Thoughts and plans - please read if you have a moment.
Today I am putting down some thoughts about the philosophy of being an employee, and my reaction to it. Dangerous as it often is, I have been doing some hard thinking again. As many of you will have gathered from reading this Journal, my facebook, or talking to me directly, I am jack of working for carsales. I have been looking for alternatives for some time now. I've not had a lot of success, and while I have been to a few interviews, I've yet to land an alternative to my current employment.
The lack of success is partially attributed to the fact that I can't afford to move into a job that pays less than my current job, and while it is a well documented fact that carsales.com.au doesn't pay top dollar for it's staff (infact I should be being payed significantly more, and that changing any time soon seems highly unlikely) it is paying me well enough to stay ahead of my outgoings with some thrifty spending habits. I could probably get another well paying job/better paying job, and all it will cost me is that I have to move into another corporate environment. Another soul-less consumer driven hell hole where at the end of the day, horror after horror will be committed, and occassionally required to be committed by myself in exchange for the pay cheque I will receive.
There are alternatives. They are rare, and as a result, much sought after. I would dearly love a real change in scene to something that will make the job worthwhile instead of making the money worthwhile. This however will require a significant amount of time spent retraining, and at best will result some very lean months/years learning a new skill that is useful in earning a wage. In the meantime, finances will be very tight, and quality of life will drop dramatically.
Can you all see where I'm going with this? I'm not the only person that feels this way. Over-worked, Over-stressed, Under-paid, Under-loved (by employers in general), and often Hyper-caffienated. I'm freaking tired of this cycle.
As an employee, I am expected to do what I'm told, when I'm told. Regardless of whether it is ridiculous, achieveable, or even moral. In exchange for this service, I will be paid just enough money to keep me from quiting, and I will spend the rest of my working life being alternately comfortably and uncomfortably poor. Either time poor from working too much to get a worthwhile income, or working less, but not really having a lot in the way of disposable income. What's worse, is that I will work my ass off to make already rich men richer in exchange for a pittance. While the same rich men enjoy the fruits of my labour, I spend my time living from pay cheque to pay cheque, and if I save hard enough, I might scrabble enough together to really treat myself outrageously a couple of times during my whole life. Not to mention that while this goes on, my employer has the right to tell me when to be somewhere, how often I can be sick, what I need to wear (down as far as whether or not my hair style is too outrageous.), how often I can be away from my desk and for how long, and there is very little in the way of options that I can take that won't end up in me ensuring that I will have significant difficulty advancing up the corporate ladder. Which I have no idea why I would want to do that, as it would involve me working even harder, to make more money, doing more horrible and soul destroying things, in order to advance further, so on and so forth.
I sat down and did the maths recently. Let's say I work 8 hours a day (this is assuming no overtime), and then I sleep 8 hours a day, In addition get up and go to work, and return home, 2 hours a day. I cook meals and do chores, 2 hour a day. Not including hobbies, catching up with friends, family gatherings, etc, I am getting perhaps 4 hours a day where I can actually do what I want, when I want. 4 hours. 1 quarter of the time I am conscious each day is actually devoted to me being free to be me. Put into context, I spend 60 hours a week, at work, travelling to work, or doing chores. Dressing, acting, and generally speaking, leaping through hoops for other people who really shouldn't have any actual call over my time, save that they pay me. Added to this, let's assume that the entire weekend is mine to spend as I will (unlikely), it comes to 52 hours a week of time for me. Seems like a lot, till you realise that there's 112 waking hours in a week for those of us who sleep a solid 8 hours, and this is all assuming that there are no other commitments to take up my time.
I have been getting steadily more frustrated, and it has affected my quality of life. I don't smile as much these days, and I get a feeling of panic at midday on a Sunday as I realise how quickly Monday is approaching. This is not how people are supposed to live! This isn't living, this is marking time till I die. What a farce this life has become, that I live it for other people who I don't even really know (or want to know), so that they can profit and become happy, while I am steadily working myself into the ground. There HAS to be a better way then this.
