Welcome to the brave new world we live in. This tumultuous period in history is dramatically different from those simpler times that our parents faced. The rules have changed, and we can no longer rely on the things (like a job for life, or satisfaction from a conventional career) that people have long taken for granted.
The days are over when people made their job at a single company into their life's work. Even jobs in civil service and with a union, both long-time sources of safety and stability for the middle class, are not so safe and stable anymore. Unions have lost much of their power, and cash-starved cities and states are laying their civil servants off. We are pretty much on our own in this cold, cruel world, and our only options are to sink or swim.
So why not swim in an ocean of our own making? Why not do something that we enjoy? It is said that eight out of ten people do not enjoy getting up in the morning and going to work. The plain and simple truth is that most people hate their jobs. Their work is a means to an end, and it is increasingly the case that the end in question is simply to survive—enjoying a comfortable, fulfilled life is a goal too distant for many people's reach. We work to put food on the table, keep a roof over our heads, and provide for our near and dear ones. Too many of us merely exist, leading lives of quiet desperation. This doesn't have to be the case. You have your destiny in your hands. Reclaim it today.
There is precious little loyalty in the business world these days. No matter what job you have, you are already basically working for yourself. And since you are working for yourself, you might as well have some fun along the way. You can do work that you love, have plenty of leisure time, and still be able to plan for the future. You can tell “the Man” to “Take this job and shove it,” and then go off to greener pastures.
In this book, you'll find an introduction to a wide variety of alternative and creative careers. You will find the information and inspiration you need to follow your bliss and do the kind of work you love. You will discover many things to think about, and you'll be directed to the resources that will help turn your dreams into reality.
This is a book for people who want to shed the shackles of the nine-to-five grind. Even the phrase “nine to five” is now a relic from a more innocent age. Very few white-collar jobs still feature eight-hour days with an hour for lunch. Those workers who do want to go home at a reasonable hour are not regarded as team players, and they are often left behind when it is time for raises and promotions. The business world wants your blood, sweat, toil, and tears—and it no longer offers much in return.
The Everything® Alternative Careers Book will guide you in finding a career that you will find personally satisfying. The goal here is not necessarily to lure you with promises of a new, exciting career that will make you millions. This is a book for people whose first priority is the search for a higher quality of life—not the number of zeroes on their bank balance.
You can make a nice living, find personal and professional fulfillment, and plan for your future. Many folks spend their time struggling to plan for a distant retirement. This book will show you how to live in the here and now, all the while enjoying each present, wonderful moment.
Life's too short to let your dreams wait until tomorrow, or the day after. The time to take control of your life and your career is right now.