There was a LOT in this article. Some great points and advice. A twinge of anger blended with frustration. Maybe even a bit of hurt. I relate to all of it - but (and there is always a but, right?) - there may be an intense, long, and painful transition period to go from corporate crap (with a paycheck) to the financial freedom and joy of freelancing. And I'm unsure if people are prepared for that ... at least for me, the transition has been neither fast nor easy.
I'm laughing at this as I know people that love playing office politics and kissing ass. I vowed to never kiss ass so this alone may explain why I don't get recommendations for upper level positions.
"I find it absolutely insane that right now it's easier to make money off crypto, the stock market and self-employment in that order than it is to land a full-time job."
Of course. My stock market teacher used to say that capital markets would take on a central role in the foreseeable future. There's a lot of money in the world. It's distributed unequally. You can get a chunk of it if you participate in capital markets. Investing skills will become important. Trading skills will become important.
I have a high-paid 9 to 5 but even I realize going to work five times a week is unusustainable. Those who don't invest get left behind.
Love this Tim, I am completely unemployable. Spent 18 years as an entrepreneur and apparently have zero employable skills. 2 years ago I contemplated getting a "real" job and applied to 135 postings which zero replies. Went on to build a successful business quite quickly after realizing the reason I wasn't employable was actually my super power.
Brilliant...this is a global Phenomenon...just said F...Off...to someone offering me a 9-5 with the audacity of an assessment where they wanted a 5 year strategic plan!!! Told them to ChatGPT and refrain from sending me any mails in the future!!!
I've felt unemployable since 2022 when I changed my job. Not that I'm complaining. I work less but earn more. It's that a looming layoff back then forced me to think out of the box. My response was: I must grow my capital in financial markets. Then I stumbled upon writing online. And the journey began.
That's for sure, Tim! After 50 job changes I got tired of turning myself into a pretzel to meet the "requirements' of my bosses. I went with my strengths, editing, proofreading and tutoring, and became a much happier self-employed camper. I do online course upgrades to keep my skills sharp and to prospect for new customers. I like being the one with "customers" that I can help directly. They also refer me to new clients, which is what being self-employed is all about.
No, Carol. I know self-employed people who hate that and dream about a 9-5 job as the embodiment of holy peace, transparency, and even safety. Also, the paperwork associated with self-employment is not smaller but simply different from that of a 9-5 job. Perhaps this is connected with the difference between the US and Europe (I live in Poland).
I am working as an IT-Consultant. It really stinks to see how big the difference is between my daily rate and the actual money I am getting. I also hate the current corporate culture - my boss thinks that she is my nutritionist. Unfortunately, I am afraid to get out of this arrangement and my area of expertise is boring as hell. Do you have any idea how to get out of it?
It's so much better being self-employed. You get to discover talents that lied dormant because of so many people telling you to rely on a "safety net". And you get to charge however you want based on your unique talent.
Hard relate albeit in a different way. I started off the in the commercial real estate world, before leaving it all behind to purse a career in the creative world. I've spent the past 10 years as an actor, writer, director and producer. But often faced similar obstacles you describe via institutional media companies with archaic commissioning systems. Last year I took time out to retrain as a breathwork and mindfulness coach focussing on working wih individuals with adhd, which I'm slowly trying to build as an online business. It's not easy, but I'm enjoying the challenge, learning new things and having a positive impact on others.
Hard relate - but in a different way. I'm a creative and have danced around as an actor, writer, director, producer and now breathwork and mindfulness coach. My last full time job was in 2011. I'm officially out the matrix and having spent years pitching ideas to broadcasters etc, I have finally come round to the conclusion that commissioning system is archaic and riddled with politics. So now I am attempting to build an online business. It's not easy, but I'm enjoying learning new things and seeing the impact my work is having on others
It seems as though this is by design, if "employability" is determined by the corporate behemoths. Not only is making money for yourself freeing enough to never want to go back to corporations, but I'm also fairly certain that corporations would NEVER take a chance on someone who'd possibly freelance on the side if they decided they *did* want to return to corporate life.
Thanks for writing this -- more people need to know that their livelihood need not be attached to a big business cutting them a check, if they choose for it not to be.
There was a LOT in this article. Some great points and advice. A twinge of anger blended with frustration. Maybe even a bit of hurt. I relate to all of it - but (and there is always a but, right?) - there may be an intense, long, and painful transition period to go from corporate crap (with a paycheck) to the financial freedom and joy of freelancing. And I'm unsure if people are prepared for that ... at least for me, the transition has been neither fast nor easy.