For years I have been struggling at the yoke of wage slavery, and consoling myself with the knowledge that “this is how the world works”. I now see that line for what it is. Just another form of control. An easy way to surrender, because it's hard to take on the world and win. I've never been one to go along with something just because everyone else does, and I'm fairly shocked at myself that I have in this instance.
So I think it's time that I finally did try something else. Not long ago, I made a decision to lay down a plan to leave the working life behind me. I don't want to be an employee anymore. I want to be in a place where I am no longer being the one who does the work, and doesn't get the reward. Instead of doing things that I don't like for other people, I am going to start doing them for myself instead. I want a life where I am financially secure. Where I can walk away from whatever I'm doing for months or years if I choose and still know that the money will flow, and I will still be able to provide for me and mine. I want to be able to retire before I'm 40, and know that I will never have to work another day for the rest of my life. To have true freedom. To go where I want, when I want, do what I want, how I want, and have to ask for permission from nobody.
That is a dream. One that I thought was beyond me. Perhaps it is, then again perhaps not.
I know most people on this list will think I'm mad for what comes next, and maybe I am. But I'd rather live as a madman chasing a worthy dream, than a cynic with no dreams or no will left to chase them down.
I have started up with an internet marketing company. I am working with people from a group called Team Mak. They do internet shopping for non perishable groceries, and household items. They also use some of the products from Amway, and also their distribution network.
I think that I can make a business out of this. One that may one day free me from all the issues that I have listed above. This is not going to be something that happens easily though. I want to make something for myself, and to do that, I'm going to need help and support. If you are reading this, then I would very much like for you to take some time, and listen what I have to offer. I am not going to try and sell any of you on joining up with the business. I'll be happy to show you what I can of the business if you are really interested, but in all honesty, I would rather an opportunity to sell you toothpaste, or possibly some laundry liquid that's as good as anything else you will find in the market and will save you some money while we're at it. Please consider that, because the products I will be selling are things you buy everyday anyway, and it will really help me to get this thing off the ground. Naturally I will understand if anyone is not at all interested. But after seeing the foolishness that I have been committing for the past 10 years, I want a chance to make a different path, and all I'm asking for is some of your time.
Comments screened for people's privacy.
The lack of success is partially attributed to the fact that I can't afford to move into a job that pays less than my current job, and while it is a well documented fact that carsales.com.au doesn't pay top dollar for it's staff (infact I should be being payed significantly more, and that changing any time soon seems highly unlikely) it is paying me well enough to stay ahead of my outgoings with some thrifty spending habits. I could probably get another well paying job/better paying job, and all it will cost me is that I have to move into another corporate environment. Another soul-less consumer driven hell hole where at the end of the day, horror after horror will be committed, and occassionally required to be committed by myself in exchange for the pay cheque I will receive.
There are alternatives. They are rare, and as a result, much sought after. I would dearly love a real change in scene to something that will make the job worthwhile instead of making the money worthwhile. This however will require a significant amount of time spent retraining, and at best will result some very lean months/years learning a new skill that is useful in earning a wage. In the meantime, finances will be very tight, and quality of life will drop dramatically.
Can you all see where I'm going with this? I'm not the only person that feels this way. Over-worked, Over-stressed, Under-paid, Under-loved (by employers in general), and often Hyper-caffienated. I'm freaking tired of this cycle.
As an employee, I am expected to do what I'm told, when I'm told. Regardless of whether it is ridiculous, achieveable, or even moral. In exchange for this service, I will be paid just enough money to keep me from quiting, and I will spend the rest of my working life being alternately comfortably and uncomfortably poor. Either time poor from working too much to get a worthwhile income, or working less, but not really having a lot in the way of disposable income. What's worse, is that I will work my ass off to make already rich men richer in exchange for a pittance. While the same rich men enjoy the fruits of my labour, I spend my time living from pay cheque to pay cheque, and if I save hard enough, I might scrabble enough together to really treat myself outrageously a couple of times during my whole life. Not to mention that while this goes on, my employer has the right to tell me when to be somewhere, how often I can be sick, what I need to wear (down as far as whether or not my hair style is too outrageous.), how often I can be away from my desk and for how long, and there is very little in the way of options that I can take that won't end up in me ensuring that I will have significant difficulty advancing up the corporate ladder. Which I have no idea why I would want to do that, as it would involve me working even harder, to make more money, doing more horrible and soul destroying things, in order to advance further, so on and so forth.
