Why Millions of Employees Are Quitting Their Jobs To Monetize Their Expertise

As Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were lifted and people began returning to their workplaces in early 2021, the expectation was that jobs would be in high demand. But in fact, the opposite came true: now, workers are in high demand. Why is that? Because they're quitting their jobs and by the millions.

The covid-19 pandemic not only brought a slowing of the United States economy but of the workplace, as well. As a result, many employees transitioned from commuting to the office every day to working from home. No longer confined to cubicles, these people found a greater sense of independence and increased productivity.

On the flip side, workers in the food and retail industries still went to work, where they were constantly subjected to the imminent danger of being infected with Covid-19. They also had to deal with angry customers who refused to comply with mask restrictions. Even now, masks are still a hot button issue, and in some cases, the conflict over mask requirements has led to violent, even deadly encounters between customers and employees.

Now that the economy has opened back up, more people are going back to work full time. Mask restrictions are lifted in some areas and staying in place in others. And workers are realizing: they don't want to put up with the poor working conditions, abysmal pay, and atrocious benefits they had before. They've learned that life is too short to spend it drudging away for a heartless employer.

In April 2021, 4 million workers quit their jobs. That's a new record. They would rather risk starting their businesses, do freelance work, find another industry, or wait for improvements to be made in their industry as companies scramble to offer incentives for new employees.

Workers are also feeling emotional burnout in other aspects of their lives, not just the workplace. The pandemic added another level of strain to people who were already stretched thin thanks to long work weeks and heavy workloads. But it also taught them life is precious. It should be lived rather than watched from the inside of a lonely cubicle.

Why You Should Monetize Your Expertise Instead of Working In The Rat Race

So, what are people doing instead to make money? They're monetizing their expertise. This term refers to people taking their skills and abilities and leveraging them to make money. Building your brand and monetizing keeps you in demand.

Jonathan Caballero told NPR that he quit his full-time job as a software developer when his employer wanted him to come back to the office. He had been working from home, but now he would have to start driving 45 minutes every day to his place of work. So, he handed in his resignation and monetized his expertise as a software developer by finding remote work. 

In the same NPR article, Jeremy Golembiewski said he resigned as the general manager of a restaurant after the workplace environment became too stressful and volatile during the pandemic. His goal was to finally have a 40-hour workweek, which would allow him to spend quality time with his family. But, instead, he decided to monetize his typing skills to find a job in a new, more steady industry.

Instead of slaving away in jobs that were draining their energy and mental health, Caballero, Golembieski, and millions of others chose to take a new tack. While Caballero and Golembieski decided to continue working for employers, others became entrepreneurs and freelancers. They all decided to repurpose their already existing skills for a better working environment, better pay, better benefits, and a new lease on life.

You, too, can get out of the rat race. Here are three tips for monetizing your expertise.

Take Your Skills to Another Industry

Take skills you already possess - typing, accounting, writing, marketing, literally anything - to a new industry. A change in environment, type of work, and type of customer may be just what you're looking for. You might even leverage your talents to find remote work, which generally provides a more flexible schedule and allows you to spend more time with your loved ones.

Become A Freelancer

When you freelance, the only person bossing you around is yourself! Of course, this option requires lots of self-discipline and trial and error. But the upside is you're no longer beholden to an employer who doesn't have your best interests at heart, which gives you subpar benefits and won't raise your pay, even during a pandemic. Instead, you decide how much you want to charge for your services. Check out freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Contra to get started.

There is no better time than today to nurture the skills you thought were "useless." Making this decision is scary, and it's not easy to leave your comfort zone, but once you do, your motivation will ignite, and you will wonder why you didn't start earlier. You'll never know what's on the other side of the fear unless you take action. Expand your horizons beyond your 9-to-5, monetize your expertise, and watch yourself grow happier, healthier, and more alive.

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