Can I just have a stable job?

Dan Miller —  January 8, 2013 — 8 Comments

I spoke at a Career Transitions program last night to a group of about 300 job seekers.  I talked about the changes in the workplace and the challenges of Gen Y coming into the job market.  I listed 7 points for positioning yourself well – whether a member of Gen Y or a Baby Boomer.  And 5 ways to break the cycle of feeling like you’re losing.

Some of the people I talked to got nice severance packages and now are at the end of lemonade stand - 1the time period that provided.  Some are considering new ventures they could do on their own.  Many are exploring ways to turn their art, writing or music into income generators – and rightfully so.

In the conversations that continued long after my presentation I was struck once again by the number of job seekers who just want something “stable.”  People actually still say they want a job with guaranteed great pay, benefits and no stress.  What?  Where would you expect that to exist in today’s world?  Talk about finding a needle in a haystack – that’s more like looking for a grain of sugar having been dropped into a glass of hot water.  It’s dissolved and will never be seen as it’s own entity again.

The workplace is changing – and that means new and exciting opportunities are arriving daily.  Have you spotted yours?

In Business Start-Up, Wisdom meets Passion , , , ,
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  • http://www.markjcundiff.com/ Mark J Cundiff

    Good word Dan, great perspective for the current situation in the job market. Thanks for sharing.

  • Dennis Lutz

    Dan I thought you might be interested in this article. There always seems to be a voice that says “not many get to do what they truly love” http://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-career-myths-shouldnt-fall-140949200.html

  • ravenburnes

    I guess I am one of the rare people who really doesn’t want a stable job with benefits and no stress. All I want is to find a way to make a living from my art. I don’t expect the road to be easy, stable, or predictable. I love not knowing what each day is going to bring.

  • http://kimanziconstable.com/ kimanzi constable

    A friend of mine sold his business, made a nice profit and is now launching his music career, I’m really excited for him. The thing that I like is he has a real solid plan laid out for how he will generate income besides the CD’s.

  • http://www.howtohaveapositiveattitude.com/ Brad McCullouch

    It’s a paradigm shift in thinking that needs to occur. I have a friend who drove an 18- wheeler for Hostess. He actually had the Hostess Twinkie painted on his truck. Now, he’s without a job. Understandably, he’s panicked and looking for something stable. It’s hard to explain to a man without a job that he needs to change his thinking. But that’s what needs to happen, and I actually think he will get excited about this new “thinking” that needs to occur. The truth is actually liberating!

  • Adrijana Parsell

    I just lost my job and started reading “48 days to job you love”. The book was given to me a year ago. As strange as it seems( to some people) that I am not upset about the loss at all, I am finding the book so helpful and can’t wait to find out what my true, God given calling is!

  • MrTravisScott

    Dan…Luckily I found that needle in a hay stack…I have a great job, good benefits (car, phone, expense acct, ect), and pay (granted 60% of my pay comes from bonuses).

    However..I am not naive. I understand that my company could fire me at any time so I am trying to build stuff on the side and that is where I see my opportunities in the future. I am trying to build my own “tribe” with my site http://www.beyondschoolwalls.com and am at the beginning of piggy backing on my site to create a training company. Again…I love my job and i feel blessed, but I don’t want to every be unprepared for unexpected lay offs!

  • http://www.workyouenjoy.com/ Adam Rico

    Dan,

    Job security is an illusion and as you’ve written about – our only security is in our ability to serve others and produce. What are some ways we can help ourselves become more tuned in to opportunities that spring up around us?