... well, before I tell you what it is, let's define stable.
When something is stable, it is not likely to change. All my life, I've been raised to believe that stability is a good thing - stable job, stable relationship, stable government - but is it really?
If we think there will be a change for the worse, it is easy to understand the appeal of stability but isn't that like throwing the baby out with the bath water? Just because a person is afraid of a negative change, does that mean we should resist all change including the positive. Perhaps we don't realize that when we pursue stability, we are actually giving up possibilities for growth.
If I stop growing, I will put myself in a very dangerous situation because there are people out there who continue to grow. How many people took stable jobs just to find out that their jobs are being outsourced and they haven't kept their skills up to date to effectively find new jobs? How many people continue to take "stable" jobs (not sure if there are many left but pharmacists and accountants still comes to mind) thinking that their life is set?
The one thing I have learned from the unemployed pilots, lawyers and factory workers in the US is that it is risky to be stable because things change. The one certainty in life is that things will change and for those who seek comfort in stability, please remember that the faster change comes the riskier stability becomes.
My advice is to trade stability for flexibility. Learn skills that will help you stay marketable (I am currently learning to computer program, click here to find free courses to sign up for). Always think about how you can improve the way you add value for other people. As long as you are doing something valuable, you'll always be able to find someone to pay you to do it for them.
Don't stop learning.
ahh Rob, you’re killing me. right when I thought I was going to buy a condo, you’re making me reconsider (b/c that’s what stable people do!) — just kidding. Staying relevant is important. Ok, I just signed up for the coding course! (thank you) I secretly enjoy coding — that’s pretty much what I did in HS but stopped since.
Oh, one suggestion, do you have a twitter account? if so, what is it? if not, maybe you consider linking your articles to a twitter, it’ll definitely increase the readership!
Hi Christine, my twitter is embpos, there should be a link to it on the blog’s homepage. I’ll look into linking it to my twitter. Not sure how to do that at the moment. Feel free to share the articles you like on facebook with your friends.
The coding course is very interesting and very well designed.
ok done! yeah, I typically find that you can gain readership through twitter. I started following a bunch of people who are into thought leadership and it’s interesting to read what they have to say. You can link it altogether, linkedin, twitter, and facebook… all at once! I think it’s pretty simple b/c I see my friends do it lol Key is that you always want traffic on your page, whether its a twitter or fb update. your blog is really go though — think you can get more people to read it!
thanks Christine for all the support! I am going to continue creating as much valuable content as I can and I’ll make it all link smoothly after I set up my main website. Feel free to send me any post ideas you may have.
[…] If you are afraid of risk, then you should also read this short article on why it is risky to be stable. […]
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