The education system in the United States prepares children for the job market. More specifically (and detrimentally), the education system still tends to prepare people to be industrial workers—cogs in a system rather than the thinkers who create new and better systems. This is changing, but the change is coming at a much slower rate than the advancement of technology. Perhaps this is why traditional jobs are one of the most commonly employed vehicles. When you were growing up, you probably had at least one teacher or parent advise you to work hard and get good grades so that you could get a good job.
For many people, a job in the corporate world is (or was) the dream job. We say “was” because, as we discussed early on in this book, discontent with the corporate world is common today. Job security is a dream from a bygone era. More and more corporate jobs disappear every day due to economic fluctuations, cheaper labor in foreign countries, new technology, younger workers, and so on. Employees all too often feel cheated by the trade-offs they have to make working in the corporate world.
Those who remain in the job market may do so for a few different reasons. Some, as we discussed in the previous chapter, may fear making the leap to something different. Others, however, are truly content to be employees. They enjoy the relational structure of the workplace. For many, it is a great opportunity to learn and be exposed to things that they otherwise would not be. Many are comfortable with a little less control over their workload and schedule if it means they don’t have to be responsible for payroll, manage people, make major decisions, and can go home at the end of the day and leave their jobs behind. They prefer routine over responsibility and feel a sense of security working for someone else.
The world needs people who are ready, willing, and able to be employees. Our economic structure depends on people filling these roles. And even though the job market is not what it used to be, there are still some good jobs out there. Some companies do care for, challenge, and fairly compensate their employees.
Some of our clients, in fact, have found great success in the job market with companies just like that. They’ve enjoyed their corporate careers and came to The Entrepreneur’s Source for coaching, not because they were dissatisfied with their career in the job market, but because they were simply at a point where they want to add to their portfolio and diversify their earnings options.
If that sounds like you, congratulations. Your experience is the exception rather than the rule, and it simply means you are at a point where you’d like to use multiple vehicles to reach your Income, Lifestyle, Wealth, and Equity goals.
Depending on who you are and what you value, you may be one of those people who just never were meant to be an employee. Perhaps you value freedom and independence more than the rigid structure of a traditional job. Perhaps you like control and having equity in something. If that’s true, then being an employee may not be the right fit for you. That means, if you are currently an employee, you are likely experiencing some dissatisfaction. You may be feeling like you don’t fit, or something is missing, or that you are working against your grain. Some of the other vehicles we are about to explore may be more appealing to you.