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Making a Living Without a Job, revised edition: Winning Ways for Creating Work That You Love
For all of the millions of Americans who are out of work, soon to be out of work, or wishing to be freed from unrewarding work—here is the must-have book that will show you how you can make a living by working when, where, and how you want.
Newly revised and updated, Barbara J. Winter’s guide to successful self-employment is now more relevant than ever before. Drawing on the techniques and ideas of her popular seminars as well as her own thirty years of business expertise and that of other successful entrepreneurs, Winter offers the practical, proven way to launch your own profitable venture. Her indispensable advice ranges from why creativity is more important than capital to how to avoid the most common pitfalls of self-employment and how to develop multiple profit centers.
And for this new edition, she has added timely advice on topics including:
•how to find opportunity in a chaotic economy
•why smart, small and spunky is the 21st Century business model
•using the Internet to open the door to fresh opportunities
•the best resources to help you create and grow a business that is uniquely your own
•how to leave Employee Thinking behind and build an Entrepreneur’s Mindset
•and much more
Here are all of the tools you need for getting the most profit out of life both professionally and personally.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Newly revised and updated, Barbara J. Winter’s guide to successful self-employment is now more relevant than ever before. Drawing on the techniques and ideas of her popular seminars as well as her own thirty years of business expertise and that of other successful entrepreneurs, Winter offers the practical, proven way to launch your own profitable venture. Her indispensable advice ranges from why creativity is more important than capital to how to avoid the most common pitfalls of self-employment and how to develop multiple profit centers.
And for this new edition, she has added timely advice on topics including:
•how to find opportunity in a chaotic economy
•why smart, small and spunky is the 21st Century business model
•using the Internet to open the door to fresh opportunities
•the best resources to help you create and grow a business that is uniquely your own
•how to leave Employee Thinking behind and build an Entrepreneur’s Mindset
•and much more
Here are all of the tools you need for getting the most profit out of life both professionally and personally.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1993
163 people are currently reading
1361 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
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February 10, 2013I love this book and the workshops she provides. Her ideas and stories of other's successful ventures is reassurring and thought provoking on how to really live without a 9 to 5 job. It has been my new company "bible" this year as it allows me to dream and open my mind to how things could expand and develop in various different directions. Simple, straightforward. Not really a how to on specifics but more of a larger map of possibibilites.
Want to read
March 11, 2010a truly eye-opening book for anyone who has always wished for something more than the 9-5 grind. my husband read it first and we've both taken so much from this book! it's helped us to realize that there is more out there if you're willing to try for it and that you don't have to settle into a life/job that you don't want.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE WHO FEELS LOST OR WHO SIMPLY WANTS MORE OUT OF LIFE
HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE WHO FEELS LOST OR WHO SIMPLY WANTS MORE OUT OF LIFE
February 10, 2012
I have to say, I didn't really have high hopes that I would get anything much out of this book, but It came highly recommended from a friend. It really did give some good advice and insight about tools, techniques and mindsets and beliefs you have to have to follow your passion and be successful making money at it.
I think the best advice I got from this book was the idea of having multiple streams of income. But mostly this book made me feel extremely passionate about finally taking that step to start doing my own thing and to start using my talents for me and not someone else!
If anyone has ever dreamed of leaving their hellish 9-5 job to make a living doing something they truly love to do, this book is for you!
I think the best advice I got from this book was the idea of having multiple streams of income. But mostly this book made me feel extremely passionate about finally taking that step to start doing my own thing and to start using my talents for me and not someone else!
If anyone has ever dreamed of leaving their hellish 9-5 job to make a living doing something they truly love to do, this book is for you!
November 28, 2012
When I attended Barbara's seminar of the same name about twenty years ago, I got far more out of her presentation than I expected. The core of her strategy is the concept of multiple profit centers. Instead of finding one job that makes $30,000, for instance, create three jobs that make $10,000 each. In time, one may grow to $15,000, one may grow to $20,000 and one may go away altogether. But new profit centers may present themselves as well. That's essentially how I cobbled together a living all this time: writing magazine articles, corporate collateral, books, greeting cards, syndicated cartoons, etc. I'm also a certified massage therapist and took my table to Minneapolis hotels for a number of years. Most of what I did was writing but I was often writing very different things. Barbara also covers the psychology of making a living without a job. If you don't have the right attitude, if you don't trust in the universe and in yourself, it's not going to work. This is a valuable book to get you started moving in an entrepreneurial direction. I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to be their own boss.
