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, 14 Mar 2010 07:09:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en ©Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/?feed=rss2&cat=1 info@freefromcorporateamerica.com (Jon Reed) info@freefromcorporateamerica.com(Jon Reed) 1440 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.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" 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/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. 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. 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?'" 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. 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." 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. 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. Audiobook,,FFCA,Podcasts Jon Reed no No http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/79 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/79#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:04 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/79 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/79/feed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/78 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/78#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:48:46 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/78 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/78/feed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/76 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/76#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:10:48 +0000 Jon Reed http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/76 http://freefromcorporateamerica.com/archives/76/feed