Being Safe is Risky
Until the early 80's, the traditional career approach was to go
to college, get a degree and then find a secure job with a good
company for twenty or thirty years. This was the safe approach.
It's what the baby boomers learned from their parents who
survived the Great Depression.
Today, we are finding that that approach is no longer valid. The
safe approach has become very risky. We live in faster, more
turbulent times. If you are one of these "safe" individuals who
are simply looking for benefits and a secure paycheck, you will
probably find that you're one of the first people on the
chopping block when large companies lay off.
For you to succeed in the coming years, you've got to start by
changing your paradigm. You must see yourself as a "free agent"
in the marketplace. You need to look for ways to improve your
value to companies and then market your skills and abilities to
the highest bidder. As Brian Tracy often says, see yourself as
your own "Personal Services Corporation". This may sound
strange, but according to a recent article in Business Week, 41%
of the workforce will be on a contract basis by the year 2010.
Of those that don't enter the ranks of the "free agents", many
will become self- employed and start their own businesses. In
essence we're really moving back to the age of the
"entrepreneurial worker" that took place prior to the industrial
revolution.
Are you wasting your potential in a less than challenging job
because it's comfortable or it appears secure or the benefit's
are good? Maybe it's time to explore ways of making your job
skills more remarkable and valuable to others. People who
increase their value never seem to have a hard time
transitioning from one job to another.
General Douglas MacArthur once said "Security is Your Ability to
Produce". Remember, anonymous drones that blend in and never
give any valuable input into their companies are seen as
expendable. They don't offer a lot so they're easy to get rid of
or replace. Start today by improving yourself- read more, ask
for more responsibility at your job, take educational courses
and listen to tapes on self-improvement.