From time to time I’m inviting authors, thought leaders and researchers who are exploring the future of work.
A big part of this podcast is all about identifying work trends and how to redesign your career to respond to them.
I’m thrilled to introduce you to Taylor Pearson, author of The End of Jobs.
Now don’t freak out! There’s always going to be work, but how you will work is changing. He’s encouraging all of us to be rethinking how we work.
Taylor believes jobs have been the primary form of work for the last 200 years or so, reaching their peak in the 1970s. Incomes have been stagnant ever since and more and more of us are moving into self-employment.
He’s been working for himself for the past 2 and a half years as a consultant, author and online course creator.
I asked him for his gut reaction about resumes, the 40-hour work week, benefits and bosses. He has some eye-opening responses, so you’ll definitely want to listen!
We also discuss the shift from corporations as the nexus of work to digital platforms and how that is reshaping work.
Life Skills That Matter In This Episode
- Self-directed learning.
- Self-awareness.
- Building community.
How Taylor Works and Thinks
- Wake up time: 7 am
- Core work habits: 1) Writing 2) Reading and 3) Going to the gym.
- Ideal work environment: Alone in his apartment at his desk with a big monitor.
- Definition of success: Being able to keep on doing what he’s doing already.
- Self-reflection practice: Reading.
- Book recommendation: Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse
- Favorite productivity tool: Freedom.to
- 90-day goal: Working on a proposal for his second book.
Inspirational Quotes
” The way we think about jobs today is mostly a 20th-century phenomenon.”
“We are seeing the breakup of the corporate pyramid.”
Coaching Advice
If you are ready to become self-employed, Taylor recommends taking the following action:
Start a side project, like something that comes naturally to you. It could be something that can be done within the next 7 days and under $100.