January 9, 2014
I liked this book. It included bullet points, check lists, and blank lines to help you really think in addition to a handy resource guide in the back. This is good for someone maybe starting out on their business and needs some motivation or someone who wants to tart a business but does not think its possible.
What I did NOT like about this book was it was wayy too optimistic. I admit I am a pessimist but I have read many entrepreneur books and they always mention the hard facts. According to this author anyone can start a business! You don't need connections or capital, all you need is creativity! When your business isn't doing too well or you dont have enough money to pay your bills just start another business! and another until you have multiple streams of income! When you don't have enough money to do the fun things you enjoy, start a free hobby and turn that into a business!
The truth is people need a job to make a living and quitting your job to become your own boss is not as quick and easy as she makes it sounds. Besides touching on things like having an accountant, lawyer, and copyright, the author said nothing about the real-world steps to starting and owning your business (taxes, llc vs. sole proprietorship, etc).
Like I said I liked this book. I just wish she would've shared more of her own learning experiences or stories of people that did not succeed and why.
What I did NOT like about this book was it was wayy too optimistic. I admit I am a pessimist but I have read many entrepreneur books and they always mention the hard facts. According to this author anyone can start a business! You don't need connections or capital, all you need is creativity! When your business isn't doing too well or you dont have enough money to pay your bills just start another business! and another until you have multiple streams of income! When you don't have enough money to do the fun things you enjoy, start a free hobby and turn that into a business!
The truth is people need a job to make a living and quitting your job to become your own boss is not as quick and easy as she makes it sounds. Besides touching on things like having an accountant, lawyer, and copyright, the author said nothing about the real-world steps to starting and owning your business (taxes, llc vs. sole proprietorship, etc).
Like I said I liked this book. I just wish she would've shared more of her own learning experiences or stories of people that did not succeed and why.
April 6, 2012
A classic that only improves with time, particularly in the current economy. The best way to create a life you love is to build it around meaningful work. This book helps you figure out just what that is.
October 28, 2009
I first read the previous edition of this book several years ago. That time I sped through, loving every word. This time, I still loved every word but I read it more slowly, not wanting to get through it too quickly. Several parts of the book were especially memorable to me this time around. First, the description of self esteem as self awareness really resonated with me. I have always felt that I was lacking in self esteem, and this simple definition has helped me immensely. I am now trying to be more aware of myself and that is making a big difference. I also feel that the emphasis on multiple profit centers and starting slowly rather than big and expensive is so simple and true, yet so often ignored. Finally, this time around I read the book wanting everyone I know to read it, whether they wanted to build their own business or not. This is about how to live, not just how to work.
April 23, 2021
I got a lot of good ideas from this book and thought it was interesting her perspective on multiple revenue streams such as ones that cluster and correlate and others that are independent. I like the idea of both having some clustered ones and some independent ones because I think that gives you the best diversification. I own a occupy a duplex and have a small technical consulting business and I'm always open to ideas for additional revenue streams I'd heard it's best to have anywhere from three to five but then I kind of wonder how many plates do you have spinning and how manageable is it cuz I think it's a fine line from too many things that just kick out two little money to too few things that you're too dependent on but this is a great book overall.
October 30, 2015
A very inspirational and motivating book for people thinking about starting their own business. The author encourages the reader to value the special interest and unique experiences, talents, and skills each of us have. Event though there are some books out there, who state the "passion" is overrated in business, according to the author referring to a scientific longtime research, from all those people in the study who have become millionaires, the most significant different is persistence and passion. The author states furthermore that purpose is one of the most powerful motivators. If your only goal is to pay your bills at the end of the month, you are heading for troubles. Finding a purpose for your work is essential, the greater the purpose, the greater the motivation.
January 24, 2016
Changed my life. It took me several years to transition to a joyfully jobless state but this was the book that set it all in motion. Been a free-ranger for over 10 years and have never been happier. Thank you Barbara Winter!
November 28, 2019
Although this book couldn't work well for a guy from China like me on account of the different institutional environments. I none the less got a lot of inspirations from the numerous cases of freelancers in a variety of vocations. I also got some fun from another aspect of having a overview of American entrepreneurial environment, which is most interesting stuff for me.
I have no the qualification to rate the usefulness of this book since I never get on that path, there is still one thing I can tell and remind you. The author is woman, her early career is "successful woman", and most of the examples are feminine freelancers, which means the book target to mainly feminine reader. The spirits and means are somehow not so in man's style.
I have no the qualification to rate the usefulness of this book since I never get on that path, there is still one thing I can tell and remind you. The author is woman, her early career is "successful woman", and most of the examples are feminine freelancers, which means the book target to mainly feminine reader. The spirits and means are somehow not so in man's style.
