Once upon a time, in an age of monopolies, huge advertising budgets and brick and mortar square footage... big companies ruled the earth. They were the giants that had the money and resources to walk through the business jungle, without fear of any predator, they were at the top of the food chain and they had no real competition for their prey. No one ever even thought of getting in their way, much less attempt to challenge them for their next meal. In those days, the smaller creatures had to beg for their favor, in order to eat and survive. Better to be fat, fed and caged, than to be free to starve.

Today, (I hear the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey fade-in, in the background) those giants of the past are almost extinct. Today, technology provides the tools and the means for the average hunter to challenge the mighty beasts for the right to drink from the same river, to hunt for prey in the same jungles and even do so at an advantage because of their smaller size, flexibility and lack of encumbered decision making processes.

Today, anyone from their kitchen table, with internet connection and a telephone can generate as much business as anyone in a Cherry wood, corner office with a view. This brings me to my discussion for today. With the apparent trend in the marketplace turning towards the “less is more” objective when it comes to employees, could it be that our “Henry Ford Industrial Age” model for earning a living has finally changed forever? The evidence definitely seems to point in that direction.

Ever since Ronald Reagan, defeated the Striking Air Traffic controllers in the 80’s and Shocked America, by rather than negotiating and getting them back to work,smashed the union stronghold by hiring a whole new non-unionized crew willing to work; At this point America should have realized that this was the beginning of the end. Since that time, one by one, the laws that maintained the 100 year old employer/worker entitlement mentality began to disappear. Then the right to work laws were enacted, then the non-union laws and finally the lay-offs which until Ronald Reagan, held a negative connotation on a business as a sign of personal failure and was something that stigmatized employees personally as well, no longer was a badge of shame. It has become so commonplace that it is now the first option in times of trouble, rather than the last option. Lay-offs today also mean “permanent” not “when things turn around we will call you” as it had historically been.

With thousands of lay-offs happening nationwide, becoming more the “status quo” and as displaced former workers walk the streets and over-fill to capacity with hundreds competing for 3 or 4 open positions. Hundreds that show up “Zombie-Like” with resumes in their hands, begging for a break. I ask myself, “At what point does futility kick in? At what point does the very thought of going out there begging for a job, turn your very stomach and makes your pride in self kick in? Where is the Human Spirit?" To say, "In this day and age of Internet Marketing, FREE long distance broadband service, and a plethora of 3rd party services for pennies that can make ANYONE look like a multi-million dollar operation….Why can’t I stop looking for work and just “GET BACK TO WORK?”

This is AMERICA folks, The land of equal opportunity,and the dawn of the 21st Century. The same tools that you use at your job everyday can make you a fortune if you decide to take ”MASSIVE ACTION” and do what you have to do to feed your family. “But, nobody is hiring, honey” Just won’t cut it anymore. Get MAD GODDAMMIT, months you spend looking for a job, are months you could be making money SELLING something of your own. Instead of sending out resumes, send out proposals. Instead of calling for a job, call and make sales pitches. Instead of spending 8 hours posting resumes on job boards, spend that time posting FREE internet marketing, branding yourself and selling your ideas.

So look around you, what is it that you do or did in your jobs? Has technology put you on par with your former employers? Can you find other people in the same boat as yourself, which would be willing to join you to accomplish shared goals? Put a FREE ad on Craigslist, you’ll find plenty of people there. Start small…if all that you’ve got is a kitchen table or a corner of the garage, with a cell phone, I’m telling you that’s all you need to get started. GOTVMail.com offers a great professional answering service for only $10 a month. If you want to find out about how to get Tons of prospects for FREE using attraction marketing online, sign up for my FREE video tutorials at How2career.com.

Finally, please don’t give up my friend, I know how scary and difficult it is right now, believe me I’ve been there. Just understand that the world is off its axis right now as we are in transition. The impact of switching from an Industrial age society to a fully fledged information age society is at its apex, there will be many casualties that could not make the transition…you don’t have to be one of them. Love and respect.

Bob Solis is a Marketing and Career Consultant living with his wife and 2 daughters in Florida. He is also the President & CEO of How2 Careers USA.