Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying a job is a bad thing! Most people (including myself) need to work a job to earn income. I am thankful to have a job so I can pay my bills. Some people are not so fortunate due to consequences of health, company downsizing, lack of skills, etc. As long as you show up, perform according to (and beyond) company expectations and don't get fired, laid off, or incapacitated, you have a fixed income in the form of a weekly, biweekly, or monthly paycheck.

For most people, the employer-provided paycheck stands as the only form of income. As an employee, you are tied to your employer for that regular paycheck with a value pre-determined by those who provided you with the job. Sometimes you can negotiate your wage/salary and you may even periodically receive a tiny pay increase. After doing this for 45+ years, you settle for a fixed retirement benefit that would not have been enough to live by during your working years! Does this sound like a great way to retire? I don't think so. I say there is a better way!

Maybe you love your job. That's great if you do. Many jobs are vital for a society to function. Doctors, construction workers, police officers, food service workers, lawyers, and many other people serving in a profession are important to the communities they serve and we cannot live without them. Therefore, it's great that we have people who want to fill these positions. However, if you are like me and view a job as a trap, you probably recognize that working for an employer is not the only way to earn income.

Why would I refer to a job as a trap? Good question! For some people, a job is a great thing. It is a basis for identity...both professionally and socially. People go to their jobs and feel they are serving a vital function for an employer and maybe for society as well. The workplace may also be a place where the worker makes friends or finds a spouse. Working a job provides a sense of accomplishment if the employee plays a part in decision-making. Or maybe the mere process of getting hired gives the employee a sense of value and achievement.

So to answer why a job is a trap, life as a wage/salary earner involves giving up your life for the good of the company you work for. Your income, work schedule, approved vacation time, and many other factors are in the hands of your employer. Some wage-slaves even bring their work home with them because there is not enough time during the paid portion of the day to accomplish everything! I'm talking about school teachers, mental health professionals, college professors, and the like. These people have honorable positions that involve a great deal of devotion that is sometimes under-appreciated and poorly compensated. Some people in these fields are fed up with bending for their employers and decide it is time to take life by the reins in pursuit of new opportunities. Many people decide to look for options that will allow them to work at home.

Setting foot in the home based business world to make money is not necessarily an easy. First you have to decide what your passion is and explore the opportunities within. Going into business for yourself can be risky. Some home business pursuits involve investment of money. You've probably heard, "It takes money to make money." Generally this is true. Some opportunities require a sizable investment but there are many low-cost and free methods to making money aside from a job. If you are tired of the limitations presented by an employer and believe there are better ways to make money and enjoy life, continue reading!