By: Dr. Julie Clow
There are so many gurus and life coaches out there that are telling everyone that they can that the only way to truly be happy with work, is to leave work, and get on an entrepreneurial journey. There’s books, seminars, and more than enough websites that are dedicated to helping you find a way to escape the daily grind that is your work. Dr. Clow thinks there’s a better way to go about it. In The Work Revolution, Dr. Clow lays down the argument that it isn’t that you need to find an escape from work, but that work as we know it is in need of a revolution.
The 9-5 workday has it’s roots deep in the factories and assembly lines of the industrial revolution. Dr. Clow posits that we are deep into the throws of a new revolution. An information revolution. No longer are we constrained by the physical localities that we work, and often find ourselves working with others within our company that are in entirely different timezones, and even different continents, than we are. Work needs to change, she says, and we have to help it.
Of course, the book isn’t all about just the hours we work. And, it’s not just about what we as the employees and workers can do to change work. Each of the sections has a dedicated section for employers and leaders on how they too can help change the way we work, and make our companies better.
If you aren’t ready to make the jump to self-employment and entrepreneurship, or just don’t want to, but aren’t satisfied with the work environment that you are in, take the time to read this book. It’s full of lots of information and new ideas on how work can be given a push in the right direction towards change.
On a more personal note, it’s interesting to me that I ended up with this book for review at almost the exact same time that I was making a decision on returning to the workforce. Many of the points that Dr. Clow makes on how work is broken, and how companies are dysfunctional stuck out to me as things that I had become unhappy with in my old job. At the same time, I saw many of the things that she suggests as ways to make a move towards a work revolution that were already happening at what would become my new job. Just that fact alone has made me much more comfortable with making the decision to take the job. Proof positive that The Work Revolution is a good book to read even if you’re currently looking for a job!
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When I hear about those employers who truly value their employees, I get jealous that I don’t work there. There are ways to accomplish the same amount of output without killing ourselves, but everyone is so afraid of losing what they have that fear keeps us working overtime for diminishing returns.
This sounds like an interesting read. I’m currently taking the plunge and setting up my own eCommerce store and forging my path as an entrepreneur. I definitely don’t want an escape from work but I do want to leave behind being told that I can only wear jeans on Monday and that I can only take a certain amount of days off per year. I would rather be in control of my destiny, even if it means I will have to work even more to make my new business venture work.
One of the problems with the modern working environment is the amount of team meetings and conference calls that occur. My manager spends at least half of every day in a meeting or conference call. I have no idea what is discussed during these calls or meetings, but it sure doesn’t seem to be helping business.
This is something that my BF and I always disagree about. He is definitely the type to pursue entrepreneurship and he wants to work for himself in the future. Me? It would be nice to, but I’m not expecting it. I’m definitely interested in reading this book… thanks!