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Until the early 80's, the traditional career approach was to go to college, get a degree and then find a secure job with a good company for twenty or thirty years. This was the safe approach. It's what the baby boomers learned from their parents who survived the Great Depression.

Today, we are finding that that approach is no longer valid. The safe approach has become very risky. We live in faster, more turbulent times. If you are one of these "safe" individuals who are simply looking for benefits and a secure paycheck, you will probably find that you're one of the first people on the chopping block when large companies lay off.

For you to succeed in the coming years, you've got to start by changing your paradigm. You must see yourself as a 'free agent' in the marketplace. You need to look for ways to improve your value to companies and then market your skills and abilities to the highest bidder. As Brian Tracy often says, see yourself as your own 'Personal Services Corporation'. This may sound strange, but according to a recent article in Business Week, 41% of the workforce will be on a contract basis by the year 2010.

Of those that don't enter the ranks of the 'free agents', many will become self- employed and start their own businesses. In essence we're really moving back to the age of the 'entrepreneurial worker' that took place prior to the industrial revolution.

Are you wasting your potential in a less than challenging job because it's comfortable or it appears secure or the benefit's are good? Maybe it's time to explore ways of making your job skills more remarkable and valuable to others. People who increase their value never seem to have a hard time transitioning from one job to another.

General Douglas MacArthur once said 'Security is Your Ability to Produce'. Remember, anonymous drones that blend in and never give any valuable input into their companies are seen as expendable. They don't offer a lot so they're easy to get rid of or replace. Start today by improving yourself- read more, ask for more responsibility at your job, take educational courses and listen to tapes on self-improvement.