10 reasons you should never get a job

[eastcoastgirl]

Good article. I don’t agree with a lot of it, but it’s funny and there is some truth to it. Before I get down to it, I want to say that I will probably retire from my job next year. I’ve been looking at Steve’s site for about a week. Good stuff. I’m hoping it will help me figure out what I want to do when I retire. I will be free, I mean absolutely free, to do whatever I want for the first time in my life. WOW! It’s scaaary.

Now, here’s perspective from someone who has actually held a job, Steve.

First, my background. Graduated high school. Average student. No motivation or ambition. Would have been happy to let my mother support me for the rest of my life even though we didn’t get along. She, wisely, said, “No way.”

I got a job as a clerk-typist for the government. That was 36 years ago. I eventually got a college degree, partly paid for by the government. I am now fairly well-paid professional. I stuck with the old retirement system, which means that, when I retire, I will get an annuity. That’s in addition to the money I socked away in the government's savings plan (meaning that, while I was out having dinner, I was earning money).

Will I be rich? No. Will I be secure? Yes. Am I sorry I worked all those years for the government? Absolutely not. I am a public servant. I serve the public. I am proud of it.

1. Income for dummies. “Why is getting a job so dumb? Because you only get paid when you’re working.” First, not true. Second, I’m no dummy. When I take leave, I’m getting paid. However, when a self-employed plumber takes a few hours to go to the doctor, he is not getting paid.

2. Limited experience. “You might think it’s important to get a job to gain experience. A job only gives you experience at that job….” Not true. Here’s what I learned on the job: punctuality, the importance of meeting deadlines, dependability, good work ethics, how to manage people and projects, how to multi-task, excellent customer service skills, tact, how to work well with others, and excellent skills in my profession. I really can’t even name them all. My employer has paid for classes for me, and I got paid while I was attending those classes. In addition to all of that, I have had the privilege to work with world-renowned researchers in world-renowned research areas. The most important thing I learned was to care—to care about doing the best job I could do, to care about the people I work with, and to care about the public trust.

3. Lifelong domestication. You’ve got a point on this one.
4. Too many mouths to feed. Taxes. Not really true in my case. Yes, I pay taxes, but I don’t get taxed any more than you do.
5. Way too risky. Not true. It’s very hard to get fired from the government. I know because I’ve had to fire people.
6. Begging for money. Not true in my case.
7. An inbred social life. Not true. Although we are very much like family, we rarely socialize with one another--just like family.
8. Loss of freedom. True on this one.
10. Becoming a coward. Sometimes true. Depends on the people.

[munish]

............

[eastcoastgirl]

Here's a reason not to get a job. It suffocates creative thought. The rules and the institutionalized thinking of a large organization discourage creativity and risk taking.

I'm going to retire next year, so I would like to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life. I've been focusing on developing myself physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, etc. I've done some of that all my life, but the last couple of years have been a renewed effort. Recently, ran across Steve's Website. In my opinion, it's one of the best out there. I've been looking at a lot of them. One of the reasons I like it is that his advice is very practical.

I tried doing his "How to discover your life purpose in about 20 minutes." I failed. I got depressed. BUT I have snapped back, and I believe that part of my problem is that I have 36 years of institutional clutter to get rid of before I can even begin to think of my purpose in life. I have activities and projects that I plan to do when I retire, but a couple of projects for the rest of my life isn't going to cut it. I'm a healthy, active 54-year-old woman. I may live another 50 years (maybe not, but I could!). I want to figure out what I love. I want to live my life to the fullest that I possibly can. I want to be passionate about something.

How do I do that? Thanks.

[Ann]

Wow, you're so much further ahead than my mother. I wish she were like you

You act like you are in your 20s... Good luck!

[Baltar]

I think one of the problems people have with Steve's articles is that the articles aren't really meant as a "catch-all". In other words they're not right for everyone. BUT, I do think that in general what Steve says should resonate with a large portion of the visitors to his site.

All the reasons given in the 10 reasons you should never get a job article are correct if your top values match. I agree with all of them myself because my main value is Freedom, and Security is not even on the list of my top 10 values. In fact at this point I'd rather be dead than work as an employee. How's that for motivation?

[eastcoastgirl]

Thanks, Ann!