"Politics is a hell hole"
I'm laughing at this as I know people that love playing office politics and kissing ass. I vowed to never kiss ass so this alone may explain why I don't get recommendations for upper level positions.
"I find it absolutely insane that right now it's easier to make money off crypto, the stock market and self-employment in that order than it is to land a full-time job."
Of course. My stock market teacher used to say that capital markets would take on a central role in the foreseeable future. There's a lot of money in the world. It's distributed unequally. You can get a chunk of it if you participate in capital markets. Investing skills will become important. Trading skills will become important.
I have a high-paid 9 to 5 but even I realize going to work five times a week is unusustainable. Those who don't invest get left behind.
Love this Tim, I am completely unemployable. Spent 18 years as an entrepreneur and apparently have zero employable skills. 2 years ago I contemplated getting a "real" job and applied to 135 postings which zero replies. Went on to build a successful business quite quickly after realizing the reason I wasn't employable was actually my super power.
Brilliant...this is a global Phenomenon...just said F...Off...to someone offering me a 9-5 with the audacity of an assessment where they wanted a 5 year strategic plan!!! Told them to ChatGPT and refrain from sending me any mails in the future!!!
I've felt unemployable since 2022 when I changed my job. Not that I'm complaining. I work less but earn more. It's that a looming layoff back then forced me to think out of the box. My response was: I must grow my capital in financial markets. Then I stumbled upon writing online. And the journey began.
Always enjoy, you make me think in the abstract, seeing the box from both sides refreshing.
You go Tim
Barry Hicks, longtime old fart follower.
That's for sure, Tim! After 50 job changes I got tired of turning myself into a pretzel to meet the "requirements' of my bosses. I went with my strengths, editing, proofreading and tutoring, and became a much happier self-employed camper. I do online course upgrades to keep my skills sharp and to prospect for new customers. I like being the one with "customers" that I can help directly. They also refer me to new clients, which is what being self-employed is all about.
Some people really think of “unemployable” as a bad thing 🤣
Once you've tried self-employment and freelancing, you'll never go back to the 9-5 treadmill.
No, Carol. I know self-employed people who hate that and dream about a 9-5 job as the embodiment of holy peace, transparency, and even safety. Also, the paperwork associated with self-employment is not smaller but simply different from that of a 9-5 job. Perhaps this is connected with the difference between the US and Europe (I live in Poland).
Best wishes for you and happy freelancing!
Dame Amy, believe me, not "some people". Many people.
And I have not forgotten about "algorithms making our thinking black and white". But give a bit more time.
Best, JKiii
Can’t wait to hear your take. 😊
I am working as an IT-Consultant. It really stinks to see how big the difference is between my daily rate and the actual money I am getting. I also hate the current corporate culture - my boss thinks that she is my nutritionist. Unfortunately, I am afraid to get out of this arrangement and my area of expertise is boring as hell. Do you have any idea how to get out of it?
It's so much better being self-employed. You get to discover talents that lied dormant because of so many people telling you to rely on a "safety net". And you get to charge however you want based on your unique talent.
Hard relate albeit in a different way. I started off the in the commercial real estate world, before leaving it all behind to purse a career in the creative world. I've spent the past 10 years as an actor, writer, director and producer. But often faced similar obstacles you describe via institutional media companies with archaic commissioning systems. Last year I took time out to retrain as a breathwork and mindfulness coach focussing on working wih individuals with adhd, which I'm slowly trying to build as an online business. It's not easy, but I'm enjoying the challenge, learning new things and having a positive impact on others.
Hard relate - but in a different way. I'm a creative and have danced around as an actor, writer, director, producer and now breathwork and mindfulness coach. My last full time job was in 2011. I'm officially out the matrix and having spent years pitching ideas to broadcasters etc, I have finally come round to the conclusion that commissioning system is archaic and riddled with politics. So now I am attempting to build an online business. It's not easy, but I'm enjoying learning new things and seeing the impact my work is having on others
Life isn’t as good as you imagine it to be, nor is it as bad.
——A Life (written by Maupassant)
الحياة ليست جيدة كما تتخيلها، وليست سيئة كما تتخيلها.
It seems as though this is by design, if "employability" is determined by the corporate behemoths. Not only is making money for yourself freeing enough to never want to go back to corporations, but I'm also fairly certain that corporations would NEVER take a chance on someone who'd possibly freelance on the side if they decided they *did* want to return to corporate life.
Thanks for writing this -- more people need to know that their livelihood need not be attached to a big business cutting them a check, if they choose for it not to be.
okay, this made me realize how badly I want to be unemployable