Those bastards can fire you whenever they feel like it, even if you didn't do anything whatsoever. IT would probably be better not to have a job, which is what I am working towards, it is just going to take some intense soul searching to do what it is I need to do to never have a job, but I know I have the talents to do so. And if I don't, I can develop the skills necessary. So having complete control over your life (barring a massive earthquake/hurricane) is very beneficial to self-esteem and motivation. And that's all I have to say about that.

[RT Wolf]

I'm working two part-time jobs right now totalling up to around 20-30 hours a week (depending on whether they actually need me or not). The extra income is very nice to have, but the one thing I love is that I'm not stuck with one social group (don't get me wrong, I like the people I work with, but I'd be forced into a lower level of consciousness if I hang around them too much), as well as having a diversity of work. This also gives me enough time to work on my own projects and spend time iwth the people I care about.

That's a great story.

[icesar]

Hey coollikeme,

What's your part time job? I'm presently looking for a part time job myself so I can fully focus on building my business ( Kokua Web - A Network for Good ) the rest of the time. Since you mentioned that you liked it, I'm curious.

Thanks!

[coollikeme]

A fun job.

[Isis Kali]

I overhead some girls on the train talking about layoffs. Eeek! When you work full-time for someone, they know that they have you by the balls, and they'll take terrible advantage of that fact. Plus, your income is soooo insecure. I think people get themselves into so much financial trouble because of spending next week's check ahead of time.

My friend works FT at an office, and she makes about $55k. Now, she's always, ALWAYS spending her money like water and sweating over her money. The business is just her and her boss, and her check is drawn by direct deposit. What's so bad about this is that the banks screw things up, sometimes delaying her check by three or four days! Now, if she worked for herself, or had multiple incomes, this wouldn't happen. But, there she is...depending on someone else...and she's up ♥♥♥♥♥'s creek if things are late. That's how dependant she is.

I work for myself. I've held on to a good amount of money for a while and am trading my labor for lodging right now. I just moved into a yoooouge place, and I'm going to help renovate it. Now, I guess that I have a bit more freedom than she does (I'm not married, and I'm not saddled with a car note), but not having the supposed "benefits" of a regular check made me get awfully creative!

[Wanderer]

I quite agree self employment is more secure than full time work.

Another option would be to have say 4 part time 10hr per week jobs, this way you have multiple streams of income and are still secure, but can still work if your against your own business or mix it up so you run 2 of your own businesses (15 hrs per week), work 2 part time jobs (10 hours per week) and work on a blog (5 hrs per week). Still only 40 hours but a lot more variety to prevent boredom and enough self employment that eventually the jobs can be dropped and SE can be fulltime. Its less important to like part time jobs as your their less.

[dorothy hanna]

I work partime as a cashier at a grocery store. Very little money, no benefits what-so-ever. Not even breaks, but the little money comes in handy, now and then, and I like most of the people I work with, and the customers are nice.

As my own business, I have a herd of goats, and a ranch. I got into this about 6 years ago, and recently inhereted 1/3 of the ranch. I love this work. Right now is kidding season, and there are little baby goats everywhere.

This doesn't make a lot of money either, but it makes as much as my old job did. Forty hours a week, six days a week, locked behind a counter. This was my life for far too long, and yet I was no more secure finacially, and had no time to do anything of interest to me.
With ranching, it has it's ups and downs, but is always interesting, and seasonally things change. I have the river to fish in, and swim in. I hunt and eat fresh wild turkey, deer, squirral, rabbit, chicken.

My partime job takes up only 18-30hours of my week, 3-4 days a week.
After this year, I'll be completely debt-free, and I'll probably work for awhile longer just to sock some money aside, and then I'm letting go, completely, of working for someone else. It's been great.

[Liara Covert]

Other threads discuss the idea of how our feelings invite events, people and circumstances into our lives. Most of us have had different jobs. Each experience is a chance to learn about our strengths and wekanesses, likes and dislikes, if we choose to do so. I think learning can be a very good thing.

During work, some of us conclude we don't like other people to be in control of our professional future because we don't know if or when we'll get fired. This draws our attention to our views about fear and our desire to control (or give up control) of parts of our lives. Where people have confidence and get in touch with their feelings, discomfort makes people more apt to be honest with themselves and change their circumstances. Change can require some courage yet, it can also enable you to learn new things about yourself.

Some people like to run their own business. They control their hours and decide what schedules and sacrifices are necessary to make it work. This kind of life isn't for everyone. The money isn't always predictable and some people choose another view of security and stability. To figure out what kind of work you like, you often need to try different things. Through experience, you can figure out what you prefer, so long as you continue to find ways to pay the bills.

[coollikeme]

Chrysler laid off 13.000 workers. They are also closing down factory's in Newark and Delaware. Its mostly because management decisions that turned out to be awful, so who pays for it the average Joe. Sandisk another big company will fire 10 percent of its work force, just like that. You need to start a small, part time business to protect yourself. You need to find a way to protect yourself. Without depending on your government or a so called employer. That will let you go in a heart beat. I hope that the layoff employees help each other. Maybe combined there money and run there own business. It won't be easy but it is better then what has happen now. I hope the employees had an emergency fund. Every one should have at least a 6 month emergency fund that will help if you happen too get layoff or fired. If you don't please start thinking about getting one.

[Liara Covert]

Hi coollikeme,

Increasing numbers of large company layoffs may be a symptom of the evolution of a different kind of economy. Companies may initially think they should simply grow and grow, but size can bring its own problems especially when growth doesn't take into account changing market trends.

