The fact that I’m writing this article from Prince Albert in the Karoo (South Africa) is proof that almost anything is possible with a clever hand held device.
This has lead to a marked shift in the way we view the possibilities of career and lifestyle. Enter the era of opting out. Prince Albert is full of professionals and creatives who have chosen to make their work fit into a lifestyle.
The idea is to find a happier pace and sense of self-fulfillment before the rickety bliss of retirement. It’s a trend that not only fills up small towns in the Karoo (and Spain and Columbia), but also coffee shops and offices-rented-by-the-hour (or hot desks) in cities globally.
The opt-out revolution has resulted in young employees idolising consultants over their CEO bosses. They idolize their freedom, fun, creativity, and sense of ownership. The cost to corporates is an increasing loss of talent and greater expense on outsourcing work to consultants.
It’s no wonder corporates are starting to review notions of corporate culture, talent recognition and work values. But in the meantime (in the throws of revolution), how easy is it to opt out? After speaking with converts, it would seem easier than you think but harder than you hoped.
There are certainly financial, social and psychological factors that need to be weighed in. Converts all seem to come back to a common concern: sustainability. We are not only talking financial sustainability, but also the ability to sustain the quiet where there are no water cooler brainstorms or networking sessions, or the distractions of modern living which keep us slightly far from the hard parts of ourselves.
Some things to consider: how does one stay stimulated, motivated, current, competitive, financially sustainable, and okay in the silence of being on your own?
Courtesy of TheSouthAfrican.com
