One of the biggest problems (as I see it anyway) in today’s job market is that employers have the upper hand when it comes to supply and demand – and they know this. There are still too many people chasing too few jobs.
Sure, there is an abundant supply of minimum wage positions, but I’m talking about real jobs – jobs that can actually support families. And really, there wouldn’t even be minimum wage jobs if the supply and demand shifted a little more in favor of the employee. (more…)
Looking for a job these days is demeaning. Not that I’ve gotten to that point yet, but I have had my eyes and ears open – more out of curiosity than anything. Hopefully, I’ll never have to head down that path again – it would literally suck the life from me.
Browsing through a few of the job websites, I am noticing a very alarming trend. Most of the positions available these days are through a third party, or employment agency. Obviously, companies have evolved to the point where this is the favorable business model – no benefits, pension, or long term commitment, equals maximum profit for the shareholders. What has happened to the labor market in the last 20 years? (more…)
The solution to my problem is so simple; I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before.
All the high-wage jobs are in the city – that’s a fact. As a result, the cost of living is sky high also. Because the corporate workers are not willing to settle for less, they accept their situation (high living expenses and excessive commuting).
I’m sure that many would love to live and work outside of the city, but the only jobs available are minimum wage. Again, wages are matched to a geographical location.
Therefore, they opt for the suburbs - halfway between the cheap real estate, low wage rural area, and the expensive real estate, high wage urban area. This is a sweet spot for people because here they are still within a reasonable commute to their jobs in the city.
There are a few that have tried to have the best of both worlds with a place in the country and a job in the city, but not everyone is up to a 3 hour commute. One way or the other, they must pay the price.
I’ve given serious thought to this and have concluded that the only way to truly be free of the shackles of the rat-race is to have an income that is location independent - In other words, an income that does not require that you be somewhere in particular.
Let me give you an example:
In my previous career, I was required to show up for work every morning in the heart of the downtown core at 8:30. If I didn’t show up, I didn’t get paid. So the downside was that, even though it was considered a good job, it could only be performed at that location. My job was location dependant.
The only alternative in the past would have been to lower my living standards, move to the country, and get an $8/hr job.
Lowering my standard of living in the past was unthinkable - but what about now? Could I actually get a job at a local hardware store or stock shelves at the town grocery store? Yes, I think I could, however, these jobs are like gold in the rural areas of Ontario. Most of the locals have got these sewn up for life - They where born and raised there and have no interest in moving anywhere else.
The only way to move to “Small-town Ontario” and keep a roof over my head would be to have a source of income that did not depend on a specific location at all. One that did not require that I be in the city and one that would allow me to live in the inexpensive areas of the province without relying on one of the scarce, local jobs.
So that’s it: I need a source of income that is location independent.
My lunch with Dave brought up some sobering questions. While discussing my plans for the future, he seemed determined to play the devil’s advocate. It seemed that every idea I put across to him was shot full of holes. Now, I had to keep in mind that I was talking to someone who had a background in that area. His education and business experience was centered upon sales and marketing. (more…)
Self-sufficiency means different things to different people. My own definition goes something like this:
“I want to balance my basic living expenses (food, rent, etc…) and my income without the need to hold down a traditional job.”
Now, where we get into different shades of gray is the definition of expenses. Many of my former friends would scream bloody murder at the thought of giving up their “essentials.” To them, self-sufficiency means having enough money to keep the big house, 2 cars, and blah, blah, blah… (more…)
So the way I see it, there are three paths available to me at the present time. These are:
1. The wage-slave path
2. The “do nothing” path
3. The self-employed path
Number 1 is out because, as I mentioned, there is no way I will go back to the spirit-crushing world of the wage-slave. I will do whatever it takes to avoid that.
Number 2 is also out because that is just not me. I need to have a little stability. I, at least, need to know where my next meal is coming from and where I’ll be hanging my hat for the night. I suppose I could stay with friends and family, but I need my independence and self-respect – that is very important to me.
So, that leaves me with option 3. Ideally, I would like to find something that would, at least, support my meager requirements. I don’t need much, and I don’t want much – just enough to survive independently.
It would be naïve of me to think that this is the easiest path – it certainly is not. However, it seems to be the key to providing me with everything I need. And what I really need now is a source of income that is entirely location independent.
I sat down with a pen a paper yesterday and really did some brainstorming. Yeah, I know it sounds kind of strange, but I have always been a “list” kind of person. This is my way of organizing my thoughts. And let me tell you, my thoughts have been all over the place in the last week or so. Once I wrote everything down, it seemed more organized and less daunting. Lately, I’ve experienced a lot of anxiety with feeling the need to be doing something…anything. (more…)
Even though it’s been months since I turned my back on the rat-race, I still feel lost. Not to be confused with the sense of loss I felt after I actually quit that horrible job. No, this is more of an existential thing. It’s not one thing in particular, it’s everything.
I’ve had 8 months to try to find myself, and I still don’t have a clue. I feel like I’m spinning my wheels and not really accomplishing anything.
I am ok financially, for now, yet I feel as though I am still in a race against time – that I should be doing something more productive – that I should be out there gathering acorns for the winter – that I should be doing something that contributes toward society and gives me a sense of purpose.
I don’t know if I’ll ever shake that feeling completely.
In the meantime, I really, really need to do some soul-searching and serious thinking. I need an inspiration.
I hate to say it, but our system is set up so that people almost have no option but to “sell out to the man.” One way or another, we need money to survive. If this were a hundred years ago, and I had a chance to work a plot of land, then I’d be doing just that - but those days are long gone. Our population can’t be fed without the use of highly efficient farming operations. Could you imagine everyone being forced to farm for a living? There’s simply not enough land. (more…)
Once again, I find myself at a crossroads. It’s one of those defining moments in life where a major decision must be made - the result, of which, will determine my entire future. However, I’m not new to this – I’ve come to this point once or twice before. The last “fork-in-the-road” I encountered was when I made the decision to leave the materialistic lifestyle I had been leading. It’s been over a year now, and I’ve never looked back. Certainly, it’s been of the best moves I ever made. (more…)
