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Owning a business and working for
one are
as different as chalk and cheese.
~ Paul Hawken
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| Buon Viaggio Blog |
The theme this month is
Alternatives.
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THE BEST BOSS YOU EVER HAD
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It's probably no surprise that National Boss's Day has not
been a holiday I celebrate. It's been so long since I've had a boss that I
can't even recall the name of my last one.
However, when somebody mentioned this momentous event on
Twitter last year, I perked up. Wouldn't it be fun to turn this into a little
celebration for folks who don't have a boss, I mused. Then I forgot all about
it.
A couple of months later, Alice Barry, Sandy Dempsey and I
were in the early stages of planning the Joyfully Jobless Jamboree when
Sandy pointed out that the dates we'd
chosen coincided with National Boss's Day.
That led me to investigate a bit further. According to
Wikipedia, "Boss's Day is a secular
holiday celebrated on October 16 in the United States. It has traditionally
been a day for employees to thank their boss for being kind and fair throughout
the year. The holiday has been the source of some controversy and criticism in
the United States, where it is often mocked as a Hallmark Holiday."
For millions of people, having a boss is, of course, a
normal part of their work. Some people spend years aspiring to be the boss
without realizing they could declare themselves the boss of their own
enterprise immediately.
There's a favorite
graphic I found years ago that says, "There are two ways to get ahead: agree
with the boss or be the boss." Those of us who have chosen the latter, soon
discover that being the boss brings with it responsibilities and opportunities
we never imagined during our days having a boss.
Still, being the boss of a one-person operation is rarely
suggested as a career option by parents and guidance counselors--unless they are
self-employed themselves. I think it's time that self-employment got a new press
agent.
Thanks to a Facebook friend, I saw a wonderful book that
illustrates the joy of self-employment in a most delightful way. Although it's
a children's picture book, you don't need to have children or grandchildren of
your own in order to make the acquaintance of Kathleen T. Pelley's Inventor
McGregor.
This story concerns the extraordinarily creative Hector
McGregor who is a hero in his small town because of his problem-solving skills.
He invents solutions for all kinds of problems, inspired by his family and the
outdoors where he walks everyday.
When word reaches the Royal Inventors Society of his
talents, they recruit him and bring him to the city, plunk him down in a big empty room with a drawing board
and order him to create. Devoid of the things that inspire him, McGregor
produces nothing. After all, that's something to celebrate every day.
This cautionary tale, which has a happy ending, of course,
is the kind of book many of us wish we'd had when we were growing up. At the
very least, we might have avoided years of wondering what was wrong with us
when we dreaded dealing with a less than kindly boss.
Nora Watson has another explanation. She said, "Most of us
have have jobs that are too small for our spirit. Jobs are not big enough for
people."
Happily, there's an alternative, one discovered by Inventor McGregor and
millions of others who have decided to be their own boss. If you're not one of
them, what are you waiting for?
If you already are the best boss you've ever had, are you taking good care of
the biggest asset your business has?
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MEET THE POSSE
|  When Alice Barry suggested we round up a posse to help with
the Joyfully Jobless Jamboree, I knew it was a great idea. It's also been great
fun getting to know this enthusiastic group of self-bossers who can't wait to
connect with participants.
The Pard'ner Posse has also been busy showing Flat Barbara
their own entrepreneurial adventures. I especially love that Lynn Girardi
decided to show Flat Barbara the original Nathan's Hot Dog Stand on Coney
Island.
Here's the profile for one of the Posse who also happens to
be the only Texan in the group.
Name: Steve Coxsey
World Headquarters: near the shores of Grapevine Lake in
north Texas
Web Address: http://TwistingRoad.com
Business Name: Twisting Road
Business Purpose: Custom Designing Life and Work
Current project I'm working on: Writing a manuscript called
Anything But Marketing! to teach people new to self-employment and marketing enough of the basics of marketing so that they can make an
informed choice before signing up for expensive marketing training or
purchasing a marketing system.
Person I'd most like to meet for a chat at Starbucks:Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar
Movie every entrepreneur should see: Born Into
Brothels
Book every entrepreneur should read: Play: How it
Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by
Stuart Brown, M.D.
People who knew me in high school thought I was:intelligent, guarded, shy, and intense
I'd like to see my picture on: the author's page of a
bestselling novel
Worst idea I ever had: Using our Grand Cherokee to pull out
fence posts in the pasture (it got stuck and burned up)
My motto is: cultivate people
A favorite quote is: "Our thoughts create our reality. Where we put our focus is the direction
we tend to go." ~ Peter McWilliams
I can talk for hours about: way too much stuff
The one thing everyone has tried but me is: pot
The best thing about being joyfully jobless is: Meeting
creative, vibrant people who live outside of boxes.
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COUNTDOWN TO THE JAMBOREE
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"Celebrate what you want more of," advises the outspoken Tom
Peters. That's exactly what we intend to do at the upcoming Joyfully Jobless
Jamboree. The gorgeous Lakeways Resort in Austin, TX is going to see the
liveliest celebration of National Boss's Day in the country. This festive
occasion comes from the heart-not out of duty or obligation.
Extraordinary speakers, workshops and relaxation are on the
agenda. The Jamboree kicks off Friday, October 15 at 9:10 a.m. Activities,
possibilities and opportunities will present themselves all day and into the
evening.
Festivities will continue all day on Saturday, October 16, which
is also National Bosses Day. We look forward to redefining that day with you.
If you've been dithering, it's time to decide to join us.
Not only can you take a nice discount on registration, rumor has it that
several airlines, including Frontier and Southwest, have some great fares at
the moment.
And, yes, you may have your picture taken with the original
Flat Barbara, if you choose.
Joyfully Jobless Jamboree
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THOUGHTS FROM MUSICIAN/AVOCADO FARMER
| Most people know Jason Mraz as a performer, but he has another business growing avocados. In this short interview, he reveals he's also a philosopher of the Joyfully Jobless life.
Jason Mraz
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Buona fortuna,
Barbara Winter
P.S. On occasion, I may receive a commission or compensation when you participate or purchase a product or service I recommend. That being said, I strive to always offer useful content and resources in each issue of Joyfully Jobless News.
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Winning Ways | PO Box 800971, Valencia, CA 91380
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