Welcome To The
Rat Race Rebellion

If you are looking for ways to have as little to do with the rat race as possible, here is a list of careers to think about.

Any one of them could be a career change opportunity. A way to do more, be more and maybe even make more money with less expense and less time sacrifice.

We have picked the career options that in our view best meet the criteria most rat race career changers want:

• fun careers
• careers in demand i.e. hot careers
• fastest growing careers
• work from home careers
• careers for those with kids
• high paying careers and/or highest paying careers

Of course, just making the switch is no guarantee that you have made the right decision. You also have to consider your personality type, your values, your work preferences and many other factors. Your decision to look outside the rat race is but the first step in your career change journey.

Freelance employment lets you spread your risk because you are not tied down to one company. If you lose one client to a recession, you still have others. When companies are laying off staff, being independent means greater job security. If you like being a home-based entrepreneur, freelance work from home can be a great option.

Some people combine several part-time jobs or casual jobs and make just as much as they would working full-time. For example, they might work part time from home giving two days a week to Company A, one day a week to Company B and four hours a week to Company C.

This is called a portfolio career.

A portfolio career is a good alternative for those who want greater time flexibility, more variety in their work, who do not like being tied down to one employer, or who want to be able to demonstrate a more interesting career portfolio. Such a lifestyle does not happen by chance though. If you decide that you want this lifestyle, you will have to create your own future by actively sourcing for legitimate work from home jobs and 'make money from online business' opportunities.

Word of mouth and the Six Degrees Of Separation (the idea that everyone in the world is separated from everyone else by six connections) is an excellent way to begin.

Someone in your circle may know someone who knows about:

• which work from home company is hiring
• how to identify a legitimate work from home opportunity
• the top network marketing companies and how to know whether a network marketing business opportunity would suit you.

Maybe you enjoy playing computer games and taking part in competitions.

Imagine: you could get paid to play games and see the world when you take part in overseas competitions. Now that is what my husband calls a dream career.

Say you love writing.

You could get paid to write articles. Get paid for blogging. Even get paid to travel and produce travelogues.

Is shopping your favourite pastime?

Mystery shopping lets you get paid to shop. You may not be paid a lot. Sometimes it's $10 an assignment. But if you don't mind getting paid to eat, shop and give your opinion, why not?

If you currently live on one income and sometimes find it a bit of a struggle, know that there are so many ways to make money (online or not) from something you already know and love. It's a better alternative than government handouts, and an easy way to add another source of income.

So if your starting point is to mow lawns, distribute fliers, do packing and stacking shelves at ALDI's, ironing for someone who hates domestic chores, working the night shift for double the pay...Do it. And appreciate the opportunity.

Some people reject jobs that they see as uncool or "beneath" them.

One problem with the rat race is the undue emphasis placed on your job title and relative position on the career ladder. If you refuse to be enslaved by external indicators of your worth and are able to see every opportunity as a stepping stone to better things, you'll never run out of ways to get ahead and to succeed.

Starting a business has the perception of being the riskiest alternative career because of its high entry barriers and the high failure rate.

But being a business owner can be immensely satisfying if you have an entrepreneurial streak and the supporting structures in place, such as:

• a sound business plan
• investment backing or adequate capital
• the right location (for a bricks-and-mortar business)
• the right product
• good business systems, including the right legal and accounting structure.

There are several ways to start a business.

You could build a business from the ground up, and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something worthwhile with your own ingenuity and effort.

Alternatively, you could invest in a business opportunity where all the homework and research have been done for you. The brand is established, the systems work. All that is required is for you to sign on the dotted line and pay the agreed fee. Franchising, network marketing and buying an established business are examples.

If you are determined to have a go at running your own business, it is wise to contact your local government council or business association to find out what help and information are available for new business owners, and if there are special rules or concessions for work from home businesses.

Just as important as finding out how to start a business is finding out how to exit a business. This is simply part of good business planning. Get as much information as you can upfront so that you have an informed basis for deciding whether to go ahead with your plans to be an entrepreneur, even a home-based entrepreneur.

