Ken Rusk

How to Plan for Success – Forgetting the “Get Rich Quick” Myth

Life often seems like a race to riches. Every step, every choice designed exclusively to bring you closer to an arbitrary amount of wealth that will let you take a step back and start to enjoy everything else. Because of that, the get rich quick myth is pervasive across all career fields: from white collar to blue collar.

But what’s the actual best way to plan for success? Read on to learn about the get rich quick myth and why you should consider a more reliable approach to success. Read More »

Being Your Own Boss – The Best Way to Get Started

The thought of being your own boss is something most imagine at some point in their career. For many, the idea seems unattainable. In reality, owning your own business can be achieved by anyone. There’s no trick to it, but there are certain ways you can set your career up to lead you down a path towards being your own boss naturally.

One of the best places to start is by entering a career field with more opportunities to work for yourself. Skilled trades are one of, if not the best avenue for success when it comes to entrepreneurship. Read More »

How To Set Good Goals For Your Blue-Collar Career

Everyone wants to be successful, but how do you get there? Blue-collar, white-collar? College or an apprenticeship? With the uncertainty that every day can bring, what separates accomplishment from complacency? The simple answer is goals. They’re the marker for progress and the light that guides you in the direction you want to go for peace and happiness in life.

But setting goals isn’t easy. If you need help, read on to learn tips for setting good goals that will help you grow yourself and bring you closer to the life that you want. Read More »

Using Comfort To Find Your Next Job and Best Life

When you think of the word comfort, many familiar things can come to mind. You might be thinking about your favorite pair of jeans, curling up on the couch, or that super fuzzy blanket you got for Christmas a few years back. And while those are all very comfortable ideas, it’s not the exact definition that I had in mind.

Just for fun, let’s take it to the dictionary to get started:

Comfort /kuhm-fert/ noun: a state or situation where you are relaxed, the feeling of being less worried, to afford or enjoy contentment

Early on in my book, Blue Collar Cash, we discuss the idea of physically drawing on paper what you want your life to look like and how you see it unfolding. Now, If you want that to include those well-worn jeans, the comfiest couches, and the fuzziest blankets, be my guest. You have total artistic license to make that life look like whatever you want.  Seeing clearly who you could be and what that life might look like is the very first and most potent step to actually making it happen.

But I’d like to add to that concept. I want to look at comfort as it pertains to the path that leads to a life of comfort, peace, and freedom. It’s an internal feeling of comfort. It’s about you being comfortable with who you are.

Are you comfortable with the direction your life is heading?

Are you comfortable with the progress or completion of your goals in life?

Are you comfortable with the way you spend your precious free time?

Are you comfortable with the way you are perceived by others?

Now here is a curveball for you.  You see, ironically, the path to a life of comfort might actually lead you out of your comfort zone. It may mean not chasing labels, not struggling to keep up with the Joneses, and not doing something you hate just to pay the bills. In other words, not doing the things that you think others might want you to do. It’s about being in control of your own choices and being comfortable with them. Remember this, you and only you know the answers to these questions.

To find true comfort, we need to be acutely aware of our strengths and our weaknesses. Being able to accept that you’re not that great at something you’re doing or that it’s not something you are interested in is an important part of self-awareness. If you’re not happy with the way your world is progressing, you’re just going to be stuck there wishing for a different life. Conversely, finding that opportunity that brings you great passion and heading in that direction is just as much, if not more important to gaining the life you seek.

It's time to broaden your outlook and really start to think about how you can find more comfort. You got this! So, if you are curious about how to find your very own unique version of comfort? Read up on what crayons can do for you or check out The Path. 

Read More »

Which Trade Jobs Are Best For Women?

As someone heavily invested in the trades, I often see articles on the top-paying jobs, the jobs expecting the most growth, and similar. But one article consistently drives me crazy: "Which trade jobs are for women?"

Here's the answer: Read More »

What Is It Like to Work as a Plumber?

Ask any homeowner or renter what they dread the most about home care, they will likely bring up plumbing. While some of us pick up a few skills over the years, such as unclogging a drain or replacing an old showerhead, the ins and outs of more complicated plumbing problems are often left to professionals. As a result, plumbers will always be in demand, making it a lucrative career for those looking to add to their blue-collar services or are just starting out in blue-collar work. And as aging plumbers begin to retire, this career choice will become even more financially rewarding in the coming years.

How Hard Is It to Be a Plumber?

Plumbing, like many jobs that you work with your hands,  is a physically demanding job that can put a lot of strain on the shoulders and back. There may even be times that you need to work in cramped, wet, and cold environments to tackle a handful of different tasks, but experience, training, and protective equipment can keep you safe. But this is also what makes the financial reward so great, as the greatest compensation can usually come from things others aren’t willing to do. As a side benefit, the physical demands of plumbing can also help you on your fitness journey, especially if you are younger and looking to grow some muscle or lose weight. Read More »

Is It Easier Than Ever To Become Blue-Collar?

The answer is simple - yes!  The perfect storm of high demand and low supply is fueling one of the hottest markets for workers in a few decades. And with 70% of the jobs that were lost in the Spring of 2020 being recovered, things are starting to look a lot brighter for the United States.

Even so, the U.S. is facing its largest worker shortage in the last 50 years. The National Federation of Independent Business reports that 46% of small business owners have openings that they cannot fill, and 89% of small businesses are looking to hire applicants with little experience. These changes mean that now might be the best time ever to become blue-collar. Read More »

Building a Mental Foundation for Success

I know a thing or two about foundations - I’ve been working on them since I was 15! Without the proper systems in place, many foundations face serious water damage due to rainfall. Other foundations just weren’t built right to begin with. 

Regardless, I’ve seen my share of cracking walls and flooded basements. I’ve even seen homes about ready to collapse because of the condition of the foundation. Read More »

Everything You Need to Know About a Career in Welding

A career in welding is both stable and full of opportunities: there’s a high demand for welding skills all over the United States. In addition, fewer people are becoming craft professionals, so there’s never been a better time to enter the industry and demand high wages. Even better, a college degree is not required to be a welder. It’s a perfect option for those who prefer to learn a trade through creative exploration and hands-on projects instead of a four-year degree.

What Does a Welder Do?

In its most basic form, welding is the process of creating structures by joining two pieces of metal together using high heat.  A typical day for a welder might start with reviewing blueprints, preparing materials, and putting on protective gear before starting on their projects. There are numerous techniques to weld metal. The most common methods use electricity, gas, or a combination of the two. Once the welder finishes the general build, he or she completes the process by smoothing out imperfections and applying any protective finishes or decorative touches. Read More »