June 23, 2018
It has been four years since I purchased this book, but I can remember which I first read it, I devoured it in one sitting. I then went back and made notes, annotated it and added lots of sticky labels.
The labels have been removed one by one as I achieve the goals that I set myself and I still read it from time-to-time - as I have done recently, just to give myself a boost.
Unlike many books of this nature where some suggestions do not seem to have stood the test of time, this one has and I pick up a nugget of useful information everytime I re-read it
The labels have been removed one by one as I achieve the goals that I set myself and I still read it from time-to-time - as I have done recently, just to give myself a boost.
Unlike many books of this nature where some suggestions do not seem to have stood the test of time, this one has and I pick up a nugget of useful information everytime I re-read it
October 1, 2017
Quite outdated, a bit wordy, but worth to read. It sparkles the hidden freelancer-entrepreneur in you. It exhudes this typical american optimism about yourself and the business environment, which I dislike: the world is not the US and one has to keep well in mind one's limitations. You have to dream, as an entrepreneur, but with the foot solidly anchored on the ground. All in all, it's ok for an inspirational read.
October 23, 2017
This book feels dated and meant for an audience that doesn't include me. If you are shy, have low self-esteem, live a sheltered or suppressed life, have little sense of self identity, or have merely followed the course of life as expected without inner analysis, then you might get more out of this than I did.
June 19, 2021
Interesting book, with a lot of comments and stories and thoughts that ring true. Although not earth-shatteringly new information, the authors points are helpful to hear over again and she tells stories in a very engaging way. The book was written quite some time ago, so some references are outdated because of the evolution of the internet and business in general, but that didn't take away from the main messages. Overall a good read.
March 17, 2021
There were some good ideas and some good thought process prompts throughout the book. It got a little touchy feely at times but I think overall it was useful, interesting, and a good starting point for someone interested in making this kind of life change.
January 28, 2023
Wish I knew sooner that this is a book from 1993. Despite the update from 2009... Very irrevelant now. "Thanks to the personal computer...". Really? We all have laptops and smartphones now. Why are they still selling this old book fml.
December 7, 2017
The book is a bit old but it is still full of great information and inspiration how to become your own boss. I will definitely keep it as a guide for my personal journey.
November 2, 2020
Nothing spectacular. haven't read anything about anything new. everything in this book is already known and available online.
August 28, 2023
There are many benefits to not having a job. Some never get this opportunity and miss out.
July 15, 2012
In her book, Barbara J. Winter writes about "winning ways for creating work that you love", how to be your own boss, and explore your entrepreneurial dreams and ideas.
I found this book a timely read even though it's original printing was in 1993. Especially in this economical struggle for many, the author shares not only her own experiences with entrepreneurial business ventures;but other's who have gone on their way to being their own bosses. She writes, "Big businesses have lost their cachet, as well as the belief that they were the foundation of our society's economic health."
I would recommend this book to anyone who is any field, already a small business owner, whether beginner or seasoned, and also to anyone who may find themselves out of work, downsized, or just plain unhappy working for someone else.
This book if filled with ideas on how to brainstorm, marketing, creating "multiple profit centers", finding your passion, doing your homework and much more. It also contains many exercises, questions and lists to ponder, and blank spaces for goal setting.
In the last chapter of the book, the author gives a recommended reading list, and
many resources to various associations, and publications all related to the self-employed. I found this to be an inspirational read, that has given me many more ideas, that I may not have discovered, had I not read this book. This title may be found on Barbara J. Winter's website, or at Amazon.com.
I found this book a timely read even though it's original printing was in 1993. Especially in this economical struggle for many, the author shares not only her own experiences with entrepreneurial business ventures;but other's who have gone on their way to being their own bosses. She writes, "Big businesses have lost their cachet, as well as the belief that they were the foundation of our society's economic health."
I would recommend this book to anyone who is any field, already a small business owner, whether beginner or seasoned, and also to anyone who may find themselves out of work, downsized, or just plain unhappy working for someone else.
This book if filled with ideas on how to brainstorm, marketing, creating "multiple profit centers", finding your passion, doing your homework and much more. It also contains many exercises, questions and lists to ponder, and blank spaces for goal setting.
In the last chapter of the book, the author gives a recommended reading list, and
many resources to various associations, and publications all related to the self-employed. I found this to be an inspirational read, that has given me many more ideas, that I may not have discovered, had I not read this book. This title may be found on Barbara J. Winter's website, or at Amazon.com.