I've known company owners who have expanded to the point where overhead, superannuation and payroll not only cut into profits, expansion has also led to large debts they coculdn't recoup.

I agree with you its better if employees become more proactive and don't simply wait for events to unfold.

[investorblogger]

Larger companies and even smaller companies all too often overhire employees. Then when profits sag, it's the employees who get hurt. That is true.

On the other hand, things change, and industries come and go now much faster than ever. A company that can't face up to change is a company that will disappear QUICKLY. So their employees need to be able and willing to change to survive, that means they have to change *in* their job or change *their job*. There is no such thing as cradle-to-grave employment anymore, if there ever was.

I grew up in the 80's in the UK when it was a very turbulent time. Traditional industries were on the way out, but hundreds of thousands of workers refused to see the writing on the wall and change their practices, behaviors and ideas. They wanted the 'socialist' economy of the 70's to go on, despite the fact that it wasn't working.

The list of multi-hundred thousand worker companies that are now basically gone is enough to make you wonder:

• British Steel
• British Coal
• British Leyland

So, if a company has an employee who exemplifies that mindset, whenever that employee finds a change in their work and says: "Why do we have to change, the old way worked just fine?", an employer should consider carefully whether that employee is suitable to the future of that company's success not.

For the employee, this attitude will not enable them to find too much work in the future, as they will fall further and further behind.

Just my 2c.

__________________
InvestorBlogger — So Blogging, Tech, and Making Money Can Go Hand-in-Hand

[RT Wolf]

Originally Posted by coollikeme

Chrysler laid off 13.000 workers. They are also closing down factory's in Newark and Delaware. Its mostly because management decisions that turned out to be awful, so who pays for it the average Joe. Sandisk another big company will fire 10 percent of its work force, just like that. You need to start a small, part time business to protect yourself. You need to find a way to protect yourself. Without depending on your government or a so called employer. That will let you go in a heart beat. I hope that the layoff employees help each other. Maybe combined there money and run there own business. It won't be easy but it is better then what has happen now. I hope the employees had an emergency fund. Every one should have at least a 6 month emergency fund that will help if you happen too get layoff or fired. If you don't please start thinking about getting one.

I think employees should start a part-time business to find opportunity, not security.

However, I do agree with you about the emergency fund. It is only prudent.

[dmauder]

What does one do if they've basically come to the realization they just aren't cut out to run a business (like me)? I've tried SO many things over the years, and nothing ever works out because I don't stick with anything long enough. I also don't feel passionate about anything anymore either.

There are dozens of reasons why I don't stick with anything... Most notably, I'm either too lazy, I procrastinate, or I end up deciding I just don't want to deal with all the headaches and wearing of all the hats required to own/run a business.

Lately, I've started to ask myself if the whole entrepreneur thing is something I even want to continue pursuing. I seem to be more suited to just working a regular job in the IT field and living a comfortable simple life. The problem with that decision is -- I still have this desire burning in the back of my brain that says I don't want to work for someone else the rest of my life.

I guess the only way to NOT work for someone else, and still NOT run a business, is to invest every possible penny I can, retire early (around 48-50) and then live off my investments.

Any thoughts about that?

Dave

[Elenny]

Dave,

You can continue working your full time job, and continue experimenting as an entrepreneur on the side. Maybe someday the "aha" factor will click, and you will figure out how to make your business successful.

If you have the itch to be your own boss, don't give it up. It's never too late to make it big!

Update: I just went through your site. I like how you detailed your past failures for the world to see. Not to many people dare to admit how badly they have failed in the past. Keep your head up!

[Hoshino]

eeek!!!...speaking of which i feel like im gonna be fired pretty soon!...:|...yikes...i better start applying elsewhere...good thing is that my parents work too but...i wont be able to pay my expenses if i dont find something else.

[Thomas Jensen]

I really believe that sometimes you have to take on the attitude that it's you versus the world.

If you are worried about paying expenses, don't. Move to a cheaper part of the world. Live in a camper van or a trailer if you have to - whatever it takes to cut your overheads and get started. Don't worry what your family say. Don't worry what the opposite sex thinks.

After all, you know it will pay off in the end. Don't you?

If you don't make the break completely and have your own time all to yourself, it will get harder and harder to make that decision. You need to drop the shackles of (somebody else's) employment altogether and get out there and strut your stuff.

[A.K.Light]

Congrats on your independance! I hope to be there too in the not so distant future.

[savethebook]

I had a well-paying full-time job but spent each day pretty bored and was pretty down each night going to bed knowing that I had to get up the next day to do it over again. I finally had too much of it and took a big chance, accepting a lower paying, part-time job in a field I had no experience in. The first few months were really hard financially but I was happy going to sleep every night. Then a few weeks ago I got another part-time job that actually pays good and includes benefits. Things have a way of working out when you're doing what you know in your heart you should be doing.

It's absolutely, positively worth taking the chance if you are unhappy day after day.

[coollikeme]

To work themselves out. Savethebook things seem to be working them self's out for my wife and I. Now that I can work on the business more, it is starting to make a little money. My wife and I still work part time so we are not doing that bad. If I worked full time the business would take a longer time to make money. I would not of been home if I work full time. The day the stock market went down 400 points. Because, I was home, I was able to watch the market. So I figure the dollar might be weak. I then when to the forex market and made 700 dollars on the Yen vs US dollar. Which is more than 2 weeks pay at my old job. If you hate your job find what you like to do and try to make money off it. It is scary at first but change your lifestyle so you can pay for the basics. Don't expect to get rich right away, and I mean take your time, and things will work out.