The Online Investing AI Blog

Last night I was watching the news (a terrible habit I need to get rid of!) and there was another story about how bad the economy is and how hard it is to find a job. I always have the same reaction when people say they are looking for a job. It makes me wonder, “Who wants a job?”

Having a job for decades and retiring on a pension was a system that ended in the 1980’s. Since then, the economy has changed so rapidly that working in the same job for 20 years is nearly impossible. Besides that, the financial mismanagement of companies and the government has made pensions and social security unreliable.

So what’s the solution?

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Accelerating Technology, Dreams Come True, Great Books, Investing, Money, Online Investing AI, Success, US Economy economy, Investing, jobs, Money, pensions, social security, Success, technology, the wealth singularity, tv

michelehrv @ Flickr

In perhaps the biggest no-kidding study of this young century, a recent study indicates that job satisfaction is at an all time low.

Can we just say, no kidding?

Job satisfaction is down. Scratch that. It’s not down. It’s plummeting, according to The Conference Board.

The Conference Board’s survey polled 5,000 households, and found that only 45% were satisfied in their jobs. That’s down from 61.1% in 1987, the first year the survey was conducted.

A total of 61 percent of the workforce is looking for a way out!

But it gets worse. Workers younger than 25 were the most unhappy in their jobs. These are our future. They’re saying they don’t have one.

And I say it’s all good news.

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Accelerating Technology, Automated Trading, Business Strategy, Dreams Come True, Internet, Money, Online Investing AI, Success, US Economy company, corporation, employment, job satisfaction, jobs, portable empire, work

Frozen Economy by lrargerich @ Flickr

The Fed’s Beige Book business survey, which reported that the economy is improving “modestly” the last few weeks. (You can read a report on the Beige Book at Forbes.)

The survey looks at economic condition in 12 markets. A total of eight of those markets are starting to show signs of increased economic activity.

That’s a little silver lining. The report also indicates that hiring remains weak and may not reach past levels in six to eight years.

That’s right: six to eight YEARS.

“But wait,” I hear you say, “I thought you said there was a silver lining. People losing their jobs and struggling to find work isn’t good news.”

You’re right. It’s not good news. At all. But, bear with me, because there is positive news in this trend.

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Business Strategy, Money, Online Investing AI, Success, US Economy beige book, economy, fed, job, jobs, reserve, unemployment, work

The unemployment rate is considered a lagging indicator. In other words, once the economy revs up, it takes awhile for the unemployment rate to change.

Since the process of determining company employment levels, reviewing applications, interviewing, and hiring people can take weeks, if not months, the unemployment rate lags the rest of the economic indicators.

In our current economic climate, we’re seeing economic indicators that  indicate a recovery is on the way. The market has adjusted. Earnings are improving. When this happened in other economic periods, the unemployment rate slowly dropped.

But this economy isn’t like other ones.

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Business Strategy, Investing, Money, Online Investing AI, US Economy debt, employment, jobs, Money, regulations, tax, unemployment

A few days ago, I found this interesting article on the Fast Company site about hard work. Most people think that if we work hard, then our success is guaranteed. I wonder if the idea that hard work leads to success is only half the story.

The stratospheric rise of Japan, Korea, China and other Asian countries in the last 50 years is definitely largely due to hard work. Asian students dominate many of the most competitive universities in America. All other things being equal, consistent dedication to any task will create an advantage and results.

However, there is another side to the argument. Yes, it’s true that if we work hard we will make progress. But there is an important question we need to ask.

What are we working hard to achieve? What is the goal?

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Job prospects look bleak.

Just how bleak? Check out The Great Recession Transforms Workplace, Work Force. It’s one of those methodical stories the mainstream media loves to release that makes you feel like your in a car crash and everything is moving in slow motion.

But, to speed it up: people aren’t retiring and young people aren’t finding jobs. The jobs that they do find tend to be part-time.

As the writer puts it:

“The work force is graying as college graduates can’t find jobs, young workers get laid off and older workers delay retirement. People in white-collar jobs are feeling increasingly vulnerable to economic downturns, an insecurity that blue-collar workers have known for years.”

What this means: Job Insecurity.

What the article–and so many doom and gloom tales in the media today–are short on are solutions. I think there are some.

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Accelerating Technology, Business Strategy, Dreams Come True, Internet, Investing, Money, Online Investing AI, Success, US Economy job, job security, jobless, jobs, unemployment

We had some good news on the employment front this week. Sorta.

It looks like the rate of people losing their jobs has slowed. It’s only sorta bad because, if you’re one of those people who lost a job–no matter how slow the rate is–it’s still a scary time. But, once the shock has worn off, the newly jobless often say the moment they lost their position was the best moment of their lives.

They learned to stand on their own. They learned to trust themselves. They opened up the window to new skills and new ways to make money.

If you’re one of those people, here’s a week’s worth of articles and posts to help you through this transition period.

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Flickr photo by Bohman

When those pink slips are passed out and those cardboard boxes appear on desks, most workers have pity and remorse for their soon-to-be departed colleagues.

But, it may be the unemployed who should pity the workers who still have a job.

First, the work load will increase without their fellow helpers there to shoulder some of the burden.

Another reason is that while the laid-off worker has accepted his or her fate, the current employees are still left with the anxiety that their positions may be the next head on the chopping block.

And, according to a survey (found in the June 29the edition of the Investor’s Business Daily), workers who are laid-off actually getting their lives together!

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Money, Online Investing AI, Success, US Economy employment, freedom, jobs, laid-off, personal finance, worker, working

The head talkers of Washington D.C. and talking heads of Wall Street are in a frenzy about job creation numbers.

What is the meaning of job creation?

How is a job created?

Is a job saved the same as a job created?

With the unemployment rate soaring into double digits, the so-called experts offer a range of theories and programs that are designed to create jobs and/or save jobs.They believe the twist of a pen could create a million jobs–or save a million jobs, whatever.

Still another rash of programs, taxes, and penalties are promising to help build the “green economy.”

Bunk.

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Money, Online Investing AI, US Economy economy, government, jobless, jobs, unemployment

First of all..

What’s an instant entrepreneur? In the first time in history, a person can instantly become an entrepreneur, all it takes is an internet connection. Back in the day, you needed suppliers and delivery people, or you needed a factory, or sales people. You needed to take out an advertisement and wait a few days before it would show up in the paper.

The power of online technology has brought down barriers to billions of people and, hence, millions of different markets.

With just an internet connection, you can make money by creating a web site, an application, or a blog. You can easily and cheaply make money running an affiliate site, or earning pay-per-click revenue. You can earn cash by freelancing your writing, design, or web development skills.

Instantly.

Note that I didn’t say Instant Successful Entrepreneur. This category may exist, but more than likely, you’ll need some help to become an ISE.

Here are ten blogs that will help you not only realize the power of becoming an instant entrepreneur, but will also guide you along the process.

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Automated Trading, Business Strategy, Internet, Money, Online Investing AI, Success, US Economy financial freedom, income, instant entrepreneur, jobs, Money, occupation, work for yourself