May 28, 2012
An extension of Dan Miller's "No More Mondays," Barbara Winter's "Making a Living Without a Job" extends this knowledge to go beyond the basics to show you examples of what a life without a full-time job might actually be like. Not only has she created several different money-making endeavors throughout her career, but she trains many others to do the same.
My favorite portion of the book is where she talks about creating multiple streams of income. She has you picturing a juggler, who begins spinning one plate and once that plate is going, to start spinning another plate. Basically, she is describing her process for creating many ways of bringing income in at the same time. Instead of starting everything at once, though, Winter encourages you to start one project for 90 days, then begin the next. She explains that if you create many ways to make money you'll never rely solely on one income stream, which makes it easier to survive.
Much of the book also focuses on increasing your self-esteem and easy ways to do that; coming up with creative money-making ideas and why you should never stop that process; and how to take care of yourself along the way.
It is an easy, quick read with tons of ideas for new businesses that can be started immediately.
If you are looking to bring in money, this book will show you where ideas for self-employment comes from.
My favorite portion of the book is where she talks about creating multiple streams of income. She has you picturing a juggler, who begins spinning one plate and once that plate is going, to start spinning another plate. Basically, she is describing her process for creating many ways of bringing income in at the same time. Instead of starting everything at once, though, Winter encourages you to start one project for 90 days, then begin the next. She explains that if you create many ways to make money you'll never rely solely on one income stream, which makes it easier to survive.
Much of the book also focuses on increasing your self-esteem and easy ways to do that; coming up with creative money-making ideas and why you should never stop that process; and how to take care of yourself along the way.
It is an easy, quick read with tons of ideas for new businesses that can be started immediately.
If you are looking to bring in money, this book will show you where ideas for self-employment comes from.
April 30, 2015
Who wouldn't want to make a living without a job? I heard someone interviewed on the radio today saying "I go to work every day and think 'I can't believe I work here and they pay me for this!' about his music studio job. Well, that's not the case for many of us--those who have had to shape shift into various jobs in order to survive or accommodate some other thing in our lives like school or care giving. This book is really hopeful and is written by someone who clearly did create a career out of things she enjoyed doing. There are helpful guidelines for staying on track and keeping one's faith in following their dreams or simply keeping up doing the things one likes to do and seeing where it goes. The statement "I love my job so much it's not even a job: I can't believe they pay me to do this!" has yet to come out of my mouth. This books makes me believe that maybe it is possible even though there's only a hair-width of light in the darkness.
Recommended for anyone who has considered "What if I quit this crappy job and just do the things I like to do?"
What a world it would be if everyone absolutely loved their work...
Recommended for anyone who has considered "What if I quit this crappy job and just do the things I like to do?"
What a world it would be if everyone absolutely loved their work...
March 19, 2020
This is not a recent book but it tackles an issue we've been facing for years... the fact that safe and permanent jobs don't exist anymore and now more than ever it's important to cultivate our talents, passions, and experience to create our own job, to stop depending on a big company or employer, to stop being just numbers and working-machines and finally become people who LIVE and do fulfilling and successful jobs.
IS IT EASY? Not at all! DO WE HAVE TO LEAVE OUR REGULAR EMPLOYMENT IN ORDER TO START DOING WHAT WE LOVE? Not necessarily. In this book, Barbara Winter gives a lot of testimonies and practical exercises and examples to find out ways to creating the work we love, as the title say. And I believe the next step is doing a job we love and that can also benefit and improve others' people life.
We are currently facing heavy weather, but this is not the time to be selfish and passive. We should all do our best, in any way we can, to be proactive and plan for the next phase, in order to create a better job and therefore a better, healthier and happier life for ouselves and the people around us.
IS IT EASY? Not at all! DO WE HAVE TO LEAVE OUR REGULAR EMPLOYMENT IN ORDER TO START DOING WHAT WE LOVE? Not necessarily. In this book, Barbara Winter gives a lot of testimonies and practical exercises and examples to find out ways to creating the work we love, as the title say. And I believe the next step is doing a job we love and that can also benefit and improve others' people life.
We are currently facing heavy weather, but this is not the time to be selfish and passive. We should all do our best, in any way we can, to be proactive and plan for the next phase, in order to create a better job and therefore a better, healthier and happier life for ouselves and the people around us.
September 19, 2015
A valuable book. Lots of ideas and inspiration. Encouraging. The only reason I didn't give Barbara 5 stars is my criticism that quite a bit of the self-help stuff had echoes of 'the secret' about it and I don't have a strong faith in this I'm afraid.
