More Than Fine…

Gainfully Unemployed

// June 10th, 2009 // Life

According to a survey by National Association of Colleges and Employers, less than 20% of 2009 college graduates have found employment.  I see a lot of this in their futures…

Not really… well, maybe some of that. What I really see though is a huge opportunity. An opportunity to live, to experience, to pursue passions and dreams. An opportunity to learn about youself: what you are passionate about, what you are good at (read this as what you actually want to do with your life, not just what is going to pay you). Seth Godin has some great suggestions on his blog for things the other 80% can do with their time besides going to law school… I think he hits the nail on the head. You can spend a whole lot of time and money to go find yourself and “learn how to think” or you can proactively pursue things that will not only prepare you for the job market but that allow you to passionately live life to the fullest at the same time. Unless you are passionate about spending all day in a cubicle or a library, this sounds awesome.

My suggested rules for being gainfully unemployed:

• Pursue your passions not what the world, your parents or your bank account tells you that you should be doing. Figure out how to make a living from them later.
• Try things you don’t think you are good at. If you think you are analytical and not at all creative, take an art class, write a poem, take a pottery class, write a story. If you think are creative and not all analytical, do some algebra..?, make a budget for yourself, write a “business plan” for your time spent “gainfully unemployed”. If you think you aren’t athletic, join a softball league, bowling league or some kind of league. Challenge your preconceptions of yourself and what you are and are not good at.
• Do something you are pretty sure you will fail at. I don’t know what this is for you but dream big and go after it.

So what should I do? (including my favorites from Seth’s suggestions):

Learn

• Learn to speak a new language fluently (Seth’s)
• Learn to play an instrument
• Take an art class (painting, drawing, photography, pottery)
• Write (poetry, stories, reviews… write about whatever interests you)
• Learn to write code (Seth’s) (This would be really helpful for me)

Serve

• Spend twenty hours a week running a project for a non-profit. (My favorite of Seth’s suggestions)
• Volunteer to coach or assistant coach a kids sports team. (Seth’s)
• Mentor a child (try I Matter Too or Big Brothers Big Sisters)
• Volunteer / take on a leadership position at your church or with a local young professionals network
• Volunteer at soup kitchen or nursing home (Don’t keep your distance, engage people)

Live

• Train for a marathon (join a running group) (Seth’s) or a triatholon
• Dance lessons

Network

• Network in everything you do (including all of the above). Life is all about relationships. Seth has some good suggestions on how to do that on his blog.

One thing I would definitely recommend is blogging your journey.

I could sit here forever and brainstorm all the things you could do. I’m moving to the Dominican Republic when my job is done at the end of the month to work with a program that mentors, educates and trains kids working to become professional baseball players. What are you doing?

There are financial realities but… doesn’t this sound more exciting? I’ve been looking forward to being gainfully unemployed for a long time. I can’t wait.

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