What if I don't want to be a Hamster Data Technician when I grow up?

Data has become a source of revenue for pretty much anything that can be viewed through a tech vendor's opportunity lens. You can now buy data lake trout, virtual hamster wheels, neural fishing nets & more. You can study to become an artificial horse whisperer, digital native interpreter, automated beautician hair cutting tech & so on. Digital transformers can be seen in almost every industry these days.

But should you & I care? Is there really no other way to make a good living without selling augmented cereal box openers at machinery conventions? What if you have no interest in becoming digitally affluent?

Here are some ideas for you:

• Skilled trades like electrician, HVAC tech & plumber can pay well.
• You can work in the tech industry but not become a cloud hacker.
• Good with people? Soft skills (like HR) will always be needed.
• Teaching looks to be a good way to work for quite some time.

Sales will always be a personal experience for many reasons I won't get into so learning how to sell your own abilities/ products or the abilities/ products of others is worth the investment. I sell spare parts for a living but I spend the majority of my time educating people concerning the equipment. This has given me the chance to learn how to sell by teaching. Whether requests come via email or phone I respond as quickly as possible so as to appear bot-like. (Digression: I think I will be able to trick our robot overlords when they arrive but I will likely need some cybernetic cosplay to pull it off...maybe like Picard as Locutus from TNG? See my profile pic for why. End digression.)

[ TIP: A quick search for "future (insert your profession) jobs" will provide some good articles to read to give you an idea of what automation is likely to put an end to & what it will create more of. ]

Personally I have opted to learn AI, cloud-puting, 3d printing & more to keep myself from obtaining an EBT card. But for you maybe learning how to manage the people who build the robots or training children in the art of selflessness or designing a wall full of holographic statues is the way. If so research now so you don't regret later.

For more details on what might work in your own situation please comment or contact me via message.