Getting a Job or looking for work?

Having a job is the dream of probably everyone I have met. But do we really need a job, or are we
looking for work?

They mean two entirely different things. A job involves looking for someone who is going to tell you
what you are doing to do, in return for some remuneration. This has no relation to what kind of work
you would want to do, what your specific skill sets are and how best you can engage yourself in a way
that will bring out the best in you. It is based on your credentials, a piece of paper that qualifies you to
be a financial manager, an engineer, a Project Manager, an architect and so on..

It does offer a low risk way of getting a level of security, specifically financially. However the way the
“job” market is going, this stability factor is considerably decreasing. But that’s not the worst thing.
What is taken away from you is the mentality that you have skills, talents that are actually worth much
more than the semblance of security and pay package that the job offers. It also takes away your power
to contribute to society in an independent, meaningful way.

Finding work is an entirely different mindset, at least in the true sense of the word. This involves doing
what you know you are good at, assuming you do. Most individuals when asked what they want to do,
don’t have a good answer except that they want to be happy, satisfied with enough time for the family
etc. A job is not designed for this, it is meant to do that for the select few that own your company.
Working however means you have a soul searching discussion with yourself (and those who care about
you) about what you are good at. This then allows you to market those skills based on the needs of
society. It also allows you to scale your work and ambitions based on the lifestyle that you want to live.
A discussion on satisfaction etc. can then be had.

The numbers show why this is important. According to a Gallup poll 87% of employees “ are
emotionally disconnected from their workplaces and less likely to
be productive”. Stress levels are higher, The American institute of stress reports “ 80% of
workers feel stress on the job, nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress”.
Companies are struggling to keep employees happy. The last company I worked for, had 70% of
employees willing to leave if they found an equivalent job at another company and even willing to take a
pay cut. (And this is true for most companies).

What is required is a redefinition of the educational and social system. Redefining what education
means, what it should be. Education today is primarily focused on helping one get a job, a type of
slavery, but not a skill. Education should set one free, the higher the education, the more one has the
necessary skills to be independently engaged. Today education gives no skills, no alignment with the
natural abilities of the particular person, and a bunch of debt. Redefining the social system will take
require a change in the culture of greed, to a culture of giving (I will be writing a piece of the 2 G’s in a
later blog).

Working for yourself maybe more work, but getting the feeling of being able to work for yourself, is
much more valuable and satisfying. It may pay more or it may not, but it is a hedge against relying on an
economy that caters only to a select few.
The transition then is from a job to getting work. Not from a job to another job.

Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face.. Mike tyson