Problem Attic. Insert witty tagline here.

New Rules: No Rules

As I build up to heading overseas, I’ve been trying to figure what I’m going to do work-wise. My task overseas is a little complicated, because I have to not only find work for myself, I have to find a way to create or find work for other people also.

Seth Godin has this to say:

…it’s essentially impossible to become successful or well off doing a job that is described and measured by someone else.

Worth reading the italics twice, I think.

The only chance [y]our country, your economy and most of all, your family has to get ahead is this: make up new rules.

People who make up new rules continue to be in very short supply.

I’ve been thinking this for some time.

So what will I be doing when I get over there? I have no idea. I’m going to go over for a few months, scope the place out, get a feel for what’s happening, then, (and here’s the important bit) invent my job.

The reality of out-sourcing means that pretty much anything I can do can be done by someone else who is willing to work for much less—if they know what the job actually involves. I need a job with no fixed requirements, because as soon as it has fixed requirements, it can be done by someone else for cheaper.

How many of you are training for, or doing, something which will be outsourced to China for $2 an hour in 10 years? Start thinking about it now—before it’s too late.