As you may or may not know, Las Vegas was particularly hard hit during the economic downturn. Consequently, the local news featured at least one Job Fair being held in the city every week.
Long lines of folks showed up for the slim chance of procuring one of the few job openings. It was all rather glum.
During one such news story, a question popped into my head. “Why isn’t anyone talking about alternatives to getting a job?” I was talking about that, of course, but I couldn’t just ramble down Las Vegas Blvd. sharing that option.
Then the idea of creating a really informative event started to take shape. I envisioned an Un-Job Fair where people could learn a about self-employment in one day.
What are the myths and misconceptions about working for yourself? How do you get started? What legal obligations do you have? What kinds of businesses are easy to open?
As I was playing with this notion, I happened to have lunch with Don Woodruff, an old friend from the adult ed circuit. Don had been living in Las Vegas, too, but was headed to Denver.
At our farewell lunch, I shared my idea about the Un-Job Fair. He liked the idea as much as I did.
A few weeks later, I heard from Don who had contacted Helen Hand at Colorado Free University and told her about this wild notion of mine. She loved it, too, and decided to sponsor the first Un-Job Fair.
Helen tapped into her talent bank of teachers and soon had a great line-up of workshops. Steve Veltcamp and I flew in for the event and were thrilled at the response.
Not only were the workshops a wonderful blend of topics, I loved lunchtime when small groups of participants gathered on the lawns and got to know their fellow seekers over a picnic lunch.
Another highlight came as the day ended with a panel of speakers answering questions from the students.
Needless to say, I was thrilled when CFU decided to do it the following year. And the one after that.
On May 31, the fifth Un-Job Fair is happening again and if you’re in the area and want to gather tools for your own Joyfully Jobless Journey, this is the place to be.
See what’s in store at the Un-Job Fair and register now.
I had the privilege of speaking at an Unjobbing Fair here in Dallas a few years ago. It was a weekend combined with the Unschooling Movement and filled with lots of out-of-the-box thinking and exciting ideas.
Congrats on your 5th year anniversary of what sounds like a wonderful event in Colorado! (although I like the image of you walking up and down the streets of Las Vegas sharing your message like a Joyfully Jobless street preacher.) 🙂
Great point Barbara! I love the idea of an un-job fair! After 6 years of trying to make peace with a job, I’m finally publishing my own book. PS – loved meeting you at your last Alternatives gig in London!
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