However, having the right attitude, one which says 'Can Do' is essential in order to turn creative thinking about earning a living into a reality. I actually attended a workshop of hers in London a while back and she was brilliant. She certainly is a role model for what she offers as a solution to the default notion of having to have a 'job'. You can start small with Barbara; "If you have a job now, start thinking of it as ONE of your profit centres". Hugely important for people who cannot just give up their current work.
As she so rightly says, "we have to fill a huge void in our thinking about working for ourselves". This book helps to fill that void.
Lots of nuggets to be found here!
However, having the right attitude, one which says 'Can Do' is essential in order to turn creative thinking about earning a living into a reality. I actually attended a workshop of hers in London a while back and she was brilliant. She certainly is a role model for what she offers as a solution to the default notion of having to have a 'job'. You can start small with Barbara; "If you have a job now, start thinking of it as ONE of your profit centres". Hugely important for people who cannot just give up their current work.
As she so rightly says, "we have to fill a huge void in our thinking about working for ourselves". This book helps to fill that void.
Lots of nuggets to be found here!
February 25, 2016
I've found out that the more interesting, more informative parts of this particular book to my mind can be found in its last few chapters. I did complete reading the book, including its recommended lists of books-to-read, some of which I have sold already to customers I've got in my online bookstore, and some of which I've read as well. Having a graduate degree in business, I'm already aware that the only way to solve logistics-related troubles I have (including money) in a permanent, solid manner is by successfully building, growing, expanding my own business, which can be challenging because I'm basically artistically inclined when tackling life's numerous troubles. The author's experiences as well as the sharings (plus citations from other books) she made from other similarly-minded entrepreneurs in the book have helped get me inspired to continue in my endeavors to build, grow, expand my business. Thank you for the wonderful tips!
February 15, 2015
Great book if you don't want to go the traditional route to make money. And no, this is not some scam for get rich or half-ass plans for money. It is really well thought out and researched. I was already going down this path and loved hear about others who are also doing so. It works out for different interests and personalities. Even going great examples you can try out. I loved the idea of Multiple Money Making Centers. You can work on different things at different times but everything has a different cycle. So there's a better chance of always having money coming in.
I would definitely recommend this to any person who is tired of 9-5 and wants something different that you've never seen in any aptitude test or careers book. It gave me hope to be spending most of my time doing things I enjoy while making money. Why should making a living be boring or full of anxiety?
I would definitely recommend this to any person who is tired of 9-5 and wants something different that you've never seen in any aptitude test or careers book. It gave me hope to be spending most of my time doing things I enjoy while making money. Why should making a living be boring or full of anxiety?
June 15, 2009
This book offered great insights and inspiration for my transition from unemployed to self-employed and self-empowered. Barbara speaks from the heart and balances general, self-help suggestions with actual business tips and ideas you can start using immediately. While some of the recommendations are dated (the version I had, which I think was the most recent, was updated in 1993!), so much of it is timeless. I really like Barbara's approach to "multiple profit centers" so that you never put all of your eggs in one basket again. Very inspiring - and I will keep my copy for years to come, for ongoing reference and inspiration. Highly recommended for anyone considering a career change that does not want to work for someone else again.
May 23, 2012
Do you long to work for yourself? Does everyone around you kill your dream because they are busy being miserable working for someone else? If this sounds familiar this book is for you. Barbara J. Winter offers common-sense ideas and enthusiasm about starting your own business. It's refreshing, informative and her stories about her own job experiences will hit home. A native Minnesotan who now runs her own business in Las Vegas gets it
right when she proclaims; everyday more of us decide to inhabit this new creative minority, thus leaving the old work paradigm in the dust. I wanted
to stand up and cheer after reading this book the first time and then going back and reading it again; it's a feel good for those of us who often are
alone in our dreams of being an entrepreneur.
right when she proclaims; everyday more of us decide to inhabit this new creative minority, thus leaving the old work paradigm in the dust. I wanted
to stand up and cheer after reading this book the first time and then going back and reading it again; it's a feel good for those of us who often are
alone in our dreams of being an entrepreneur.
May 1, 2013
I read the first edition of this, and I'm currently reading the most recent. I just love Barbara Winter's ability to deconstruct societal expectations that we should all be defined by one occupation and one occupation only. What a horribly depressing thought. This book is one of the most encouraging things out there for those who want to start their own business, or make their living in a more unusual way like for example, several part-time jobs which would allow one to write or pursue other interests.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews