Just finished reading Career Success Without a Real Job by Ernie
Zelinski ( http://www.erniezelinski.com/ ). WOW! I am a fan of
Zelinski's retirement books 'How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free"
and "The Joy of Not Working", that I recommend to my clients who
are about to retire.
"Career Success Without a Real Job", however, is directed at the
"organizationally averse" who don't like working in corporations.
This career guide will of course also appeal to retirees who want
to keep working part time but not in a traditional "Cor-Pirate"
setting.
Zelinski in this book mentions that his writing isn't the best.
That
may be so but I can attest that his books are readable and offer
good advice, That's the only standard that matters.
Zelinski's style is very accessible, common sense, gently coaxing
without being too preachy.
While pointing out that Career Success Without a Real Job may not
be for everyone, Zelinski proceeds to talk about the exciting
realities that await those who dare to dream of a life lived on
their own terms.
This means having the freedom to decide on the hours we want to
work, the amount of vacation time we want to take, with whom we
want to work, and what we are going to do today.
Zelinski reminds us that real success is not measured merely by the
'almighty dollar.'
Here from the book are some "Irrefutable Signs That You Have
Achieved Career Success Without a Real Job:"
* You no longer know how to prepare for job interviews and don't
carebthat you don't know.
* You wonder why people get up before 9:00 A.M.
* Most people with real jobs criticize or envy you.
* You rely on job ads rather than the Dilbert cartoon for your
laugh of the day.
* You are always the last one to know when there is a holiday for
working people and you happily work your usual four to five hours
anyway.
* You don't ever need any job references.
* You no longer have a Daytimer because you forget to look in it
after making an entry.
* Multitasking means working on your laptop in a coffee bar for two
hours and watching attractive members of the opposite sex at the
same time.
* You know what resume means but have completely forgotten what
résumé means.
* You are confident that you will have no problem adjusting to
retirement.
* You get much more enjoyment out of the work you do than from the
monetary rewards.
* You know you are no longer employable in a real job and don't
care.
* You try to keep an open mind about hard-working lawyers,
executives, and doctors but you still can't help feeling just a bit
superior.
* You wouldn't trade your present livelihood for anything else -
bar none!
Above all, "Career Success Without a Real Job" is adventure,
satisfaction, riches, and happiness all on your own terms!
But as Zelinski points out early in the book:
"The principles in this book will not work for everyone. One reason
is that many people apparently don't want freedom; they would
rather be imprisoned by organizations that tell them what to do,
when to do it, how to do it. As Lord Boyd-Orr once said, 'If people
have to choose between freedom and sandwiches, they will take
sandwiches.'
If you are one of those mundane people who would select sandwiches
over personal freedom, "Career Success Without a Real Job" is
definitely not for you. On the other hand, if you are trapped in
the corporate world as the majority is, but would like to be
liberated, then the success principles in this career book can
inspire and help you to create a much more rewarding lifestyle for
yourself."
What Zelinski is saying is that living a life of career freedom is
not easy. Indeed, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. But
if you are prepared to put in a lot of effort with inspiration,
ollowing the principles of "Career Success Without a Real Job" will
make you envy of the corporate world.
Note: You can download an E-book with sample chapters of "Career
Success Without a Real Job" at:
http://www.real-success.ca/free_ebooks.html at
http://www.realcareersuccess.com/ and at http://www.unrealjob.com