http://freefromcorporateamerica.com This web site tracks Jon Reed\'s latest book as he writes it. Visit this site and find out why Jon thinks you should \"free yourself from corporate America.\" Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:09:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en ©Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/?feed=rss2&cat=14 info@freefromcorporateamerica.com (Jon Reed) info@freefromcorporateamerica.com(Jon Reed) 1440 career, success, business, investing, technology, writing, money, finance The complete audiobook recording from Free From Corporate America, read by the author Jon Reed one chapter at a time. This is the complete, unabridged audiobook recording from Free From Corporate America, read by the author Jon Reed one chapter at a time, available free to download on iTunes and FreeFromCorporateAmerica.com. Chapters are added each week as Jon records them, sometimes with brief commentary, always with some attitude. Jon Reed Jon Reed info@freefromcorporateamerica.com No no http://www.freefromcorporateamerica.com/wp-content/themes/modern/images/podcast-ffca-rss.png http://freefromcorporateamerica.com 144 144 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/94 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/94#comments Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:07:50 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/94 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/94/feed 5:47 In the 15th installment of the complete audio book recording of Free From Corporate America, I head into the most biting section of the book ... In the 15th installment of the complete audio book recording of Free From Corporate America, I head into the most biting section of the book on "False Assets." "False" assets like home ownership are not hardly worthless, but they are not all what they are cracked up to be either.nbsp; I launch into nbsp;an explanation of why homes are not the assets we think they are, and how to approach real estate as a business. As I recorded this one, I thought about my many friends who truly enjoy sprucing up their homes as a lifestyle. I'm not criticizing that way of life as long as it is not cloaked in easy rationalizations about improving the value of the underlying asset. And as long as there is a well thought plan for income stability beyond "I hope my job holds out even though my company is going to be acquired" or what have you. I also think that real estate can be overrated as an entrepreneurial path - if you don't have a passion for mastering a particular aspect of real estate, then your chances are limited to the hopes of riding a bubble. I once enjoyed real estate but time has sharpened my focus. Hear the chapter for more. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/93 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/93#comments Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:49:48 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/93 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/93/feed 8:32 As I wrote this book, I heard from readers who dismissed the ideas because they didn't want to start their own business. In chapter 14 ... As I wrote this book, I heard from readers who dismissed the ideas because they didn't want to start their own business. In chapter 14 of my complete audiobook recording of Free From Corporate America, I dig into why the shifting economy requires a response from all of us, whether or not we end up starting our own firms. I also lay the groundwork for later chapters where I will talk about how to put these concepts to work at your current employer. During the recording of this chapter, I was reminded just how much I have seen people separate themselves and increase their relative job security by taking a different mindset into the workplace, thinking more like owners and less like employees. Of course, you can't delude yourself into thinking you own things you don't, but you can certainly find more strategic ways to further your interests on and off the job. This book gets into that in more detail. I also take stock of the book so far in the first of several "gut checks," this one coming at the end of this recording. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/92 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/92#comments Sun, 04 Apr 2010 09:36:46 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/92 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/92/feed 5:29 I've been thinking about the "Law of Accumulation," the 13th Free From Corporate America complete audio book installment, a lot lately. As I say in ... I've been thinking about the "Law of Accumulation," the 13th Free From Corporate America complete audio book installment, a lot lately. As I say in the book, it is terrifying to get to know this law, because unlike some of the other principles in this book, it is in effect whether we want it to be or not.nbsp; One thing I have thought about since this book came out is that distinction between hobbies and pursuits that could have market value. It's true that sometimes our passions can line up with the marketplace. The more financially stable we are, the more margin for error we have developing assets with little obvious market value. Of course, the catch is that the real home runs in terms of wealth often come from these devil-may-care projects that appear to have no market value now or in the future. So by all means, if you find it freeing, pursue it - but it's good to respect the balance between our passions and what is marketable. The feedback loop with our audience will help us a lot with that, and I get into that concept later in the book. So when I classify techo jams and knitting as hobbies, take it with a grain of salt. In my own town, there is a successful knitting store. But I doubt there could be four of them. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/91 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/91#comments Sun, 04 Apr 2010 09:27:34 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/91 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/91/feed 8:05 It was fun to read this chapter again as I recorded it, amidst a slew of new struggles around time, and remind myself that the ... It was fun to read this chapter again as I recorded it, amidst a slew of new struggles around time, and remind myself that the way I got this book written is revealed in this chapter. I like this chapter because the ideas around stealing time seem kind of evil and secretive. At the same time, we're being ruthlessly practical here: how can we build a better life in the midst of our current one, when time and money are probably at a premium? There's a "no excuses" mentality that comes in here, as we realize that this approach to creating assets not only works, but it works when all our friends would surely pat us on the back and say, "Don't give yourself a hard time, you're way too busy to do something like that right now." That kind of reassurance can be comforting but in the end, we are not heading in the right direction when we allow those comforts to excuse us for fighting for our asset creations - and in many cases, fighting for our solitude. Not to mention our belief in ourselves. