Its the end of the world (or at last the 9 - 5) as we know it? Part 1

Picture of Simon in hat

I intended to write a piece this week about portfolio income. Not technically what you refer to as portfolio income as that is an income from various stocks and shares but portfolio in the way that its an income that can come from various streams for example, work 3 days in an office, rent out a room in your house (or driveway/parking space) and teach a salsa class once or twice a week. Not a traditional lifestyle at all but one that could give you freedom to pursue other things that matter to you such as hobbies and sports, volunteering or further education.

Lockdown gave many people pause for thought. Many people found their lives greatly enriched by not having to commute to work and having more time to do the things that mattered to them. It was an opportunity for great change but sadly things seem to be slowly returning to the old norm - I rather cynically feel that may have more to do with a great many people having a vested interest in people being back in large offices (there is a lot of money tied up in real estate) than necessarily the well being of staff!! But the genie is out of the bottle and more and more people are looking for alternatives not least because they are getting older and official retirement is looking further and further away but that opportunities seem to be becoming fewer and fewer.

And then I read this:- https://www.upworthy.com/gen-z-career-minimalism

Obviously I’m a lot closer to retirement than Gen Z but I can echo their sentiments. Long gone are the days when not only could you work in the same industry but you could work for the same company and collect a gold watch when you’d done your time! Industries have come and gone and there are many jobs today that simply didn’t exist - they’re already talking not about programmers but vibe coding, the people who know how to ask AI to do what you want it to do! In a world that is changing so rapidly it makes sense to try and keep as many options open as possible and to craft a life to enjoy now rather than in some theoretical future.

So if the 9 - 5 isn’t working for you maybe its time to think differently.