Making a living - away from all the BS?

Hmm, just noticed the "Lyra's new business" thread...  heh...sorry...

Will post there in a bit...

That's okay......this thread actually goes to show that there's yet one more person out there experiencing this issue, which is pretty interesting when you think about it.   More and more of us are finding ourselves reluctant to take part in mainstream work and / or actively looking for other options of income. 

I have a like / hate relationship with office jobs myself.  I like that they provide steady paychecks and financial security, I like when I can get settled in to a job and can function on auto pilot and not have to think too much and everybody leaves me alone to do my thing.  No hassle.  That's cool.    But I don't like a lot of the B.S. that's attached to office jobs.  The politics, the Christmas parties, the meetings where everybody is fake and stiff, blah blah blah.  I find that I don't fit in to well with most office environments.   I look and seem "normal" on the surface and am good at being sociable and all that, but I have alternative interests.  I don't hold the same values that most people do.   Over time, these differences eventually come to light and usually serve to alienate, unless I find myself working with other cool people where it's not even an issue.   I've had some realy cool coworkers, but it's a rare thing! 

Right now, I'm temping, which is always an adventure.     Most people would hate it, but I like it, providing they can line up work for me, which they've been able to do so far.   What I like about temping is that in bouncing around from place to place, not only do I get variety, but..............I don't have to stay long enough to eventually possibly maybe become alienated, which does sometimes happen.   

I've been trying to figure out a way to earn alternate sources of income, but it's tricky to find something that will consistantly provide enough money every month, month after month, which covers all your financial needs.    I'm so over seeing all the scams floating around there too..........."I USED TO BE JUST LIKE YOU!!  I WAS A LOWLY PAYROLL CLERK BUT NOW I'M MAKING OVER $100,000 A MONTH!  AND FOR $29.99 I CAN TELL *****YOOOOOOUUUUUUUU***** HOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!"     Uh huh.   

Hey, same here!      Welcome to the club!     

I would think that the fact that enough of us feel the same way and are striving towards this same goal means we'll all figure something out.  We have to!   We're all putting out lots of thought energy towards the idea of finding alternative work.........something has to manifest sooner or later, right?   Ayahuasca has a messageboard that he started devoted to this entire topic, for finding an alternate source of online money making.  Maybe you'd be interested in joining?

Thanks for all the comments.

Seems a lot of people are in the very same boat then...or at least heading in the same direction with this.

I read your comments in that work related thread other Lyra, and most of your thoughts on the whole situation match mine almost exactly.  Thoughts about the whole situation were going over and over in my head for years.  I knew what I wanted and needed to do - leave! - but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  (Yep. That little voice constantly saying "no...you can't do that!", "how will you cope!?" and on and on it went).

Finally I brought myself to leave.  Told my manager I would be leaving and only working until the end of the week (I was contracted to give a months notice; but can you imagine how much worse the BS would be knowing you have got to put up with it for 4 more weeks - whilst all along you are gonna be leaving?)

Well...I didn't say a bad word to anyone there, (hated many of them, friendly with a few).  Over the years there were many things I said to them in my mind.  On the last day I hugged each of them (or shook hands) and left pleasantly with a smile.

I thought I would regret not getting things off my chest...but as soon as I was outta there, I realised there was nothing I could have said that would have made either them or myself any better.  So the softness of attitude seemed to lay well with me on many levels.  (Thinking about this now due to your thread on Stuart Wilde and his "Softness and Beauty" article; it really seems to resonate).

Maybe over the last 8 months I've learnt to accept people more, but I don't know yet if I have integrated that enough to allow me to work in such an environment without getting anti.  But then it's not just the people, the systems, falseness or illusions.  I always had a feeling that the time and energy was being wasted (sucked out of me) and could be far better spent elsewhere.

The resultant earnings began to justify less and less to means to get there.  For me at least.

I've considered temping; and would do it for a while but I wouldn't  really want it to be a long term thing...still too much of a routine for me personally...though certainly better than a permanent job.

Morningsun, good to hear you're trying something new.  It always feels like a risk, but often that is remnant conditioning speaking.  I think a corporate job is ok if it resonates well with the individual.  But when / if it becomes about forcing yourself into a box full of BS, then its best to get out.  I ended up quitting, but spent the better part of three years hoping they would get rid of me (taking the decision out of my hands).  Anyway, all the best thought for you!

Ayahuasca actually noticed this thread earlier today and sent over an invite to his forum.    I think there are great possibilities...

It means "bullshit"