Related Resources For Entrepreneurs

Australian Government business resource website

US Government business resource website

UK government online support for businesses

You do however need exceptional sales and marketing skills, which is one reason why the first year in network marketing often sees a high dropout rate. Many new network marketers are taught sales techniques and methods of network marketing lead generation that they are not comfortable using on a daily basis to find prospects. They get discouraged and leave the network marketing industry, convinced that they are not meant to be business owners.

Most of us hate receiving telemarketing cold calls and don't enjoy doing the same to someone else, especially family and friends.

Does this mean you can't be a network marketer if you don't like selling?

Actually, it is possible - and profitable - to sell without being aggressive, offensive or looking like you're begging for favors. Even if you're an introvert and talking to strangers scares you, you can still learn to be a successful network marketer. What you need to learn is how to communicate naturally, comfortably and authentically so that you can build your business with passion rather than anxiety.

Recommended Read

Introvert's Guide To Successful Network Marketing

When investigating a network marketing business opportunity, approach it as you would any business opportunity. Look at it from every angle.

Six Tips For Evaluating Network Marketing Opportunities

1. The network marketing company. What attracts you to it? What is its mission and vision? What do people say about their experience with the company?
2. The products you plan to sell. Is there a growing demand for them? Are they affordable to your targeted customers?
3. The network marketing compensation plan.
This is extremely important for two reasons. Do you understand how the plan works? If you don't, how will you work out what you will earn? And if someone signs up under you and becomes your downline, how will you explain to them their earnings potential?
4. Talk to people who have achieved real network marketing success. Don't make a decison based purely on a flashy presentation or website.
5. Are you willing to invest in network marketing training and to learn new skills? Network marketing is a great business vehicle for those who are open to self-growth. Learning how to attract network marketing leads is not all there is. The most important skill you must learn is how to communicate with others so they understand you, trust you and want to do business with you.
6. Consider your time frame and resources. The first year in network marketing can be the hardest. Are you prepared to stick it out and give the network marketing business opportunity a fair go?

The time to do your due diligence is always before you part with a single cent. It's harder to get your money back after you've handed it over.

Each of these ways of creating income outside the 'box' of a regular 9-to-5 job has varying degrees of flexibility and financial independence.

How well you succeed depends on several factors.

Five Determinants For Success Outside The Rat Race

• How much effort you invest at the beginning
• How skilled you are in those areas that make the most impact on your business (e.g. sales and marketing)
• Demand for your product/service
• Your business strategy
• The strength of your support team.

But there is an even better rat race exit strategy that we want to share with you.

Online Careers: The Ultimate Alternative Career

Take the best of everything we've discussed, and put it ONLINE.

The Internet is the key.

Leverage its power to make money from an online business that you will own for as long as you want, doing something you already know and love.

Combining Online Careers With Your Skills

And you know what the best thing about the Internet is?

When paired with any of the rat race alternative careers we've talked about, you get some exciting and very do-able business ideas that will free you from the rat race lifestyle.

• Freelance writer? Make money writing online!
• MLMer? Do network marketing online. Use a niche website, relevant website information, the right website domain name and the right keywords to generate more website traffic, more website sales and a constant supply of FREE network marketing leads.
• Web-savvy teens, make money online with a business from home. Offer small business owners advice on search engine optimization tips and how to attract more website traffic. Promote website building software that lets you design your own website.
• A mom takes on typing work from home and learns how to build a website to advertise her services.
• A freelance translator creates a translation website in her spare time. She surprises herself by getting more work than she ever would if she relied solely on translation agencies to refer work to her. She decides she is ready to start her own business and work from home online.

Whether you want to escape the rat race or make extra money, online is the way to go.

Discover how to build a website, make extra money online,
get more website traffic and much more

Meet the website building software
that doubles up as your personal website tutor

My Personal Journey From IT Ignoramus To Website Owner

Why Online Careers Are A Rat Race Strategy Worth Investigating

Online Business Career Training For Internet Entrepreneurs



Return from Alternatives To The Rat Race to Career Change Confidence