Gary North published an article this morning, Friday, June 19, 2020, titled “How to Escape from a Dead-End Job and a Dead-End Career.” Since it’s behind a paywall, I want to review some of the key points of his essay.
His main point, which is made at the end of the essay, was this,
If I were in a situation in which I found no significant meaning in my job, and I saw no way to get a better job, I would find a way to improve my productivity in order to benefit outsiders. I might start a consulting firm, or a subscription website, or something that would add value to my employer. I would try to get paid for this. But if I couldn’t get paid for it, then I would give it away for free. I would make it a calling.
In service of this escape, North offers a few options. One option was this:
The first one is this: he sets up a website for engineers in his field who want to become certified. He has gone through the certification process. He is an expert on how to get certified. So, he sets up a website to help other people get certified. He writes about the advantages and disadvantages of the various certifications. He talks about how difficult it is. He outlines a plan for each of the certifications.
I think he could charge for this. If I were an engineer who wanted to get certified, I would want help. Would I pay $97 a year to get help? Yes. If I could get advice on forums, I would probably pay $197 a year.
If he had a website like mine, with part of it free and part of it available only behind a paywall, he could attract customers. I don’t think he would attract a lot of them, but he would attract some.
Option two was more specific to an engineering company:
A second possible way of escape is this: become an expert in the field of rate-setting. Every public utility has to face a public utility commission. Every so often, the company has to go before the commission to justify a rate increase. He should study every aspect of this procedure. He should study it from the point of view of utilities within his industry. He should read every book, every article, every transcript of public testimony that he can locate.
The gist of his article was to start a website that reviews problems with concrete solutions. Then offer the solutions to your boss or dedicate yourself to the solutions and make that dedication your calling.
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