Preface:
I'm working on different automated businesses that will help me to achieve the international lifestyle goals shared by most guys on this forum.
However, I'm also acutely aware of the lack of dependability, or possible limited-term viability, of businesses such as these.
For instance, I've been writing a book that will be very useful to a certain contingent of professionals. This project has currently taken me 2 years and counting. While I expect it to sell for $300, I also know that it likely will one day become obsolete.
Hopefully I will have made enough money by then for it to have been worthwhile. However, from here on out, I will only concentrate on projects that require less time to execute. The time, effort and opportunity cost risk is just too great to do otherwise. Easier product and service businesses will likely be my future focus. That being said, I've learned a ton of useful skills that only a project like this could have taught me.
Question:
Anyway, a reliable and flexible means of making money is critical to long term sustainability of an international lifestyle. The most reliable way of making money isn't business for most people, but in acquiring a skill that is much more in demand than supply. This assures that it is easy to get hired at high wages. It also assures that once you quit a job, you can easily be rehired at another time.
After a hell of a lot of consideration, I believe that there are two professions that currently meet my requirements for quality of life and employment.
The first is becoming a certified teacher in international schools. For a number of reasons that I won't go into here, while the job itself can lead to some desirable international experiences, it is less than ideal.
The second profession, that I believe offers the best mix of flexibility and pay, is any on of the rehab health professions. Namely in physical therapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy. All three of these professions offer a roughly equivalent amount of flexibility and pay.
Specifically, one can pick up 13 week contract positions at will, in the USA, with an annualized equivalent pay of 90K and up in major metro areas. Also, your apartment is paid for. In between, one can take off for as much time as they would like to travel and pursue other interests.
I'm considering speech therapy.
Pros:
-High hourly rates ($45-75 hr, on average)
-Can pick up short term assignments anywhere in the USA, with a paid for apartment.
-There is a high savings potential during these short term assignments
-Flexible Hours if not working in schools
-Its a 'helping' profession that may offer some personal satisfaction.
-No cubicles or computer work.
-Assured employment for the rest of my life.
-Rehab care related business opportunities.
Cons:
-At least three years of full time school, when I wont be able to do much else. I'm currently 33. Opportunity cost, etc,...
-Anywhere from 45-80k in school loan debt.
-Work may be primarily with geriatrics and ultimately boring (feeding, swallowing therapy, etc)
-Limited international work
While I use computers regularly, they give me bad migraines and related health problems. Therefore, pursuing non-computer related employment is important to me.
As an aside, My automated business ideas rely on my anticipation that ultimately the related computer work can be limited or otherwise farmed out.
My ultimate focus is on having a high quality of life, a high degree of flexibility and travel opportunities, and having options/choices. Debt and lost time both scare the shit out of me.
What do you think?
I'm working on different automated businesses that will help me to achieve the international lifestyle goals shared by most guys on this forum.
However, I'm also acutely aware of the lack of dependability, or possible limited-term viability, of businesses such as these.
For instance, I've been writing a book that will be very useful to a certain contingent of professionals. This project has currently taken me 2 years and counting. While I expect it to sell for $300, I also know that it likely will one day become obsolete.
Hopefully I will have made enough money by then for it to have been worthwhile. However, from here on out, I will only concentrate on projects that require less time to execute. The time, effort and opportunity cost risk is just too great to do otherwise. Easier product and service businesses will likely be my future focus. That being said, I've learned a ton of useful skills that only a project like this could have taught me.
Question:
Anyway, a reliable and flexible means of making money is critical to long term sustainability of an international lifestyle. The most reliable way of making money isn't business for most people, but in acquiring a skill that is much more in demand than supply. This assures that it is easy to get hired at high wages. It also assures that once you quit a job, you can easily be rehired at another time.
After a hell of a lot of consideration, I believe that there are two professions that currently meet my requirements for quality of life and employment.
The first is becoming a certified teacher in international schools. For a number of reasons that I won't go into here, while the job itself can lead to some desirable international experiences, it is less than ideal.
The second profession, that I believe offers the best mix of flexibility and pay, is any on of the rehab health professions. Namely in physical therapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy. All three of these professions offer a roughly equivalent amount of flexibility and pay.
Specifically, one can pick up 13 week contract positions at will, in the USA, with an annualized equivalent pay of 90K and up in major metro areas. Also, your apartment is paid for. In between, one can take off for as much time as they would like to travel and pursue other interests.
I'm considering speech therapy.
Pros:
-High hourly rates ($45-75 hr, on average)
-Can pick up short term assignments anywhere in the USA, with a paid for apartment.
-There is a high savings potential during these short term assignments
-Flexible Hours if not working in schools
-Its a 'helping' profession that may offer some personal satisfaction.
-No cubicles or computer work.
-Assured employment for the rest of my life.
-Rehab care related business opportunities.
Cons:
-At least three years of full time school, when I wont be able to do much else. I'm currently 33. Opportunity cost, etc,...
-Anywhere from 45-80k in school loan debt.
-Work may be primarily with geriatrics and ultimately boring (feeding, swallowing therapy, etc)
-Limited international work
While I use computers regularly, they give me bad migraines and related health problems. Therefore, pursuing non-computer related employment is important to me.
As an aside, My automated business ideas rely on my anticipation that ultimately the related computer work can be limited or otherwise farmed out.
My ultimate focus is on having a high quality of life, a high degree of flexibility and travel opportunities, and having options/choices. Debt and lost time both scare the shit out of me.
What do you think?
