Two unrelated thoughts, which connect:

1. Reading Charles Handy’s The Empty Raincoat: Making Sense of the Future and pondering his vision that, in the future, ‘jobs’ will be less and less important. A portfolio of work, self-employment of various kinds, is the future. Wait; that was written in 1994. Isn’t this the future?

2. Gave my presentation “6 Steps to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love” at the local community college again a couple weeks ago. As we walked out, the instructor leaned toward me and said “I don’t think many of these folks will be starting their own companies.”

And there’s the connection.

They’d better be starting their own companies, or their future is in trouble. So, I wonder how powerfully his negative intention for them comes through in his teaching? If he, the professional instructor doesn’t believe they can start and run their own businesses (I disagree) then why should they believe it?

Had the same conversation with middle daughter yesterday. Although the person she met shows every indication of being, well, less than a model citizen, if she has any intention of being a positive influence, the first step is to believe that person can, in fact, be a model citizen. Any lesser belief will be painted like graffiti across her words and actions.