December 17, 2018
Tell us how many jobs have you had after graduation in your working life and the duration of those jobs? How much time-off have you had in between those jobs? How old were you when you started working and how old are you now?
Tell us how many jobs have you had after graduation in your working life and the duration of those jobs? How much time-off have you had in between those jobs? How old were you when you started working and how old are you now?
Comments
Dear Arturo, Robby, Tony
I am very happy to see that you touch this topic, and I do hope you will get the help you need to write this book.
I am sending you through my experience so far, stating only real facts. I have read many books and I understand the responsibility one has in her effort to land a book at the hands of its readers. I wish you much of fun in pursuing your dream!
I was 18 years old when I started working while studying at the same time, as I felt I would be better of, if I was filnancially independed. I also love acquiring knowledge, reading books and speaking many languages; earning good money would help me pursue my goals and satisfy my needs. For many years I would work hard, seven days a week. An MBA at ALBA school later was also an expensive ‘hobby’ (Arturo knows pretty well what studying at ALBA back in 2007 meant)
Since my graduation I have worked in eight different companies and I’m only 39 years old as I write these lines! I know what you think: I am not a stable person….
Wait! I will explain myself: Since my graduation I have also worked in four different countries, so changing companies was inevitable. Despite all difficulties associated with so much change, I must admit I enjoyed the ride and I still am.
Yes, correct, there is another change knocking on my door: the FLEX change. I have decided I don’t want to spend the next 20 years of my business life in an office, obliged to abide by the rules set forth by people or corporate cultures that will try to put at rest or suppress my growth potential, creativity, willingness to make a difference, readiness to help. A closed office and a corporate culture, that doesn’t embrace change and growth, can harm people. Everybody knows this.
So I’m becoming independent by establishing my own consulting conpany. I will actually continue doing the same thing I did the past 12 years, that is marketing and product management; the difference now is that I can arrange my program ( and my office) as I please. This, nevertheless, doesn’t necessarily mean I will be working less.
I hope this change will give me the opportunity to share with more people the experiences I gained while working in eight companies and four countries. I have a lot to give and I know there are people out there that are willing to take and learn, people that I wouldn’t possibly reach, if I weren’t flex
I also hope I will earn enough to be able to pay for my Digital Marketing Strategies course at IMD in March …:)
Warmest regards
Eva Vaoutsi, a Greek living in Zurich
Dear Tony, Robby and Arturo,
My name is Eileen, I am a digital artist from Birmingham, 27 years old. I finished art school at 22, and launched my own studio. During my studies, I held several part time jobs to pay my way through the academy.
I’ve been lucky since my work has been bought by several European Museums and I’ve had a number of exhibitions with galleries. I love the freedom and autonomy of being a small entrepreneur and being independent, but at the same time the pressure to both create and sell is highly demanding.
There is a team of five people depending on me and their salaries need to be paid every month. Sometimes I’d love to have the security to know that my own salary would be a guaranteed amount of let’s say 25,000 pounds per year, but that is a luxury I don’t have. My husband is also an independent worker who takes on projects for clients. The complexity is increased by the fact that his skills are also needed in my art studio and sometimes he is asking me: “should I take this 4,500 UKP gig or should I work on your art?” That makes me acutely aware of the opportunity cost and the real money that in a way should be priced into my work.
It’s all about managing the highs and the lows and balancing various priorities. So far, there have not been other jobs as I’m fully focused on making the studio a success. For the moment, I would not want it any other way and if the successes keep on coming as they have done so far, I can think about things like pension, savings and may who knows, even investing a little.
Good luck with the writing effort – it would be good to hear from other people how they are handling their work future.
Yours,
Eileen