"The Coming Jobs War", a book review

WOW.  There is something about this book that grabbed me and took hold.  I think I’ve bought 20 copies so far and personally handed them to people and said, “ You gotta read this book!”

Having taught the Junior Achievement Company Program (Entrepreneurship) to students in grades 9-12 in Drayton Valley for the past 3 years, this book speaks to me in a very meaningful way.

The point of the book is that creating good jobs; which entrepreneurs do, is the key to Gross National Wellness (GNW), which precedes Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  Simply put, more good jobs = more GDP.  Where are you on the GNW scale?  Is it on your radar?  Are you measuring GNW?  How?  Is GNW improving in your organization?

Some key points from the book:

• “The Coming War for Jobs” says, “That all the world wants is a good job”.  In fact 7 billion people want a good job.  A good job is at least 30 hours per week.  “A great job - one with growth opportunity, a manager who is interested in your development: that gives you a sense of mission and purpose – you have about the best life you can have at this time in human history.”

• Canada is ranked # 9 out of the top 25.  Interestingly enough they have not factored total population into the equation.    Only a dollar value stated as GDP.

• Clifton, the author, says “To compound the problem, too many citizens are hallucinating.  They think the government will come up with the money to save them.  But the government doesn’t have the money.  People and companies have the money.  And if the overwhelming majority of people aren’t working outside of government jobs”, we are in very, very deep trouble.

• "Countries need critical leadership positions to be held by the fittest people, in every sense, as they will require their constituencies to be fit as well.  Gallup has taken one of its deepest dives into the behavioral economics of healthcare and sickness and has discovered five key elements of wellbeing.  If leaders create behavioral –based strategies and policies to improve these five elements, all good things will follow for their constituencies.

1. Career Wellbeing:  how you occupy your time or simply liking what you do every day.

2. Social Wellbeing:  having strong relationships and love in your life.

3. Financial Wellbeing:  effectively managing your economic life.

4. Physical Wellbeing:  having good health and enough energy to get things done on a daily basis.

5. Community Wellbeing:  the sense of engagement you have with the area where you live."