In honor of Labor Day I’m giving away three books about the working world — and how to approach it on your own terms. Three books, three winners.
In “The 9-to-5 Cure: Work on Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life,” Kristin Cardinale shows ways to find “flexible, lucrative work without a traditional full-time job.”
Quick aside: Having a non-traditional job doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t work as hard as you do in a regular employment situation. You may even work harder. (Ask me how I know.) But for some people, being your own boss — or at least not having to punch a clock — makes those late nights worth it.
“Odd Jobs: How to Have Fun and Make Money in a Bad Economy” focuses on ways to make a buck that can be seasonal, part-time or even full-time. A few options from the back cover of the book: worm farmer, body part model, dog walker, ice cream taster, mascot, organ (not the musical kind) courier, video game tester and pedicab operator.
The author has personally held two dozen of the jobs listed in the book, including “lipstick reader.” You’ve heard of reading tea leaves, right? In this case you’re reading someone’s lips, so to speak: Looking at an imprint of her lipsticked mouth on a piece of paper and telling her something about her personality and/or her future. This is not a joke, even though it sounds like one. The pay’s nothing to giggle at, either: $25 to $50 per hour.
“The Sequel: How to Change Your Career Without Starting Over” by Laurence Shatkin suggests using skills and experience “in a fresh direction. Shatkin offers seven “career-change paths.” After you choose the route that works for you, the author gives step-by-step tips for following that path to a new job.
Obviously, none of these books makes it “easy” to change jobs. That’s always going to be challenging. But having a guide to making changes can save you a lot of stumbling around in the dark. Such books also provide information you might never have found on your own. For example, I bet you’d never thought of a career as an organ courier until I mentioned it.
Remember that you can enter up to five ways. Make sure that in one of your comments you indicate your first, second and third choices. Once the random number generator has spoken, I’ll do my best to accommodate the winners’ tastes. If you don’t have a preference, don’t bother ranking your choices.
To enter:
- Leave a comment below
- Subscribe via e-mail or RSS
- Sign up to follow Surviving and Thriving on Twitter or Facebook
If you do any (or all!) of these things, please leave separate, additional comments to get credit for each entry.
The entry deadline is 9 p.m. PDT Tuesday, Sept. 4. The winner must respond by noon Wednesday, Sept. 5. However, the books may not be mailed out right away — I leave for the Financial Blogger Conference very, very early on Thursday, and may run flat outta time on Wednesday. Bear with me.
These books sound like that might be good reference materials.
1st – “The 9 to 5 Cure: Work On Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life”
2nd – “The Sequel: How To Change Your Career Without Starting Over”
3rd – “Odd Jobs: How To Have Fun and Make Money In A Bad Economy”
I subscribe via email.
These books sound like that might be good reference materials.
1st – “The 9 to 5 Cure: Work On Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life”
2nd – “The Sequel: How To Change Your Career Without Starting Over”
3rd – “Odd Jobs: How To Have Fun and Make Money In A Bad Economy”
I follow you on Facebook.
1. The Sequel: How To Change Your Career Without Starting Over
2. The 9 to 5 Cure: Work On Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life
3. Odd Jobs: How To Have Fun and Make Money In A Bad Economy
Thanks!
please enter me im subscribed via email
i figured i need to increase my odds so im following you via twitter
All three books sound interesting. Surprise me! Thanks Donna.
Facebook too.
I read you via email.Have a wonderful time!
1. odd jobs
2. 9 to 5 cure
3. the sequel
thanks
I get your emails
I like you on fackbook
I follow you on twitter-grandmasreading
They all sound interesting to me too.
1st – “The 9 to 5 Cure: Work On Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life”
2nd – “Odd Jobs: How To Have Fun and Make Money In A Bad Economy”
3rd – “The Sequel: How To Change Your Career Without Starting Over”
All these books sound interesting. If I don’t win, I may have to add these to my kindle wish list.
1st – “The 9 to 5 Cure: Work on Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life”
2nd – “The Sequel: How to Change Your Career Without Starting Over”
3rd – “Odd Jobs: How To Have Fun and Make Money In A Bad Economy”
1-The 9 to 5 Cure
2- The Sequel
3- Odd Jobs
They all sound like worthwhile reads.
I subscribe by email.
I follow on twitter.
I think “Odd Jobs” sounds the most interesting. Thank you Donna.
I would love to win any of the books, I am an email subscriber.
all of these books sound interesting! my preference is in the order you wrote about them.
i’m following by rss
i like you on facebook
I could certainly use any of these books!!!
I would love any of these books!
I would like any of these books!!!
They sound interesting. Thanks.
1. “The 9 to 5 Cure: Work On Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life”
2. “Odd Jobs: How To Have Fun and Make Money In A Bad Economy”
3. “The Sequel: How To Change Your Career Without Starting Over”
I subscribe via email.
Oh, yes, please! Happens I need to find a job or career or some way of bringing in enough money to support myself, and I could use all the help I can get!
1. The 9-5 Cure
2. Odd Jobs
3. The Sequel
Thanks for the opportunity, and I hope you have a great time at the conference.
