Having a job, could you call that a habit? Maybe, maybe not. But, it would certainly be true that working on a job leads to habits in your life. Would you say that having a job is a good habit or a bad habit.
Well, for sure it would be a good habit, right? I mean working keeps us active and busy, it keeps us thinking. It keeps money in our pocket, and food on our table. It’s got to be a good thing to have a job.
Think again.
I would say that having a job is a bad habit and creates more bad habits in our lives. For one thing, having a job, working for somebody else stifles our creativity. It boxes us in to a defined role and does not give us much chance to move our thinking outside the box, something which is very important.
I also feel that having a job limits us and limits our potential. Working for yourself, even in a very undefined way gives us so much space for creativity. It gives us the freedom we need to reach our potential. It is empowering to us. All in all, not having a job, and working for ourselves is the best way to go, in my opinion.
Reach for your full potential
What about money?
We all need money to live, I cannot dispute that. What I do know, though, is that I have been self employed with no real defined job, for about 20 years now. I have never made more money than I have during my time of self-employment. When I had a job, I was limited to the salary that I was paid. I was at the mercy of my employer. If I needed to make more money, I had to convince my boss to pay me more. As a person who is self employed, I get to decide how much money I will make. I get to set my prices for whatever service I am offering. I get to decide if I will work more hours, thus earning more money, or if I will rest more and spend time with my family. It’s all up to me to decide.
Some people need a job
Don’t take me wrong. Even though I feel that life without a job is the real way to go to empower yourself, it is not for everybody. Some people need that structure that comes from working for somebody else. Some people don’t have the self-discipline to make a go of self-employment. I can’t argue with that. But, for somebody who has the get-up-and-go that is necessary, I think there is no better path in life than self-employment.
Some people just can’t understand where the money would come from if they didn’t have a job. Believe me, friends, when you strike out on your own, the money will find you. You will find creative ways to make money. You will reach much higher than you ever did when you had a “real job.” It will work. The money will come. You’ll be OK. Of course you need to develop a plan and put your plan into action, but you can do it.
So, if you are down on your luck, out of work, don’t despair. You may have just gained the freedom you needed to reach your full potential, or at least come a lot closer to that potential than you ever have. I know, I did it.
You can too.
Works for me, I have only had one proper job (on a salary) in 30 years and really I am not suited to having authority breathing down my neck.
I do best as a free agent and Cheers BOB , I am just going to puddle about with my many online “wheeling an’ dealing” and looking forward to spending a few years “smelling the roses” in Gensan with my lovely wife, Pauline and her two beautiful children. I think having an active interest is GOOD but having to learn Bad habits under the guise of going to work is real BAD…but everyone to his own!
Good luck, Kermit!
Bob,
You’re right. Not everybody is suited to self-employment. I’m one of those odd ducks who can swing both ways. I was strictly self-employed for over 5 years with my online business until the economy imploded and, with all the debt I had stupidly incurred, the business simply could not sustain me anymore.
So, I went back to my old job and it felt like going back home to live in your parents’ basement. I forgot about the subservience needed to function as a rank and file employee and the constant, low grade fear of pissing off the wrong person and losing my job.
You are absolutely correct, Bob. You do reap the benefits of your efforts when you have your own business and how much you make is up to you. The other beautiful thing is that there’s a real sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from owning your own business that you just can’t get from working for someone else.
Steve
Hi Steve – Thanks for stopping by here and commenting! Nice to hear from you.
You are certainly right, not everybody is suited for self-employment. I feel that smart people, though, are cut out for it. It takes getting used to, but once you get your head around it and become used to it.. well, it’s hard to go back to being employed by somebody else, as you pointed out.