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Last week I blogged about "The Top 5 Reasons to be a Jack of All Trades" and now I'm going to tell you that being an unwitting jack of all trades is wearing you out. In an article by Craig Lambert, called "The Second Job You Don’t Know You Have" the concept of "shadow jobs" is discussed and how having a third, fourth or fifth job that you don't know you have is not only hurting the economy, but impacting our psyche.
Technology has knocked the bottom rung out of the employment ladder, which has sent youth unemployment around the globe skyrocketing and presented us with a serious economic dilemma. While many have focused on the poor state of our educational system or the “jobless” recovery, another, overlooked factor behind this trend is the phenomenon of “shadow work.” I define shadow work as all the unpaid jobs we do on behalf of businesses and organizations: We are pumping our own gas, scanning our own groceries, booking our travel and busing our tables at Starbucks. Shadow work is a new concept, so as yet, no one has compiled economic data on how many jobs we, the consumers, have taken over from (erstwhile) employees. Yet it is surely a force shrinking the job market, and the unemployment it creates is structural. Thanks in part to this new phenomenon, widespread joblessness could become entrenched in the social landscapeMany of the jobs that used to be done by employees of a business have now been passed on to the consumer. By the end of a typical day we've done the jobs of five or six people. Although each individual task is not taxing on its own, the cumulative effect can be exhausting.
People can't multitask. Every time we change our focus, it takes time and energy. So, when we have to stop what we're doing to bus our table, or book our travel, or bag our own groceries, it drains our energy a little.
We've taken on these additional tasks without really being aware that we were. I think it started when the full-service gas station disappeared during the original oil crisis in the 70's. Although, there are states where full service is the norm, I haven't seen it in years...at least not until a few weeks ago when I happened to stop at Flying A Gas Station in Orinda, CA. I was about to get out to pump my gas when a young man in a service station uniform walked up to my car and asked to pump my gas. I wasn't sure what to do! But I let him do it. I didn't have to get out of the car to pump my gas, pay the bill or wash my windows. He would've also checked my oil. It was very refreshing and reduced my stress level immensely!
Take a few minutes (and maybe a few dollars) and patronize those places that still provide service. It will not only help boost the economy but it will boost your energy levels!
Interesting days
Today - Boss/Employee Exchange Day Heck no! I wouldn't want to put up with us for even one day. It's also Eat a Hoagie Day Where do you like to go? Subway? Togo's? Or someplace else?
Tomorrow - Get Ready Day You have a day to get ready to get ready. It's also Felt Hat Day, Make A Hat Day and International Dot Day which is all about unleashing your creativity. Why not make a hat...it doesn't have to be felt, but if it is you can celebrate all three at once! And lastly, it's Greenpeace Day
Next Monday - World Gratitude Day Who, or what, are you grateful for? It's also Miniature Golf Day and International Day of Peace What can be better for world peace than a friendly round of miniature golf?
October 14 - World Maths Day (it's called maths in Britain)
It's also Emergency Nurses Day Thank you! And it's Hagfish Day which seems to be a very fitting name. Let's not forget Be Bald And Free Day, Pet Obesity Awareness Day and Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day I don't think it'll be fair to subject Ben to such abuse
