ROCK N ROLL PALEONTOLOGIST

When my niece was four-years old, she said, “I want to be a Paleontologist when I grow up.”
Thirteen years later, she’s playing bass guitar, learning Japanese and will probably be pursuing an Art Major. It’s not surprising considering her family’s history of career changes. There’s no lineage of an occupation that’s lasted generations other than a ‘struggling artist’. Artists always find themselves at odds with money and work. Some wind up on a stagnated path of a job, mimicking their talent. Others may find themselves far from home base, eventually making a career change to get back on track.
If pursuing a career in the arts could only be as evident as studying Business or Communications. Artists wouldn’t have to hear the old clich√©, “you should have something to fall back on”, as if that would come to fruition. Not to prove them right, but why is it so hard to find a steady paying gig as an artist? Is it really egotistical or selfish for an artist to be non-conformist? I thought it was just the mindset of an artist? For example, if I were to have a bullet point list of how an artist could make money, the first thing an artist would do is, ignore it.
Eventually, after heartache, wisdom with age and debt to match, the artist will find an outlet to their talent. Maybe the well wishers are right. You should have something to fall back on. Among the re-directed artists, Art and Music Therapy offer importance and a respectable income. Both target different groups for therapy. Art Therapy is psychotherapeutic and psychological. Patients can range from children to adults dealing with trauma. Music therapy deals with motor skills and expressive therapy and is given for occupational or arthritic conditions. Certifications and degrees are required and varied. Detailed information can be found at the American Art Therapy Association and the American Music Therapy Association websites.
Now I’m sure there are artists who are saying, “I’m an artist because I want to avoid people, not help them”, to which I may suggest an alternative career in writing. I’ll admit, a high paying job as a writer usually requires a Bachelor’s degree in English. But there’s plenty of fun stuff that can be found in freelance work. Paying jobs can be found in Web site content writing or freelance articles submitted to magazines and newsletters in circulation in print or on the web. The important thing to remember is that all a good writer needs is material and practice. Life as an artist surely covers that.
Artists definitely have their work cut out for them. After all, who can forecast the dollar value of music, art or dance like they can for computers, communications or commodities? It’s all about demand. So, as long as there is a brain that needs help and others that feed on information, you can be assured you have something to fall back on.

Moms Going Back to Work for Financial Security

There has been a ton of discussion lately about stay-at-home moms sacrificing their financial health for the sake of raising their children. Whether you agree or disagree with this statement, there are a lot of moms returning to the workforce to make an extra buck and keep their foot in the corporate world.
However, it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach. What are some ways to successfully get you back into the working world? Take a look:
Work Part-Time
This can be one of the most appealing work alternatives for moms. You don’t have to give up all your freedom and time with your kids while earning a paycheck. That’s the misconception that many have while contemplating their next move. Not only does part-time work allow you to get your feet wet once again without diving in head first, you can pick up some new skills and start putting away some money while you’re at it.
Work-At-Home (for someone else) & Freelance
There are many ways this can happen. You can become skilled in a trade that hires home-workers such as medical transcriptionists. There are different courses out there to help you get started with such a thing. You can also become a virtual assistant or a freelancer for a business owner. The type of work would vary greatly depending on your strengths and the business owner’s needs.
Work-At-Home (for yourself)
Starting a business can be extremely scary and overwhelming but the Internet makes it easier than ever. Now don’t get me wrong: you still have to have strong business acumen and be willing to work very hard and constantly keep abreast of new marketing techniques, but you don’t need a lot of upfront capital. Domain names are cheap and there’s help out there to get started.
But do NOT get caught up in the easy-money scam. These scams prey on amateurs who might not know that it really is too good to be true. Those of us who have online businesses know that it takes time and a lot of hard work to become successful.
Volunteer
Now if you’re a mom who doesn’t care about earning an extra paycheck right now, then volunteering might be the route for you. It allows you to choose something you enjoy and believe in while honing some important business skills. Yes, volunteer work can easily be transformed into valuable assets that will work for you when and if it comes time to go back to work. It’s usually viewed upon very highly with employers.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s your decision. Some people believe that all women should work outside the home. If not, you risk financial ruin. That is a very dire picture to paint especially where there are other ways you can gain financial security. Do what’s right for you and your family. If the time is right and you feel you are willing and able to jump back into working, then go for it…and don’t let anything hold you back.

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