If you want to live a happy, successful life, and be able to provide for you and your family that is. Society has changed drastically in the previous few decades and while business has always been cut throat and heartless it is now more than ever. Loyalty means nothing and your boss has no problem screwing you over if it means any sort of gain for him (no matter how small). Corporations will chew you up and spit you out then laugh when you and your family suffer for it.
It doesn’t matter you put in the extra unpaid hours, that your wife just got cancer, that you are the most qualified for your job. Relying on a corporation/job to do anything but screw you as soon as possible is foolish. And the corporate world is only going to get worse especially if you are not part of one of America’s chosen classes. The years of working hard for a company and getting a decent living in return are so far gone it’s not even funny. The middle class is dead. You are either going to rise up or be crushed at the bottom in the coming years ahead.
How To Survive
I don’t say this to be all gloom and doom as there is a solution. But it is one that requires hard work and dedication. Like I said above those in the middle are going to be squeezed out. The whole two kids, white picket fence world doesn’t exist anymore (for a variety of reasons). To survive in the coming economy you are going to have to become a top performer in business. Some may say well what about minimalism but even with extreme minimalism taxes, regulations, and inflation will still get to you. The solution is either heavily increasing your income and learning how money works and the skills to go out and get it.
The point is you are going to have to learn and master things those before you had no concept of. Things like marketing yourself and bringing in revenue. You are going to have to be a marketer, salesman, and widget maker. A marketer, salesman, and plumber. A marketer, salesman, and accountant. And so on and so forth, you get the point. You will have to learn to build rapport and network not just be good at your job. Never ever rely on the morality or good will of others. The corporate world is as bankrupt as the political one. There are two ways to ensure you don’t get screwed in the economic future.
Bring In Revenue
I believe I’ve talked about this before but it’s worth repeating. You could be an amoral, sleazebag, piece of shit yet if you can bring in revenue for the company at a higher rate of those around you then you will always (and let me repeat always) have a job. Sales, marketing, and copywriting are what brings in revenue for a company, sales in particular. You must master the skill of selling, this isn’t an option. Learn to bring in revenue and you’ll always have a job. Not only that but once you get bring in revenue you have an ax you can hold over your bosses head (isn’t that nice) and those above him.
It gives you tremendous power and is the only way to have any sort of “safety” in the corporate world. And even then you should still be working on a side project as insurance as underestimating the desire of the corporate world to screw you over is incredibly foolish. We live in a eat or be eaten world, a kill or be killed world, a screw or get screwed world. There is no place for weakness (unless you’re a woman or child and then someone will be there to save you). But if you’re a man it’s you versus the world. This is the way world is, it doesn’t matter how we’d like it to be.
Have An Independent Business
Being your own boss is the only guaranteed way to have any sort of stability. And even then you have to master marketing, copywriting, and sales to make sure that you are always profitable and can keep money flowing in. One great thing about a site like this is that as long as I keep writing and giving value I will keep making money off of it. Granted nothing to retire off of but still some nice income on the side. It doesn’t matter what society thinks or what the corporate world thinks as this site is separate from them both.
It provides a measure of insurance against the craziness of the world. Which is what your own business can do for you. I would recommend something in the trades. Combine knowledge of trade with good marketing, sales, and copywriting skills and you’ll be able to make a decent living. Enough to provide for a family or live a good life as a bachelor. Also you don’t have to deal with the corporate B.S. which is worth a whole hell of a lot. Plus you could save yourself from going to the indoctrination/debt trap that people call college. A win-win all around.
Summary
Here are the main things I want you to take from this article. The corporate world will screw you, it’s not a matter of if but a matter of when. Bringing in revenue or having a business of your own is the only way to make it in the new economy. Trades are a great skill to learn, and sales, marketing, and copywriting are non-negotiable skills to learn. To many this article may seem harsh but it’s the truth. Preparing for the harshness of the world is the only remedy sticking you head in the sand will only get you killed.
If you have any questions you would like to see answered in a future post send them to me at charlessledge001 (at) gmail (dot) com. If you found value in this post then I would encourage you to share this site with someone who may need it as well as check out my books here. I appreciate it. You can follow me on Twitter here.
-Charles Sledge
