It’s taken from the chapter, “But, What if I’ve got a good JOB?”
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Having a good job is not my idea of a strong income foundation. To me a job is temporary income. It’s income that’s only two words away from disappearing.
What are these two magic words?
That’s right, the Donald Trump battle cry, “You’re fired!”
Sometimes it’s said in a different way. The phrase can be disguised. But, the meaning is the same; the result is the same; the effect is the same.
You no longer have your job!
Some variations used in place of the standard “You’re fired” are as follows:
- Sorry but we no longer require your services.
- You’ve been a great and loyal worker but unfortunately, your division is disbanding and your job has gone away.
- We’ve had to downsize, and we no longer have any work for you.
- The new tax laws require us to downsize, therefore we had to come to the difficult decision to let you go.
- The company has entered bankruptcy. As part of the agreement, we have to stop all work. You no longer have a job with us.
- We didn’t win the follow-on contract. You’re free to look for a new job with a new company.
Normally, every job comes equipped with a boss. And, if one day your boss decides to mention the two magic words – or one of the alternate phrases – your income takes a big hit. For most people this hit means a 100% loss of income. For most people, their job is their only income source. For most people their job is their financial lifeline.
I personally believe having a job as your only income source is scary. To me it’s like dangling from a rope 50 metres above the river and having your boss standing over you with a pair of lawn clippers. And, I don’t find it the least bit amusing when the clippers snap and I look up to see the rope still intact; then he snickers, “just kidding!”
Not funny.
I’ve been there; 100% of my income from a job. I didn’t like it. I felt trapped; financially out of control; financially weak. Like a skinny 80 pound weakling scurrying around the weight room handing out towels to big musclebound body builders – nothing but a financial towel boy.
Not a confidence building situation. And, after years and years of this conditioning, it’s hard to change; hard to see a way out; hard to see it ever ending.
For me, the biggest drawback of a job is the single income stream. You’re totally dependent on one source of income. If this one source dries up, your income drops to zero!
Way too risky for my taste!
In a job, you have one customer – your boss. If things don’t work out between you and the boss, who do you think ends up with the pink slip?
For some reason we’ve been tricked into thinking a job is permanent income. Well, the secret is out. Tell all your friends. Announce it in the streets. Let the truth be told.
A JOB is not permanent income!
A job is nothing more than a contract from payday to payday. If paydays are two weeks apart, then you have a two week contract. Once you get paid for your hours, the contract is over.
Any company loyalty is a bonus and at the sole discretion of the company. Any promises you get are fluff. Any assurances – merely talk. And, see how many groceries you can buy with fluff and talk!
I learned all these things about a job long before I ever got out of high school. I learned it from my Dad.
Here’s the story …