I sat down and did the maths recently. Let's say I work 8 hours a day (this is assuming no overtime), and then I sleep 8 hours a day, In addition get up and go to work, and return home, 2 hours a day. I cook meals and do chores, 2 hour a day. Not including hobbies, catching up with friends, family gatherings, etc, I am getting perhaps 4 hours a day where I can actually do what I want, when I want. 4 hours. 1 quarter of the time I am conscious each day is actually devoted to me being free to be me. Put into context, I spend 60 hours a week, at work, travelling to work, or doing chores. Dressing, acting, and generally speaking, leaping through hoops for other people who really shouldn't have any actual call over my time, save that they pay me. Added to this, let's assume that the entire weekend is mine to spend as I will (unlikely), it comes to 52 hours a week of time for me. Seems like a lot, till you realise that there's 112 waking hours in a week for those of us who sleep a solid 8 hours, and this is all assuming that there are no other commitments to take up my time.
I have been getting steadily more frustrated, and it has affected my quality of life. I don't smile as much these days, and I get a feeling of panic at midday on a Sunday as I realise how quickly Monday is approaching. This is not how people are supposed to live! This isn't living, this is marking time till I die. What a farce this life has become, that I live it for other people who I don't even really know (or want to know), so that they can profit and become happy, while I am steadily working myself into the ground. There HAS to be a better way then this.
For years I have been struggling at the yoke of wage slavery, and consoling myself with the knowledge that “this is how the world works”. I now see that line for what it is. Just another form of control. An easy way to surrender, because it's hard to take on the world and win. I've never been one to go along with something just because everyone else does, and I'm fairly shocked at myself that I have in this instance.
So I think it's time that I finally did try something else. Not long ago, I made a decision to lay down a plan to leave the working life behind me. I don't want to be an employee anymore. I want to be in a place where I am no longer being the one who does the work, and doesn't get the reward. Instead of doing things that I don't like for other people, I am going to start doing them for myself instead. I want a life where I am financially secure. Where I can walk away from whatever I'm doing for months or years if I choose and still know that the money will flow, and I will still be able to provide for me and mine. I want to be able to retire before I'm 40, and know that I will never have to work another day for the rest of my life. To have true freedom. To go where I want, when I want, do what I want, how I want, and have to ask for permission from nobody.
That is a dream. One that I thought was beyond me. Perhaps it is, then again perhaps not.
I know most people on this list will think I'm mad for what comes next, and maybe I am. But I'd rather live as a madman chasing a worthy dream, than a cynic with no dreams or no will left to chase them down.
I have started up with an internet marketing company. I am working with people from a group called Team Mak. They do internet shopping for non perishable groceries, and household items. They also use some of the products from Amway, and also their distribution network.
I think that I can make a business out of this. One that may one day free me from all the issues that I have listed above. This is not going to be something that happens easily though. I want to make something for myself, and to do that, I'm going to need help and support. If you are reading this, then I would very much like for you to take some time, and listen what I have to offer. I am not going to try and sell any of you on joining up with the business. I'll be happy to show you what I can of the business if you are really interested, but in all honesty, I would rather an opportunity to sell you toothpaste, or possibly some laundry liquid that's as good as anything else you will find in the market and will save you some money while we're at it. Please consider that, because the products I will be selling are things you buy everyday anyway, and it will really help me to get this thing off the ground. Naturally I will understand if anyone is not at all interested. But after seeing the foolishness that I have been committing for the past 10 years, I want a chance to make a different path, and all I'm asking for is some of your time.
Comments screened for people's privacy.