The title of this article is enough to infuriate many readers. Yet some would probably still find their way here initially thinking, “Let me see what this fool has to say on the topic.” Trust me I get it. The idea that one can possibly live without a job may just sound ludicrous at first to some people; it may sound like some sort of pipe dream—and honestly for good reason— which will be explained later. But while nothing I may say in this article may be anything revolutionary, perhaps I can offer a different perspective to some on the matter.
First of all, allow me to clarify what this article isn’t. There’s nothing about how to get rich here. There’s nothing about just leaving your job tomorrow and “living off the land”. And there’s certainly nothing about having a job being a bad thing. Nor will this article encourage others to go on an impromptu pilgrimage to try to get everyone to leave their jobs and join a nunnery. Heck, while writing this article I’d been considering what to wear to work the next day! So what gives?
A Job: need or want?
The fact is people can generally choose to have a job or not have one. Others desperately feel they need a job but have difficulty finding one. Much of the advice in this article can most easily apply to the latter group of people. Now it may seem like there is an obvious answer to discovering why someone may feel they need a job; it is in that answer it becomes clearer that what they may actually need is money and a sense of purpose, not necessarily a job.
A job has long become the staple way the average person generates income. This is the reason when someone is not working they can eventually feel a sense of dread about the situation because it’s all they know. Complicating matters, those who are quick to judge and point fingers at the unemployed—the real fools!—tend to make those not working feel worse about the whole affair. But a job is just one way to make a living. And this is the part that a lot of people can’t mentally get past. But there’s another way of looking at it.
Working versus Having a Job
Now it’s no real secret that you can start a business instead of searching for a job. But of course this is also going to require money. So immediately this can begin to feel like a chicken and egg situation. Yes, you need money; yes, you want money. But understanding what brings money is the biggest factor that a lot of people overlook.
Ultimately money does not necessarily come from how educated you are or your work experience. Money almost always comes as a result of the things you can successfully and consistently do for people. This is the pinnacle of what’s needed to survive.
Too much emphasis is placed on “having a job” simply because many do not see a job as a means to any end. They see a job as their entire livelihood or existence. Once you understand that you—as the individual—are essentially more valuable than what any employer pays you it begins to make a lot more sense. You suddenly start focusing more on personal growth, self development and the things you can do for others, rather than believing you just need a job instead. By doing this, eventually the money will come.
See a Job like a relationship
If someone chooses to leave you in a relationship, you physically do not lose anything that is part of you. Your physical state and value remains the same as well as what you can do with it. Mentally you may think you’ve lost something but you haven’t.
If you compare having a job to having a relationship, the same theory would apply. Find a way to feel successful and complete internally and it would not matter if you have a job (just like a relationship). Because you know you can find alternative ways to reach your goals and acquire happiness regardless.
Why working works
Surely, one can’t be faulted for thinking well this all sounds good and all but it’s easier said than done. This is true, but no one said it would be easy. Many times the answers are right in front of our eyes. But it just seems like too much work or too unlikely they will work.
But I’ve seen people just randomly get up, walked into a company and demand a job. I’ve seen people who have written letters to dignitaries requesting personal assistance. And I’ve seen those who just decided to start their own business with no money in their name. All of the aforementioned people got what they wanted. They all eventually ended up with money and a way to live a more meaningful life in the long run.
You don’t “need” a Job
To live without a job you need three things in their most positive states: desire, passion and will. No one can take those things away from you once you don’t let them. They help you put your pride aside and make it easier to grasp that no matter what you think you’re worth you’re only worth as much as you make people think you are.
There’s nothing wrong with working for free if it will eventually give you a financial return on your investment. There’s nothing wrong with borrowing money from a friend if you can justify the loan and pay them back preferably with interest. And there’s nothing wrong with having a regular job, whether it’s temporary or permanent. But there’s something definitely wrong with thinking that without a job you cannot survive.
Focus on other things
The most important thing is realizing that with the right mindset, you can consistently reach closer to your goals regardless of your overall situation. You don’t have to cheat, lie, steal or kill to find a means to live if you don’t have a job. No matter your situation, even if all hope seems lost, start by just thinking of one way to help someone then go do it.
Keep doing it for as long as you can and make life easier for as many people as possible. While doing this, try to not focus on the money, even if you have bills piling up. Just be patient. Do what else you have to do in the meantime and the money will come … and so too will a life filled with a much greater purpose. A life where thinking about having a job will just become secondary.
