gRAPHICaNATOMY

So does this mean you should never have a job?
No. You can learn something in some jobs. I now work as an artist. And I’ve held jobs in various art- related areas. Everything from cake decorating, to picture framing, to color mixer at a printing press to web design and so forth. I stayed just long enough to learn something and I will say that all that experience has helped my art career in ways I could not have guessed. And I’m also glad that I never stayed in one for too long.
And of course they do bring in some money. Some. Remember J.O.B. = Just Over Broke. And you probably need some of that money. Just don’t get too dependent or attached. Don’t ever think you are stuck there and that is your only option.

What has worked best for me to have Multiple Sources of Income. This way if one thing doesn’t work out, I’m not totally at a loss.
And that’s what I recommend to anyone out of work, or unsatisfied with their current situation: Multiple Sources of Income.
When you only get paid for the time you sit at the desk or stand behind the counter you run into problems. You either have to beg for a higher hourly rate or have more than 24 hours in a day.

1. Online stores can sell for you 24/7 around the world. Now this may take some set up and forethought. You have to figure out WHAT to sell. If you have a lot of clutter you can do a sort of yard sell on eBay/Amazon and take care of two problems at once.

2. There is some money in writing. Write for magazines and blogs about what you know and care about. Write a book. Get a book deal. Or bypass the publisher and explore the world of self- publishing and ebooks. These books can be sold online. (for example: http://www.graphicanatomy.com/book.php )

3. Similarly there is “print on demand” for t-shirts, calendars, and other accessories. Come up with a few good ideas and use something like café press or spreadshirt. You can sell them online and advertise them through your writing. (for example- notice the shameless self promotion here- http://www.graphicanatomy.com/store.php )

4. Or just make stuff and sell it- like soap making, webdesign, duct tape wallets whatever interests you. Just do stuff and sell it- like dog walking, babysitting, catering again whatever interests you. I once rented myself out as a Native tour guide to Welsh tourists wanting to explore the East coast. Be good at it and they will come. You can sell the goods and services online, blog about them and make t-shirts with your logo on it. It all works together and you are your own boss.

5. Intellectual property. That one great idea you have. There will still be work to do and there will be red tape, but you can make money with just an idea.

6. One you become an expert at any of the previous five. Become a Consultant. An expert in your field who teaches others. Write books, blog, etc.

7. Investing. A lot of people make money this way with the stock market. If you are willing to do the homework, you can get your money to work for you.

8. Real Estate. Again I hear a lot of other people talk of how they can make money at it. I see loads of ads for real estate seminars. Somehow I suspect many of them make more money charging for seminars than they do in the actual real estate market. (rather than spend money on a class consider library books on the subject) You can make some money at selling and renting property.

Notice I say SOME money. I’m not promising any get rich quick schemes. Be wary of anyone who does. Don’t listen too much to anyone person but get a feel from everyone. A few of these ideas can add up to a decent living. And there are more ideas to earn money than these eight. But hey, look around, do some thinking. You won’t have to depend on a job.

I would also recommend that you use the utmost ethics in business. Your reputation should be golden. And you should be able to look yourself in the mirror. You can earn money by helping people, not using them. Be generous and give them what they want if you can. Turn down money from difficult customers or people who are trying to rip you off. And if at any time it stops being fun, find another way.

I’d tell you NOT to be one of them, but then you’d be listening to me….

On a similar note 650,000 Americans will use up their unemployment benefits next month. ( August). All those people waiting for someone to give them a job, and there aren’t any.
I’m sure you know what a job is:
You go in for an interview dressed up in your best monkey suit and dance and beg for the chance to trade your time for money.
To keep the job you have to “behave” in a certain way. Be obedient to someone no better than you.
You give up your freedom, play by their rules, so often compromising your dignity to suck up to customers or beg for a raise.
And its never enough, after taxes you barely have enough to pay all the bills let alone save. They just pay you enough not to rebel.
And though the business will demand your obedience and loyalty they will drop at a moments notice whenever it suits them.

Why are so many of us searching for a job?
There has to be another way to generate income. Many ppl do it everyday with out giving up their freedom and dignity.
Why don’t more?
We’ve been taught that getting a job is what we are suppose to do. I was told how important school was “to get a good job”. And work for so many years and then retire.
Things have changed. I can’t in good conscience relay those rules to my nieces.
Maybe some ppl don’t realize there are other options.
Or maybe some ppl cling to those teaching because they fear the unknown, they don’t have the confidence in themselves to go it alone.
So before anyone can start planning for self employment, they have to overcome any doubts or fear.

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits
in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.
- Helen Keller


Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
- Ambrose Redmoon

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.
- Anais Nin

Courage is the price that Life exacts for granting peace.
- Amelia Earhart

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.
- John Quincy Adams

Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.
- Erica Jong

The highest courage is to dare to appear to be what one is.
- John Lancaster Spalding

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
- Kahlil Gibran

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
- Dale Carnegie