[genn]

I believe You do it.

[Kylark]

Eastcoastgirl, thank you for posting some of the reasons why getting a job is OK. I currently work for an employer, and it's nice to be reminded of some reasons why it's not ALL bad.

Best wishes on finding your passion. Just put the intention out there and be open and I'm sure it will develop.

[Alex Wu]

Some people, given their level of consciousness and preferences, will choose to be employees. Others will find self-employment better. Steve Pavlina gives people in the second boat a push in the direction that they were meant to go. People who are best suited as employees, or who like being employed, will of course still find adequate justification to stay that way.

[Steve Pavlina]

The reason I wrote that article in such a snarky style was to polarize people into deciding how they wanted to make a living. Personally I don't care whether people choose to be employees or otherwise... just that they make the choice consciously instead of having someone else decide for them (parents, society, etc).

That article still generates tons of feedback because it pushes people to form an opinion one way or another. It's also been very effective at giving dozens of fence sitters the final nudge they needed to start their own businesses. It generates a bit of ongoing negative feedback, but if it helps people take the plunge into going after their dreams, it's worth it.

[thadroe]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

It's also been very effective at giving dozens of fence sitters the final nudge they needed to start their own businesses. It generates a bit of ongoing negative feedback, but if it helps people take the plunge into going after their dreams, it's worth it.

Yeah, It definitely gave me the nudge I needed!... and I can't thank you enough for that...I haven't quit my job quite yet, but I've already let my employer know I will be quitting no later than June.

What's crazy is that after I let them know, they are giving me incredible flexibility to take time off and wind things down....so even though I'm still working for a short while, I'm enjoying much more freedom and am 10X happier. I'm using the transition period to pay off my debts so I never have to go back to work again!

[Steve Pavlina]

Congrats, Thadroe! Seeing people like you make conscious career changes is one of the most gratifying parts of running this website. I imagine you must be experiencing that wonderful blend of excitement and courage where everything in life seems more alive.

[thadroe]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I imagine you must be experiencing that wonderful blend of excitement and courage where everything in life seems more alive.

Exactly! I am more relaxed and happy than I have been in years. I also realize how much I have just been living in a state of fear and was merely waiting around for the future.

Thad

[eastcoastgirl]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

The reason I wrote that article in such a snarky style was to polarize people into deciding how they wanted to make a living. Personally I don't care whether people choose to be employees or otherwise... just that they make the choice consciously instead of having someone else decide for them (parents, society, etc).

That article still generates tons of feedback because it pushes people to form an opinion one way or another. It's also been very effective at giving dozens of fence sitters the final nudge they needed to start their own businesses. It generates a bit of ongoing negative feedback, but if it helps people take the plunge into going after their dreams, it's worth it.

Thanks, Steve. I agree. I realize that working for someone else is not for everyone. I admire people who strike out on their own. It takes guts, but it's the right choice for them.

My mother got the ball rolling by deciding for me, but then, apparently, I took over. For a long time, I didn't take any responsibility for what was happening to me. I thought it was just dumb luck. At some point, I had to acknowledge that I was making it happen with the choices I made and with hard work. I'm very grateful. Not everyone gets the chances I got. I started out as an extremely unmotivated, insecure, unhappy young woman. I could have easily ignored the opportunities that came to me (I mean, they were almost handed to me on a silver platter). I could have let fear paralyze me. Believe me, I was afraid. I had a few very good mentors, I was in the right places at the right time, and I seemed to have an ability to recognize when to take action. I know people, however, who stayed in dead-end jobs their whole lives, unhappy and bitter every minute of every day, but too afraid to take the risk of moving on. I encourage anyone who is faced with that situation to take the risk and start your own business. Or at least, find another job that makes you happy.

Thanks again. This is good stuff.

[Taking Action]

The point is, it is a CHOICE. Having been an employee for 30 years and now self employed, I see the value of both. However, the truth is that self employment is not for everyone. It requires a different mindset, different energy and different focus. Some people are psychologically attached to a paycheck and the transition from the work world to self employment is rarely successful. However, if the mindset of success is prevelent and there is no emotional attachment to a job, anyone person can be extremely successful on their own with the right vehicle and attitude. Let's face it, no one gets rich working for someone else. Millionaires are usually self made and that is done in the entrepreneurial world. Money is not everything but certainly is extraordinarily important.

