Desperate Freelancer

Your holidays are over or nearly over. And you may have the blues about that. It's understandable. But you shouldn't. Prefering holidays to office is just stupid. A kind of misinterpretation about what things really are...

Please, just compare honestly the 2 worlds, the 2 lifes you live, and you'll acknowledge that corporate life is much more better than what you are experiencing in holidays.

1. In office, you don't have kids screaming around you all the time. Yet your boss may be screaming a bit sometimes but.. you can ignore him whereas you can't ignore that little Steven of yours that has cut his foot to the bone on a rock.

2. You don't bring your wife/husband with you in office. You may feel lonely but you have plenty of single and attractive colleagues that are longing for having lunch with you.

3. You have smashing coffee for free. Instead of that disguting local drink they force you to buy if you don't want do shrivel up like a fruit.

4. You don't have to go round and round for hours just to park your car. You have your own parking space.

5. You can't get sunburns.

6. You are doing something interesting of your day.. Please don't tell me that visiting the sea museum for the third time this week is the more exciting thing you've done in your life... No, eating a cold pizza on the harbour watching seagulls eating chips neither. Sorry Pal.

7. You don't have to write postcards. Yet you must write memos or presentations but it's for people you know.

8. You look smart in your dark suit with this wonderful red tie you've just bought. Nobody can say so, when you are wearing that old soccer knickers and that dirty fishing hat.. not to mention your belly exposed to the crowd.

9. You are not compelled to smile. Or pretend you are happy. In office, it's ok if everything is not ok.

10. You don't have relatives visiting you every two days.

11. You don't get cheated when you buy a mojito at the bar.

12. In office, there are no weird people all around watching every move you make .. well, there are but they are well-dressed. And they are not THAT weird.

13. It's not mandatory to speak with idiots because it's polite to do so and because you don't want to be the pet peeve of the surrondings. Or whatever your wife/husband says in such circumstances. Ok, you have to speak to clients but they make you earn money..

So now please tell me the truth : are you not happy to come back ?

If you are still able to read books afer having stuffed yourself with paella and cheap beer ..

Being in holidays is not only a time for resting your brain. It could be a time for restructuring it.

There are business books that may change your vision on business. They may help you to become a better worker or boss.

1. The 7 habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey

Best seller of all time, with more than 10 million copies sold, this book is really a must have of the business litterature.

I mean, if 10 millions people working in the modern world have read it, you should do the same. Just not to be running late.

Personally, I quit the book at the end of the second chapter. Because I decided being highly effective was not for me. But you already know I am not a good example to follow.

Though, I must recognize the beginning was pretty brillant.

2. Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt

If you didn't understand anything at economics in College, this book will explain you why. Economics taught in college sucks. The book will show you what economics is really made for : explaining life : how it is really, and why it's like it is.

It's fun and easy. A very refreshing book that will completly open your mind about economics. You will feel like a student again.

3. The Peter Principle by Laurence J. Peter

Well, If you haven't read this one. We all know now why you are here....

You should read and re-read this book, constantly having in mind what is the dark side of promotion and carreer and trying to avoid to put yourself in such a professional dead-end as being an incompetent leader.

Maybe some of you have read these books already and have a different opinion. I would be glad if you could express it in the comments section. Or recommend other books that are worth reading.

Here are funny things you can do when the boss is away for holidays :

1. Redecorate his office

2. Do some sport

3. Stimulate internal competition and team spirit

4. Settle a new R&D program

5. Improve office comfort

6. Test your skills

7. Change his paradigms

8. Just celebrate

On second thoughts, they are things you can dream you can do.. coz if you get caught, you will have in the end plenty of time to have fun but no boss at all. And that's not what you want, do you ?