Making a Living Without a Job, revised edition: Winning Ways for Creating Work That You Love

I first encountered "Making a Living Without a Job:.." by Barbara Winter about 9 years ago. I had bought it for my husband, who was in between jobs, and ended up reading it myself. By the time I was done, I had determined to leave a 20 year career in computers and go to massage school. I now own my own health center in New York state. One year I gave 10 of these books to people who were 'stuck' in their jobs/careers but who were afraid to change. As a result 14 people ended up changing their jobs/careers because the people to whom I gave the book also passed it on. I find, as a massage therapist, that much of the stress people have is due to a poor fit in their career. What might have been right at one time in their life, no longer is good for them. I recommend this book to someone at least once each week and have now decided to have it in stock. I recently gave copies to two friends who might need to leave high executive positions in an international corporation. ANYONE at any LEVEL in ANY JOB can find the step-by-step analysis in this book the most helpful thing EVER in helping them to find the job that will really be fulfilling for them! Connie Wehmeyer

If you want to chuck your job and you're looking for a good self-help book to help you become an entrepreneur, consider "Making A Living Without A Job: Winning Ways For Creating Work That You Love" by Barbara Winter.Winter says people can be "joyfully jobless" by developing "multiple profit centers." Rather than depending upon a single source of income, Winters says people should diversify their sources of income. Winter likes the variety of doing different things.In addition to being an author, Winter publishes a newsletter, gives speeches and seminars, and finds other creative ways to earn a living. Because she has an interest in tea, Winter earned money teaching people how to have afternoon tea parties.Winter writes that many people find "producing a tea a mysterious process." (Don't you just put the little bags in a cup of water?). In addition to enjoying teaching tea, it gave Winter the opportunity to travel to England and deduct travel costs as tea research. One of Winter's goals was to travel to England. She emphasizes that we should merge our personal goals with our business ideas, if possible.In addition to discussing her own profit centers, Winters discusses many other entrepreneurs who earn money in creative ways. For example, one entrepreneur earns money by running a cattery, which is a cat boarding service. Of course, the cattery owner finds other ways to supplement income, such as founding Critter Communication Consulting, which helps people relate to their pets.Winters writes: "Landlording is, of course, one of the oldest ways to make a living without a job. In earlier days, widows frequently took their only asset [a house] and turned it into a profit center." Another entrepreneur merges fighting seasonal forest fires with writing and odd handyman jobs to earn a living.So, why don't people quit their jobs and become joyfully jobless? Fear of not having a regular income is one reason. Winters writes: "Too often we confuse fear with bad ideas! It's far healthier to accept that you are feeling fearful about a new plan-and determine that you'll act anyway... . stop and give yourself positive reasons for doing what's scary. Write out a list, if necessary... . Life shrinks or expands in proportion to your courage"Winters says many people are afraid of looking foolish for not holding a job. We tend to draw a sense of identity from a conventional job. Quoting movie reviewer Roger Ebert, Winter writes, "'Set up your life so that your personal goals are their own reward... . What you do instead of your real work is your real work.'"Winters says Ebert is a good example of someone who merged his early passion (for watching movies) with a career. Others only later discover their true calling and choose to pursue it. Winters tells the story of a cardiologist turned country western singer.To me, it seems that being a cardiologist would destroy the country western perspective. What sort of lyrics does the guy write? "You picked a fine time to leav

My work history has ranged the spectrum from Corporate Clone to short-term contracting, and even when I was employed full-time at a "real job" I always had one or two other businesses going on the side. But, like most Americans, I'd been brainwashed into thinking everyone should have a well-defined and well-thought-out CAREER, so I didn't take my "sidelines" seriously. And, after thirty-plus years in the work force, I was still searching for the One Perfect Job that would best utilize my abilities and satisfy my soul. This book changed my thinking: Barbara Winter shows how to evaluate your talents, interests, and skills, and turn what you already like to do into multiple income streams. She gives inspiring examples, provides tools for self-analysis, and offers encouragement; she doesn't give specifics on how to create your perfect work, but she can't because everyone's combination of abilities and knowledge is unique. The book started me thinking on how I could create income sources from the things I enjoy doing, and convinced me that I don't need to find that elusive Perfect Job after all. I recommend it highly to anyone searching for a better way to work.

My mission (writing and training) is in showing workers that there is money missing from paychecks (over $16 million dollars) and how to find it. A key in the formula for finding and getting this missing money, without losing your job, is to not have a fear about losing your job. And, that's where Making a Living Without a Job steps in. I picked this book up several years ago and love that it isn't a quick fix, be a millionaire in thirty days, book. It's offers up a system (a life plan) that is both practical and imaginative, safe and bold. The best part from my perspective, and how I've compelled dozens of people to add it to their library -- you don't have to quite your job to become joyously jobless. . . you only have to realize your job is JUST one of your profit centers. When you sneak up on independence by creating one or two little profit centers outside your "regular" job it's amazing how the stresses of the day job can be reduced. If you think you are paid less than you deserve, then you owe it to yourself to explore the ideas in Making a Living Without a Job. And, by the way, Barbara is a wonderful writer with a lively voice. If nothing else you will enjoy her insight and humor.

I read this book from cover to cover in no time, great writing that inspires as well as informs. Not only does the author provide excellent advice drawn from her wide range of experience, she also includes the stories of other successful entrepreneurs to show the reader that regardless of you financial situation or life circumstances, you can chuck your boring job and make a living doing something you love! Get ready to throw out lame excuses as the author dispels all the myths that surround starting your own business. You can do it and this book will show you how.