The Fine Art of Being Unemployable: A Solopreneur's Tale
Ah, the sweet, liberating air of being utterly unemployable. Not in the "I can't hold down a job" sense—oh no—I'm talking about the exquisite art of thriving outside the confines of conventional employment. You see, I’ve mastered this fine art while chasing my passion as a solopreneur personal trainer. The irony? While I’m deemed "unemployable" by traditional standards, I'm living my best life. Spoiler alert—it's not because I lack work ethic or intelligence; it's because I refuse to conform to the cookie-cutter corporate culture.
F45 and the Stretch of the Day
My first foray into being "unemployable" came during my time at F45. Picture this—me, a forward-thinking, free-spirited trainer, introducing a "stretch of the day" to classes long before it was even a concept at the company. While the franchise as a whole wasn't fond of people thinking outside the box, my manager at the time was cool with it, even though I got some looks from others. When they finally caught up three years later, I was already light-years ahead.Turns out, being too innovative can make you unemployable. Who knew? While that's not why I got unemployed, it did open my eyes to how F45 could be improved.
Non-Conformity in a Conformist World
Now, let's talk about the corporate obsession with selling you stuff you don't need. Ever been asked to push heart rate monitors and challenges on unsuspecting gym-goers? Yeah, that happened. My stance? If a product isn't genuinely beneficial, I’m not hawking it. Apparently, caring more about clients than corporate profits makes one distinctly unemployable. And let's be honest—who the fuck needs that many burpees in one workout?
The Perils of Being “Too Good”
Funny story—a new owner at the gym once decided I was far too good at my job (it's a gift, really). They let me go within an hour, claiming they had their "own people." The kicker? The owner never spoke to me, so I have zero idea why this happened—it's all just speculation. Was it a power struggle? Maybe I was too influential or perhaps it was a grudge from years past. We’ll never know. But hey, being excellent at what you do can be a dangerous game.
Escaping the Corporate Grind
Why drive 20 minutes to work, arrive 15 minutes early, then spend the day in a yo-yo of shifts when I can work from home and earn the same? Spoiler alert—it's way more convenient to wake up at a reasonable hour and train clients online. Paperwork is overrated, and micromanagement? A thing of the past. Unfortunately, I adore working for myself and can’t quite muster the motivation to swallow the bitter pill of conventional employment again.
Unemployed or Enlightened?
In my "unemployed" world, every day is a mix of managing my 20-25 active clients, planning programs, and making adjustments. Some are in-person, most online. I even find time for volunteer work, and I'm always learning to become a better trainer. The business grows slowly but steadily; it's nearly self-sustaining, and I savor every moment. Sure, it can get lonely without coworkers, but I manage.
The kicker? This supposed unemployability is what allows me to thrive in my element as a solopreneur. While traditional employment may not suit my nonconformist ways, I’ve found my groove and crafted a fulfilling career on my own terms. Here's to being proudly unemployable in a world that desperately needs more free thinkers. 🍻