[momentum]

Yikes this has plagued me for a while. I would appreciate thoughts on this if anyone has been in a similar situation

I'm in a senior position in a european corporation that pays well, gives me six weeks of vacation, provides private health insurance, reduced mortgage rates, yearly bonuses, benefits for my children, and frankly the job is pretty easy at this point. Plus, it's very difficult to be released from my contract.

What's my problem?

I have this entrerpenuerial/freedom mindset. (I'm American by the way). My corporate career is zapping me creatively.

I have a steady side business that has been growing steadily the last three years. It's driving me nuts staying in corporate life because I'm probably two years away from making the same or more from my side business. I don't want to work for anyone anymore.

I'm getting impatient, and want to move more quickly, but there's a mortgage and family to tend to.

[Dave Navarro]

Originally Posted by momentum

I'm getting impatient, and want to move more quickly, but there's a mortgage and family to tend to.

So ... what's "holding you back" from moving more quickly?

I'll bet you there's some things you can do to accelerate that won't put the mortgage and family at risk.

Let us know what's "preventing" you from moving more quickly and we'll see what we can advise to help you out ...

Rock on,

Dave Navarro

[momentum]

Hi Dave,

Call me crazy - but i'm shooting for a cash reserve of 100k + this year. That would help set things up. I am currently servicing all the clients I can handle, but I would need to go closer to full time to generate the income i need.

I'm working on product creation, but it also slow going and takes time away from client work.

Essentially, I'm too busy working in my business rather than on it!

I realize this. I know I am the main constraint, but clients are knocking on the door and they want to deal with me, so it's difficult to have them all deal with my assiociates....

Thanks
mo

[Kylark]

Momentum - why not go full-time with your business? It sounds like the demand is there and it's just waiting for you to commit to it.

I think you know what the right thing to do is and you're just looking for that final push.

Best wishes for success in your business!

[CreativeSpace]

I read Steve's article and it really made me think!

Working does give me a sense of positivity like increasing self-esteem and taking on responsibility (I look after autistic and Asperger clients which is demanding challenging work) but I have always had that "feeling" in the back of my mind that makes me think I am going in the wrong direction. Security or the idea of security is a intoxicating thing and part of me is quite happy to tread that eternal treadmill so I be secure but after reading the article I did think to myself am I really secure?????? Isn't it the case that security should bring happiness????? I don't think I am happy!!!! One minute I am singing my job's praises saying how great it is and then the next I see it as boring, uncreative, bland and "going nowhere". Irony is one of my favourite words! HAHAHAHA!

The real me, the one that I can indulge the Law Of Attraction with is being an artist. I am my happiest when I create which can be a painting or a sculpture or even a poem. It is a world away from autistic clients and structure and regime. Being creative is about being spontaneous, being alive, being reflective and sharing that with other fellow creative people. But the idea of living without a secure sense of self seems to push me into a mild panic and strangely I feel guilty for not doing the "right thing"!!!

And yes Steve I have listened to the Podcast on fear!

Being creative is maybe accepting that sometimes you will get knock backs, that sometimes you will make mistakes but then that's the joy of it. You become alive with the process instead of becoming a compliant machine.

[MWT]

Originally Posted by Baltar

I think one of the problems people have with Steve's articles is that the articles aren't really meant as a "catch-all". In other words they're not right for everyone. BUT, I do think that in general what Steve says should resonate with a large portion of the visitors to his site.

Wow. I'm really glad I've never had anything to do with corporate cubicleland.

You might want to consider that there are a lot of jobs out there that don't involve cubicles. I have two of them. I'm happy in both, and they are both very rewarding. In general, I don't relate to that article at all.

[eternomi]

I don't see anything wrong with having a job so long as you are doing it consciously. There are certain things that are harder to do on your own. Blogging and speaking can be done at home without much investment. On the other hand, if your desire is to work on cutting edge technology (particle accelerator in the basement anyone?), it might actually be easier to do it working for a company making use of their resources. In fact, it might be smarter to work for one to get experience, and then try doing it on your own. Not all companies are evil either.

[Isis Kali]

This is my favorite article. It threatens a lot of people, but it makes them think. People are too danged complacent these days.