All the rules have changed. Rules for college. Rules for career. Rules for work/life balance. Rules for retirement. All of it.
This is what many American workers thought would happen… Go to high school. Attend college. Start a life long career. Be an obedient employee and keep your job. Keep your job until age 62. Retire and move to a home on the beach or in the mountains, or both. Walk blissfully into the sunset of life holding your spouse’s hand.
This scenario, however, is pure fantasy. It does not account for all the messiness between each phase of life and work.
“While you’re sitting there wondering why you’ve kept all the rules and you still haven’t achieved everything you’ve been promised, someone else has been breaking all the rules and seeing all the success that comes from doing so.” -Dan Pearce
You struggle to pay student loans. You try to avoid layoffs. You do your best to endure terrible bosses.
You are confronted with an unethical business practice, carefully raise prudent questions, only to be demoted or fired for unknown reasons.
You work hard to be the best in your organization and get noticed then a promotion is awarded to someone less competent with political connections.
You faithfully save for retirement then your spouse has a serious medical condition. Your medical plan does not cover thousands of dollars in doctor and hospital bills.
Your company files bankruptcy, leaving you without a job and no medical coverage.
You must postpone retirement because of the cards life has dealt you.
This is real life. Life is messy.
Parents and educators need to fully inform high school and college students the realities of work, careers and life.
“Playing by the rules does not work anymore. Your loyalty is to your life, career and causes.”
It is possible your parents or grandparents started and ended their career with the same employer. They paid off their house. Their pension plan and medical care were waiting on them upon retirement. Loyalty existed between the company and employees. Those days are long gone.
Playing by the rules does not work anymore. Your loyalty is to your life, career and causes.
You may work for a company one to three years before jumping to a new position with more responsibility and higher pay. This will likely happen ten times during your career.
Simply put, there are no rules anymore. Decide what you want from life and make your own rules.