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/90 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/90#comments Sun, 28 Mar 2010 09:45:48 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/90 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/90/feed 7:15 Taping Free From Corporate America audio book installment ten, "Time is the Ultimate Commodity," I was reminded of how true it is that the new ... Taping Free From Corporate America audio book installment ten, "Time is the Ultimate Commodity," I was reminded of how true it is that the new success is about how much control we have over our time and how we choose to allocate our life energy. The less control over that we have, the harder we work for employers who will gladly consume all our investment, the less success we have in our lives - even if the money is good. The only exceptions are those who are saving way more than they can spend, and those folks are a minority, and even then, if they hate their work, they are taking a heck of a gamble. I get into why that is in this chapter, and also cover a bit of the "Jon Reed keys to time management," which are nitty gritty things that make a difference for me, and set the table for more powerful and advanced concepts about time that are to follow later in the book. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/89 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/89#comments Sun, 28 Mar 2010 09:36:28 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/89 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/89/feed 5:22 For the Free From Corporate America complete audio book recording number 10, I taped "First Step: Create a Space for Your Book." This chapter sprung ... For the Free From Corporate America complete audio book recording number 10, I taped "First Step: Create a Space for Your Book." This chapter sprung out of my commitment to making this book ruthlessly practical, hopefully to make it more useful to folks who want to break the cycle of corporate dependence but are limited by time and money - the exact people who tend to be underserved by manipulative get rich quick schemes. As I recorded this chapter, I realized there was a slight contradiction in my own story - advising readers that any space will do, but using an example where I wanted to use my dining table to start my own business and then got more ambitious by renting my own space - going against some of my advice on taking excessive "speculative" risks. In this case, I had no other lower risk options, so in that sense, I too the lowest risk that allowed me to move forward. Sometimes that's how it goes. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/88 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/88#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:51:04 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/88 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/88/feed 10:46 For this installment in the complete audiobook reading of Free From Corporate America, I read "On Risk Tolerance and Asset Creation." This is perhaps the ... For this installment in the complete audiobook reading of Free From Corporate America, I read "On Risk Tolerance and Asset Creation." This is perhaps the most important chapter in the book in terms of the ideas that are presented. Essentially, I argue for the importance of creating income-generating assets for those who want to get the foot of corporate America off of their necks, but I also expand the definition of assets. Most books of this kind push one kind of asset, such as real estate. The problem is that if you have no passion for the real estate business, it should not become your life's work. So the decision on asset creation should strike a balance between passion and marketability, invoking the "feedback loop" whenever possible. I put my own book through these hoops in the chapter also. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/87 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/87#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:45:07 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/87 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/87/feed 4:05 Installment eight in Free From Corporate America, the complete audiobook reading, has me reading from a chapter that never had a perfect home in my ... Installment eight in Free From Corporate America, the complete audiobook reading, has me reading from a chapter that never had a perfect home in my book.nbsp; It introduces a couple of financial concepts, but most of the financial chapters come later. I ended up keeping it here because it has a bit of autobiography that helps to lay the foundation for the chapters to follow. The key contrast in this chapter is the clash between the "cash is king" and "live within your means" mentalities, and why that clash is problematic. Essentially, individualsnbsp; tend to land on one side or the other when in fact, both are necessary. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/86 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/86#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:07:38 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/86 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/86/feed 4:07 Recording the unabridged version of Free From Corporate America: A Tactical Guide to Success on Your Own Terms has given me a fresh look at ... Recording the unabridged version of Free From Corporate America: A Tactical Guide to Success on Your Own Terms has given me a fresh look at my own material. This chapter, which hones in on my own mistakes and existential absurdity, is one of the most personal in the book. While therenbsp;are autobiographical anecdotes sprinkled through the book, this chapter really hits home. The point of sharing it early in the book is to give readers a more personal feel for what I have tried to overcome, and perhaps impart a lesson or two in a more memorable way. This chapter is just about the end of what I think of as the "foundational" chapters in the book. While I like these chapters, there's no doubt that the book takes it up a notch once these chapters are complete. I wasn't able to solve that during the editorial process, but what I can tell you is that once you have these foundational chapters in place, I think you'll enjoy where the book heads next. The meatiest ideas and most scathing critiques are coming up. For now, enjoy this piercing view into my own hard lessons on feeling a sense of ownership over that which I did not own. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/85 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/85#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:58:04 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/85 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/85/feed 3:50 For the Free From Corporate America complete audiobook post 6, I read my chapter "You Don't Have to Live in the City to be World ... For the Free From Corporate America complete audiobook post 6, I read my chapter "You Don't Have to Live in the City to be World Class." This chapter was inspired by the study I have made of my friends in big cities whose careers have not gone as planned. They got swept up in the big city drama but didn't necessarily advance in a creative or financial sense. More importantly, this chapter lays the foundation for two key concepts in the book: that technology, properly utilized, allows us to do business in a way that is more conducive tonbsp;our lifestyles (translation: less community gridlock, and that as virtual entrepreneurs, we need a commitment to excellence. We need a business focus that stokes our imagination enough to motivate us to become "world class" in our chosen field. