Ditch Your 9-5 job. Become Rich.
By Sanjeev Jain
Recent pandemic upheavals and a work from home situation thereafter has forced people to rethink about the 9 to 5 work culture and its disadvantages. In a survey, which was conducted last year, 30 percent of employees around the world said they would consider seeking a new job if their current employer required them to return to the office full time. Though employers and workers have realized the advantages of flexible workplace and work timings, the majority of offices around the world now have switched back to their 9 to 5 work schedule.
Even before the pandemic, health experts have been advocating to ditch the 9 to 5 work culture as they think that sitting in a chair for a solid eight to nine hours isn't just bad for physical health, it also affects your mental well-being. Moreover, people who are doing 9 to 5 jobs aren't left with much time for the other activities of their life. And, this leads to stress, depression, and a reduced sense of well-being.
Ditch the 9-5, be your own boss and become rich!
There is another
pitfall of the traditional 9-5 job - you only earn your livelihood and never become rich! So, when you ditch the 9-5 trap, you become your own boss and there is no limit on how much you can earn. Your earnings now depend on your will and potential. As an entrepreneur or a freelancer or even as a commission agent, you not only have flexibility to decide your own working hours but also to increase your earnings. On the other hand, even with a good job, salary progression and working in a well-paid area of activity, you will never get rich. You enter and fix yourself in a comfort zone where you lead a comfortable life and don't worry much about money.
More and more people are now moving out of this 9 to 5 trap and switching to more productive avenues like freelancing, starting their own company or growing the business. In the United States alone, according to data, freelancing is on rise. Freelancers there equals nearly 34% of the entire workforce.
Hard work doesn’t make people rich!
Your 9 to 5 job will not make you wealthy even if you work harder. The fact is that hard work doesn’t make people rich. The people who are rich don't work nearly as hard as the people making a living out of a regular job - instead they work "smart". Even if your salary is into five figures, you must know that the person running the business is making a lot more than that. In fact, the harder you work the owner will be richer. Your 9 to 5 job is probably not going to make you rich.
How to get out of a 9 to 5 trap?
Here are a few steps you can take to get out of the trap of the 9 to 5 rat race:
Start saving. Spend less than you earn. Get out of the debt (if any) and then start a side business without leaving your job. You can start freelancing or can even become an insurance agent and work in your spare time. Learn and master skills in your free time. Once your business starts giving you a steady and decent income, quit your job and start giving 100 percent focus to your own enterprise.
About the author: Sanjeev Jain is a Senior Partner at Tata AIA Life Insurance.