Job automation and the future of how we make a living

Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash

In a recent presidential candidate debate, the topic of job automation was brought to the table by Andrew Yang.  In his campaign website, he speaks about jobs you wouldn’t necessarily think would be on the list for automation, but his explanation of why makes a lot of sense.

Technology is increasing in leaps and bounds.  Just ask Google, Alexa, or Echo.  Machine learning has become the thing because it makes life simpler.  Feed it enough information and it begins to learn what your needs and wants are.  Remember the Furby toys?  Those cute, big-eyed furry guys were probably before their time, but they were a prime example of machine learning.  So smart that they became banned at the NSA for fear they would learn and repeat secret information.  At least they weren’t connected to the Internet, right?  Oh, wait, they are … just rebranded as Google, Alexa, and Echo.  Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grown to a point that it has been coded to act and think like humans.  If you don’t think your job could ever be done by an AI computer, don’t be so quick to write-off the idea.  There are cars that drive themselves for crying out loud!  And can we talk about the fact that fifteen years ago, I didn’t think I’d be using my mobile phone to check the weather, ask a question, deposit a check, learn a language, or even run a business on social media. 

So, with the threat of job automation, why aren’t we talking and planning more for the future of jobs?  Why don’t we look at what the career environment might look like in two, five, seven, or even ten years from now?  Andrew Yang sees the importance of bringing the topic to the table and it got me thinking about what the future might hold.  Incidentally, Futuristic is also one of my strengths from StrengthsFinders so of course this would interest me.  

Along with being a writer, I’m also in direct sales/network marketing.  Anyone in this career will tell you people often think what we do is a scam or a pyramid scheme because a couple of other companies gave the establishment a bad rap because they did operate as an illegal pyramid scheme.  People also balk at the idea of paying for a kit of products to get started because they’ve been told that any legitimate job doesn’t require you to pay up front to get started.  What people fail to realize is this isn’t a job, it’s a business you’re investing in AND you are paying for product to get started with AT A DISCOUNT, I might add.

That aside, because I’m not writing this to argue the merits of a direct sales/network marketing business, I got to thinking about job automation and what the future of the job market holds.  I had a bit of an epiphany of sorts and it leads to this prediction:  as we see more jobs done and held by people become extinct, there will be a boom in the number of people moving out of the traditional (and should I say… eventually defunct?) workplace and into the direct sales/network marketing arena.  

I’m not sure people realize this, but having a direct sales/network marketing business is pretty easy to get into.  You don’t have to rent office space because you can do it from anywhere and at any time, a computer and/or cell phone is really all that is required, and there are really no skill or education qualifications.  Most, if not all companies, offer you a supportive team, onboarding and training, and some even offer additional sales and network marketing training.  You may even think you need to be confident and be a sales person to enter this type of business, but you don’t!  I can’t tell you how many people I’ve worked with that have learned this along the way.  It’s important to note that it’s not easy and requires a person to be a self-starter and good at organizing and driving your own day vs. being told what to do.  However, it can be very rewarding to have control over when and where you work and to make it what you want it to be.

Now is the time to think about where your chosen career field may end up and if it’s ripe for automation.  Working for Corporate America isn’t as safe as it once was.  Although it feels comfortable because you know how much your next paycheck is going to be and when it will come … or do you?  What would you do if your job was eliminated tomorrow due to automation?  Nothing is guaranteed anymore.

I implore you to begin thinking about the future now and look into adding your own direct sales or network marketing business to your plate and work toward that full-time.  There are a lot of options out there:  cosmetics, nail polish strips, chocolate, organizational totes, hair care, bath and body, vacation or business rentals, etc.  The moral of the story is be ready.  Change is coming and it’s coming fast.