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/84 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/84#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:52:02 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/84 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/84/feed 4:04 In part five of my Free From Corporate America recording of the complete book in audio format, I get into a chapter at the heart ... In part five of my Free From Corporate America recording of the complete book in audio format, I get into a chapter at the heart of the book's argument:nbsp; that the real risk is now not the entrepreneurial path, but working 9 to 5. When I originally wrote this chapter, the economy had not gone into its swan dive. I have had readers ask me if my views on the risky nature of working 9 to 5 have changed. In a word, no - but I understand why people would cling to their jobs at a time when new opportunities might be scarce. To some degree, this book has been misunderstood as advocating freedom from corporate America by starting our own businesses. The reality of the book's message is more nuanced, as you will find when you explore these chapters. Here's one segment from this chapter that really stood out to me upon recording it:nbsp;nbsp;"I know many consultants and managers who are thriving within large companies by changing their mindset from 'How can I help this company meet its insatiable need for increasing profit?' to 'How can I make a contribution while enhancing my own skills, reputation, and visibility?'" Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/83 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/83#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:41:49 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/83 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/83/feed 4:37 In the fourth installment in my Free From Corporate America audiobook series, I get into the nitty gritty of business ethics: are small businesses more ... In the fourth installment in my Free From Corporate America audiobook series, I get into the nitty gritty of business ethics: are small businesses more ethical than large ones? And do you have to agree with my values to get something out of this book? Some of the answers may surprise you. I also address the question of whether business karma is real, and I won't spoil my answer to that here. As I recorded the fourth chapter, I was reminded that the tactics in this book really aren't dependent on the size of the company you are working for.nbsp;The bottom line? Younbsp;don't need to share my values to take something useful from the methodology of this book - but I do think that ensuring our business practices line up with our convictions is a gut check we need to do now, rather than after we start new ventures and form new affiliations. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/82 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/82#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:49:59 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/82 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/82/feed 4:18 Here's Free From Corporate America audio post 3, for the chapter "Whomnbsp;is this Book For and What are Virtual Companies?" This chapter is from the ... Here's Free From Corporate America audio post 3, for the chapter "Whomnbsp;is this Book For and What are Virtual Companies?" This chapter is from the "End of the Corporate Contract" section, and in this chapter, I talk about technology is making it possible, not just to succeed in business from any location, but to create businesses that are more in tune with our lifestyles than the classic "Bill Gates entrepreneur." One highlight from this audio chapter that is not in the draft version posted on this site: I talknbsp;about a business partner of mine who took a vacation to Argentina for nine days, unbeknownst to their employer, thanks to virtual communication technologies. The pull quote for this chapter highlights one of the central themes of the entire book: "For the lifestyle entrepreneur, buying time is more important than accumulating cash. Beyond a certain point, money has a diminishing return." Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/81 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/81#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:42:13 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/81 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/81/feed 6:36 Continuing with my Free From Corporate America audio book postings, here is audio post #2, "Why I Wrote This Book." This is the first chapter ... Continuing with my Free From Corporate America audio book postings, here is audio post #2, "Why I Wrote This Book." This is the first chapter in the "End of the Corporate Contract" section of this book.nbsp; While I recorded this chapter, I was struck by a few phrases. One: "Doing business according to your own values takes serious fortitude." No question - and no question that it's worth sticking to those principles through good times and lean times. The emphasis of this chapter is that I have written a book focused on the ruthlessly practical - tactics I've seen people take to improve their lives for the better. I alsonbsp;step away from the happy talk of typical books on "success" by freely admittingnbsp;that this is not going to be easy - we need an anatomy of what we are up against in order to have a chance to triumph over it.nbsp;Hear why I think approach has moved from the riskier approach to the safer one, with the more dangerous approach being to cling to a false notion of 9 to 5 security like a life raft. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/80 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/80#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 07:38:37 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/80 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/80/feed 11:00 As we head toward the end of the year since the book was released, I've decided to commemorate this by releasing an audiobook version of ... As we head toward the end of the year since the book was released, I've decided to commemorate this by releasing an audiobook version of the book in its entirety, read by yours truly. Eventually, I'll make it possible to access all the book chapters within iTunes, but for now, you can listen to them here as they come out. I'm recording these chapters mistakes and all, but the first one came out pretty good, with a decent sound quality, so I hope you enjoy! This one also includes a brief intro by me where I talk about why I'm doing an audiobook version and how I plan to approach it. I think Rachel Meyers did a great job on the foreword; it was fun to try to bring her words to life. Download and subscription options: you can download (and subscribe to) all the chapters in the audio book (free) eithernbsp;in ournbsp;iTunes store nbsp;or with our audio book RSS feed. Audiobook,,FFCA,Podcasts Jon Reed no No