I cut back on the number of books I’m bringing into the house these days. My book shelves are pretty spare and I’d love some new beach reads.
I subscribe by RSS.
I follow on twitter.
I could use any of these books.
I subscribe via email.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I subscribe by RSS.
I follow you on Facebook.
I read your emails and Tweets–please enter me to win, and Thanks for the give-a-way!
1st choice: 9 to 5
2nd choice: Odd Jobs
3rd choice: The Sequel
1- “Odd Jobs: How To Have Fun and Make Money In A Bad Economy”
2- “The Sequel: How To Change Your Career Without Starting Over”
3- “The 9 to 5 Cure: Work On Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life”
Thank you for the giveaway.
I subscribe via RSS.
I subscribe via e-mail…
The second book would be great — but I’d take any of the three!
I follow you on facebook. In order of preference, I would like to win 1) The Sequel, 2) The 9-5 Cure and 3)Odd Jobs. Hope you’re enjoying the Labor Day weekend. K
I am certainly ready to think about some changes in the work world!
1) Sequel
2) 9 to 5
3) Odd Jobs
I follow you via email.
I follow you on Facebook. Order of preference – The 9 to 5 cure, Odd Jobs and Sequel. Thanks!
I follow you on Twitter
I would prefer the odd jobs book or the 9-5 book if the random number generator picks me please.
And finally, I subscribe by email.
I think it would be wonderful to embark on an alternative to the 9-5 everyday work routine. I am ready to create a new adventure in my life. Being close to retirement age and ready to slow down a little, it would be wonderful to work using and designing a different type of work matrix. This appeals to the artist in me. I am grateful for your eloquent contributions.
i love your blog
i follow you on facebook
I just found you! Really, any of the books sound great, but personal preference is:
1. 9-5
2. Odd Jobs
3. The Sequel
Donna, Any of the three books would be great. You are an excellent writer, one of few people whose work I seek out several times a week. THANKS!!
thanks for the giveaway. Theses books would be great
Subscribe via e-mail
Subscribe via rss google reader
follow Surviving and Thriving on Twitter @mw2314
follow Surviving and Thriving on fb
I would love to read “The 9-to-5 Cure: Work on Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life”. Thanks for contest, Donna!!!
They all sound good. Odd jobs sounds very interesting.
All the books sound interesting.
Those books sound really interesting..
great variety of reads!
1. odd jobs
2. 9 to 5 cure
3. the sequel
email subscriber
I follow on twitter (moeyshay)
I follow on facebook (Moey Shay)
I’m an email subscriber. captainliss40(at)gmail(dot)com
The book on odd jobs..how to have fun and make money sounds very interesting to me. I only work part time at my job and maybe this book would give me some ideas how to make money on the side!
Happy Labor Day Everyone! Thanks for the contest, Donna. I follow you via e-mail. All three of the books look very interesting. My grandparents knew how to live frugally and it was supported culturally/socially. Now, not only do you have to struggle to come up with ways to support yourself and your family, there is so little support in our consumer-based society. It makes it harder emotionally and mentally to live counter-culturally by living well, simply. Thanks so much for your posts. You make a difference.
Donna, I would love to win any of these books.
I would especially like to win The Sequel book, but I would appreciate any of the 3. Thanks Donna for being so generous and helpful!
I’d like any of these books…they all sound interesting!
Now that my wife and I are empty-nesters and we are changing our lives, these books might be a good place to start.
1st – “The 9 to 5 Cure: Work On Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life”
2nd – “The Sequel: How To Change Your Career Without Starting Over”
3rd – “Odd Jobs: How To Have Fun and Make Money In A Bad Economy”
Thanks for the give away!
I already receive your RSS feed.
Actually it’s the email that I’m already signed up for. Will do RSS shortly.
1. odd jobs
2. 9 to 5 cure
3. the sequel
would love very much 😉
Following on facebook as well.. Thanks 🙂
Email Subscription all set..
I subscribe by email
1. 9 to 5 cure
2. odd jobs
3. the sequel
I subscribe by Facebook too
1. 9 to 5 cure
2. odd jobs
3. the sequel
1. Odd Jobs
2. 9-5
3. Career Change
🙂
Facebook fan!
Email subscriber!
Yikes – I’m right under the wire to get my request in! –wait, is that poor English?
I could really love one of these books for myself, but could also use it to help clients at my social service agency — my fingers are crossed!
Also, wanted to thank you for your last blog — I pick up change, too, and often wonder why others don’t — this economy won’t get better until we all start watching the pennies!
They all sound interesting to me too.
1st – “The 9 to 5 Cure: Work On Your Own Terms and Reinvent Your Life”
2nd – “Odd Jobs: How To Have Fun and Make Money In A Bad Economy”
3rd – “The Sequel: How To Change Your Career Without Starting Over”
Email Subcriber and like on facebook.
Sorry forgot to hit send last night. i am very sad now
Wow, they look wonderful. At 42, looking to change careers, and it totally freaks me out to think about it, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Would love one of these to help me out!
Sounds interesting!
It’s a great opportunity now that the economy it’s not that great