What's a Real Job? Ernie's story is the basis for this book: how he became a consultant/writer working on his own rather than an engineer working for someone else. His advice follows from his own experience, but it's difficult to see how that can translate to others who don't have similar experiences as the basis for their own businesses. It's always difficult to advise others to strike out on their own without the caveat that it's important to have a client or two lined up before making the radical switch from a regular paycheck. And that's easier if your employer or a vendor can become your client. Starting a business without any customers can be a challenge. You may have a product/service you think is great, but if no one wants to buy it, you'll have no income. And be ready to constantly look for new customers to keep the income coming. These challenges of being without a real job are minimized in this "how to" guide.
What is a real job, anyway? Isn't working for yourself a real job? Don't you have to get clients/customers and sell them a product or service? Real Success Without a Real Job makes the assumption that a job = working for someone else. Working for yourself is a job, just one you have more control over. To be successful requires an idea, time, money, stamina and guts at the very least. Ernie tells his story as inspiration, but it's still 1% inspiration with 99% perspiration. And even that doesn't guarantee success.
Overall this is a nice personal story of one man's success. For more help in deciding if you can "be your own boss" or to look for a "real job," consider [[ASIN:1931868999 Now What Do I Do?: The Woman's Guide to a New Career (Capital Ideas for Business&Personal Development)]]
WOW It does motivate you to acheive success by showing that anyone can write a book. The marketing section is also of interest.
But....This certainly isn't intellectual reading (to put it mildly), and it basically says the same thing, in hundreds of ways, throughout the book. For some reason, the author thinks it's necessary to talk about the money he makes now, on several occasions, which I did feel was arrogant, because there are many other ways to get your point across without bragging about yourself.
Then for the kicker - he makes the comment on page 174 that 'If you borrowed this book from the library - particularly if you are a well-paid professional- then you are not really committed to real success without a real job'. How is insulting the reader who borrowed this book from the library supposed to be a motivator? I don't think it matters how you gain information, whether free or not! I own several hundred books, but sometimes I borrow them from the library first to make sure they are worth the purchase. I can tell you right now this book is not worth purchasing - I can sum it up for you here: Stop working at a job that you don't enjoy. It is destroying your soul and taking up all your time. Life is too short. Figure out what your passion is. Then figure out how you can turn that passion into a career you will love.
Quit wasting your life! This is the second of Ernie Zelinski's books that I've read ...and I like this one even more than I liked his "Hot to Retire Happy Wild&Free". My one small complaint about his earlier book was that I thought he'd glossed over what it takes for many people to achieve the personal insights he talked about. Well, he makes up for that in spades in Real Success without a Real Job.
I'm a Life Transition Coach with a specialty in retirement lifestyle coaching and I've already recommended this book to several clients and friends because it is comprehensive, straightforward, compassionate and kicks butt! Zelinski is very honest with people about what it takes to live outside the corporate world and it is clear throughout this book that he believes wholeheartedly that the price to be paid for the 'real' job (i.e. perceived safety) of organizational life is far greater than that for an 'unreal' job. As a corporate refugee of 10 year's duration, I can only agree with Zelinski's perspective.
I especially liked the later chapters where he deals with issues of personal growth and development as well as spiritual evolution and the power of friendships. I'm a life coach and it is wonderful to hear someone else be so supportive of the difference what I have to offer can make to people. I also think that he has done the world a great service in exposing the 'illusion' of work-based friendships.
I could go on and on about this book, but suffice it to say that I kept thinking "gee, person X could benefit from this perspective" as I read Real Success with a Real Job. And when I was finished I realized that I was feeling energized about projects I've let slide and was experiencing a surge of renewed enthusiasm for life. Surely both great testaments to the power of this book. Thanks Ernie!
