Halcyon is a cat’s blog

Marketplace interview with Charles Handy

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:24:44 -0800

Need work? Trying making your own.

How do you find a job in today's economy when most companies aren't hiring and few jobs are being created? Commentator Charles Handy says the thing to do is make your own work.

TEXT OF COMMENTARY

KAI RYSSDAL: Maybe the toughest part of today's unemployment number to wrap your brain around is that there aren't a whole lot of places that 10 percent of the work force not working can go. Companies aren't really hiring, not many new jobs are being created.

Commentator Charles Handy says the thing to do is make your own work.

Charles Handy: Let's be realistic -- jobs are going to be in short supply for the next few years. Of course, it does depend on what you mean by a job.

The other day, I was having lunch with an advertising executive. He was bemoaning the fact that he had lost his job while still at the height of his powers, as he saw it. Just at that moment, the electrician who was working in his house put his head around the door. "I won't be back for a couple of days," he said. "I've got another job to fit in." In his world, a job meant a client; in my friend's world, it meant an employer.

There's no obvious limit to the number of electrician-type jobs that can exist. Or plumbers. Or accountants. The world is full of potential clients -- for something. The problem is that you have to create the something yourself, and most of us are not born entrepreneurs. Particularly if we have grown up and even grown old in institutions, moving from school to college to organization, places where work was shoved at you, yours only to pick up your shovel or pen and deal with it.

It's best to practice it young if you can. I said to my kids, "When you leave college don't get a job at first. Find someone who will pay you money for something you make or do for them. It will be good practice for life later on." But it's never too late to start, and more of us will have to, one day, now that life is longer and organizations much slimmer.

I did it. I became fed up with organizations -- grew out of them really -- and went on my own when I was 49. Cold-calling potential clients, learning to live a cash-flow life after a salaried one. It was hard at first. But I learnt to love the freedom, and the joy of working with people rather than for people. Besides, if you are your own boss, it's up to you how hard you work, or where, or when, or why.

Ryssdal: Management consultant Charles Handy is a founder of the London Business School. His most recent book is called "Myself, and Other More Important Matters."

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Sam and Milo

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:08:27 -0800

Some low res (phone) photos of our favorite dogs on our latest cross country adventure. Sam and Milo in Flagstaff, AZ.

Sam

Milo

Milo was cat in a previous life; he still feels the need to sleep in the sun across the floor in the morning.

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Roadtrip in October - November

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:50:44 -0800

Jen and Adrienne in Flagstaff taking in the aspens and playing frizbee

Matt and Lori near University of Memphis campus

Becky Manning, Matt's sister at Good Cheap Foods, Bovina Center, New York

Matt and Becky at Becky's baby shower

Julio and Elizabeth at becky's baby shower

Julio

Dad, Mom, and Jen playing Oh No 99

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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:05:07 -0700

Windmill

This is an inspiring story about a fourteen year old boy from Malawi who after being forced to drop out of school because his family farm along with the rest of the country was striken by famin and hunger; with his free time he studied at a local library and figured out how to build a windmill to first power his house and later irgate the fields.

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Portland and North Cali

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:57:21 -0700

Acacia is Matt's brother Sam's daughter. She's just over one year old here.

Akasia in Eugene park

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San Francisco Bay Area

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:09:32 -0700

Henry Cowell Redwoods St. Park

Jen Next to a 2000 year old stump

Matt and Jen in the Park

Jen in a circular grove

Jen and Matt in Sanborn Skyline County Park

Peeling Bark

Rob and Emilie at Lake Temescal

Emilie, Matt, Rob and the Dogs

Jenny and Emilie Spying on the Boys at the ballpark

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Pennsylvania Trip

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:38:23 -0700

Vito with the Wedding Cake

Adrianne and Dustin

Dustin at Reading Terminal Market

Dustin and Dave

Vito eathing a cannoli

Eric's as a male model

Center City Philadelphia

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At Camp Missouri ...

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:47:24 -0700

... dad lights off Moon Rockets

... Matt finds a turtle!

... dad takes the boat out at sunrise

Lori runs the Firecracker 5k

... halcyon hunts

... Mom explains the rules of Croquet to Chad, Lori, and Matt

... Jen has trouble getting in the frame with Samar

... Mom and Dad wait their turn at croquet

... Mom and Jen say cheese

... Chad laughs at Jen's photography skilz

... Matt and Lori at camp missouri

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Up in Hannibal Missouri are Jen's roots

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:16:27 -0700

I love my Grandma's smile in this picture

a very happy Grandpa Hill and Jen

Grandpa Zinner cultivates wonderful sweet plums

Grandma Zinner, Grandpa, and Jen all enjoy Grandpa's plums

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Trestles Surf Beach

nobody@vox.com(Halcyon is a cat) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:38:13 -0700

Trestles Beach -- is an icon of Southern California and part of the San Onofre State Park System. Famous for it's many, many breaks -- Uppers, Middles, Lowers -- the orientation the surf breaks and the way the beaches run along with the breakers ensures you don't have to swim very far, and that the waves break super long.

Trestles Beach entrance is walking through the train trestles

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