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 »
According to the stories you’ve shared with me, many of you reading this have built an amazing life through fascinating blue-collar careers. Even if you haven’t lived a blue-collar life, I’m sure you understand, those same blue-collar careers are the backbone of this great country.
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.
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 »
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 »
You already know you can have a great career without going to college, but many blue-collar jobs still require some amount of formal training or education to get licensed. After all, you’re probably not going to pick up what you need to know to become an elevator installer or power plant operator around the house!
Still, there are many blue-collar skills you can teach yourself that will help your bank account. These are skills that can save you money, add value to your home, keep you and your family safer, or earn you income on the side. And if you decide to make a career change down the road, they’re also something you could potentially turn into a full-time job or business. Read More »
Most small business goals revolve around increasing revenue, increasing accounts, or even increasing staff. In all of these cases, we must begin with the end in mind and plan how to get there.
Yet, without buy-in from employees, you can plan all you want, and you’re still unlikely to reach the goal on time (if you get there at all). That’s why it’s my personal belief that business goals are best served when shared with all of the players involved and tied to your employees’ personal goals. As the owner of several businesses, I have always said to our employees that "I can't get (nor can my company get) what I need or want ... until all of you get what you need first," and I believe that this has been the secret to the tremendous growth within our organizations. For example, one of my companies has expanded so much we are building its fourth headquarters in the last 20 years. Read More »
If you’re looking for a recession-proof career, consider becoming a plumber. After all, people will always need toilets that flush and pipes that don’t leak. And while plumbers need to go through training and apprenticeship to be licensed in most states, they don't need a college degree, making it an attractive career path for people already handy around the house.
But what does a plumber actually do, and how much money do they make? Here’s what you need to know: Read More »
Think about your current job. Do you actually like being there? What perks or benefits are the biggest draw? Healthcare? Paid sick time and vacation? Likely, the perks are important, but another huge factor can make or break work culture and affect turnover: employers' interest in their employees.
Employees respond when businesses make it a priority to respect them and show interest in their lives, and employers who go above and beyond to invest time and care into their employees very quickly discover that the extra effort is well worth it. Read More »
Wouldn’t it be nice to put money in an account and then passively watch it grow and grow?
That’s precisely what compound interest can do for you. Read More »
Think you need a college degree to earn a decent wage? Think again. As I write about in Blue Collar Cash, there are plenty of six figure jobs in the blue-collar field that don’t require four-year degrees and tens of thousands of dollars of debt.
Indeed, whether you want to work with your hands, in hospitality, or in the aviation industry, there are great jobs that pay 6 figures with just a high school diploma. Many of them are also recession-proof, meaning employees are protected from the macroeconomic environment. Read More »
