Ralph Carlson Blog

How do you decide that you have to get out of a dead end job situation?  When do make the decision to learn about other opportunities, other business situations and begin to consider creating your own business?  When do you realize that the commitments and promises of employment sector- security, stability and a comfortable  retirement – are not realistic any longer?  And when you do decide, what do you do?  Where do you find the information you need to identify the opportunities and knowledge you need?  I have been around this block.  I retired twice without achieving the financial security to do what I want.  It is a tough world today but there are also opportunities for people who decide.

The realities of today’s economy affect people differently.  Younger people never expected a retirement system or lifetime employment but baby boomers were lulled into a false security.  They believed in secure jobs and comfortable retirements up until the system collapsed leaving them with reduced or lost retirement income and a stressed life stlye.  Boomers have lost the most and and find themselves strapped.  Many want more income but don’t know what to do or where to turn.  I understand.  I have been there.  I have chronicled some of my decision points and insight on this blog.

Dealing with change to begin with. Change is always difficult and threatening but there are ways to keep your head and make sure that you find the opportunities. Then, of course, there is the problem of deciding when things are bad enough that you just have to get out.

Assessing the situation in your job is difficult as well.  Looking at the five levels of organizations can give you a better idea if there is a reason to stay or leave.

And finally some wise counseling from Seth Godin helped me make the right decision for me- I Quit.

If you are a boomer moving along the same decision path that I followed, you begin to understand that multiple streams of income is the best insurance in the unpredictable future we face.  Maybe you know some vehicles and just need the nudge.  But maybe you need more information – both about how to create a business of your own and what some of the vehicles to use as well as background on the mindset you need and some good reading to get you ready.  For that reason, I created a resource to get you started, a compilation of the information I am using .  There are books that have helped me and background to help you identify what opportunities are available.  If you want to quit your job, supplement your retirement or find something fulfilling to do with the monotony of retirement, it is there for you.