Find a job - Where Are You Looking For Answers To Your Extra Income Needs?

I met a man one night in a well lit coffee shop who was frantically searching for something. He walked around the entire half empty coffee shop searching the ground. I offered to help. I asked him if he lost something. He replied "Yes, my wallet" and he described the wallet as black leather with a brown leather patch on it.

I already watched him scour the entire coffee shop, so instead I asked him, “Did you have the wallet when you came in?” He said, "No, I dropped it somewhere outside a few steps from my car. I'm just looking in here because the lighting is better."

That's how many people in society (including at your workplace) operate. They are searching for answers in completely wrong places: the next low-paying job, or a so called "work at home" job, infomercials, motivational seminars, asking their neighbors and coworkers (who are also broke) what they should do. They are looking for answers to their financial problems in all the wrong places.

Warren Buffet, if you don't already know, is one of the richest men in the world. He’s worth billions. He is also the best stock picker in history. He's the Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods of stocks and investing. The reason investors look to him and his company for advice is because of this proven track record.

Similarly financial educators who are well known for what they do (including Robert Kiyosaki of the "Rich Dad" series and David Bach of the "Finish Rich" series) are respected for their views and teachings because they have proven their teachings through their own success and have consistently helped increase the wealth of their readers/students (the ones that took action). They provide some of the “right” and suggested places to look for answers to financial concerns.

Can't I Just Find A Better Paying Job That Doesn't “Suck”?

Let me clarify that the title "Dear Employee, Your Job Sucks" is simply a marketing gimmick. It’s meant to be cheeky. The purpose is to grab your attention to then hopefully entice you to read into the book where you might gain a few nuggets of financial education which you can apply in your life.

I don't know how you feel about your job. Maybe it doesn't "suck". That's not the point of this booklet though. If you are dissatisfied with your current employment or income, yes looking at a different career might be a way to go. But I don't recommend stopping there. It's addressing a symptom not the problem.

I have a colleague in Vancouver, BC who excitedly told me of a promotion he received at a large bank: corner office, fancy title, every thing. Of course a raise came with it (in his perspective, it's a fantastic amount... in my perspective... well... good for him). He then told me of his goals to stay with the bank and work hard and in 10- 15 years he expects that he could be earning $120,000- $150,000 there. It was hard for me to encourage him on this and be the supportive friend but I went along with it.

I fear that I see a bigger picture that he does. First, I heard 10-15 years, so I was expecting big numbers and yet I heard $120-$150k. I can appreciate that some might find these numbers large, but sit down and write out the goals/plans you and your family have (vacations, home to live in, cars to drive, etc) and you'll find that this is not a lot of money. Maybe equally as importantly, I know that at $150,000 per year salary, the government will be taking half his paycheck in taxes. Afterall, he's an employee. He doesn't drive the economy; therefore he doesn't receive legal and encouraged tax deductions. That doesn’t sound like an attractive package especially when you realize that the tradeoff is spending 50+ hours per week at work doing the same task day in and day out.

Dear Mr. Employer,
Thank you for your letter. After careful consideration I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me employment with your firm.

This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of candidates it is impossible for me to accept all refusals.

Despite Acme Inc.'s outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet with my needs at this time. Therefore, I will initiate employment with your firm immediately following graduation. I look forward to seeing you then.

Best of luck in rejecting future candidates. Sincerely,
Future Employee

When Everyone Is Zigging (And They Are)
A well known marketing tip is "when everyone is zigging, make sure you are zagging." In short, it means that in marketing, as in life, the money/opportunities are never in what everyone else is doing. And I can tell you that everyone else is waking up in the morning too, going to a job they don’t like, working for a paycheck that’s never enough. That’s not where the opportunity lies, it never has and it never will.

What About Work At Home Jobs?
You’ll have an easier time shaking hands with the Easter Bunny than finding a work at home job (ie: wages not profits, employee not independent contractor). There are many home based business options but I realize that many are still searching for "work at home" employment opportunities. They are kidding themselves.

As a business owner I can tell you that it would be a great risk to allow any employees to work from the confines of their home. How do I know how productive they are? How do I know that company information is being kept secure? I don't control any of this. Work at home (ie: jobs from home) opportunities are very, very, very, very (that's 4 very's) few and far in between. If you are established and well respected at a company and most of your duties can indeed be performed from home, then you have a fighting chance.

If you would like to "earn from home" you really only have one option: an intelligent home based business.

But Profits, Business And All This Jargon... I Don't Know Anything About All This
I thought we covered this subject already. The goal here is not to convince you to get into a business of your own. The focus is to have you realize that money, wealth, "being rich"... these are all topics that can be studied and practiced and put into action just like driving a car, learning to swim or playing piano. It is no different. And that flower-arranging class you take in the evenings might be satisfying, but if you're learning something already, why not spend a bit of time on the most important subject which is finances/money.