It is Sunday, April 19, 2009, and unemployment figures continue to rise---some areas of the United States are experiencing 12% unemployment. Every day, it seems there is news of more layoffs and of those workers fortunate enough to keep their jobs, salary freezes or reductions are not uncommon.

I just caught the first segment of 60 Minutes which was dedicated to declining 401K balances and rising unemployment in an extremely tight job market. It is truly saddening to see such mass upheaval of people's lives---their livelihoods, their futures, their financial security. It is infuriating that there always seems to be an elite group in some segment of the financial industry who stand to profit from such tragic losses.

So many people have been misled and lied to as to where they should put their money---what they should invest in and how they should invest it---and it was all doomed for failure from the start.

Not to trivialize the hurts of those affected by any means, but the current scenario serves as a very stark reminder that neither financial security nor financial independence will ever be achieved working for someone else. Putting money into investment vehicles for the purpose of retirement only to find out that such vehicles over-promise and under-deliver. is no retirement at all---you come out with either inadequate funds---or no funds at all---and you can't retire on that.

While originally intended as a catchy attention-getter in the network marketing and home business industry---it is, nonetheless, a sobering truth---that the word "job" is an acronym for Just Over Broke. Broke while you're working and broke when you retire---if you're able to retire.

Now, consider this: 50% of all businesses in the United States are home-based. The home business industry amounts to $426 billion per year---and growing. There are no layoffs here. You are paid for your efforts and for what you accomplish---not for what someone else thinks your time is worth to them. You can write your own paycheck. You are in control---not the System---not the boss---not the fund managers. Would this not seem to be the more logical and practical route?

I'm not talking about ridiculous claims of overnight wealth. I'm not talking about six-figure incomes in 90 days. I'm not talking about support teams who do 95% of the work for you. I'm not talking about pulling you out of the offline world and the traps that have ensnared you there and into the online world only to be victimized by the same traps packaged in over-hyped, exaggerated claims that are designed to take your money and leave you with nothing to show for it.

I am talking about honest and legitimate home business opportunities and work-at-home jobs that are proven to provide you with either a part-time or full-time realistic income working from your home. The operative word is "working"---I don't mean having to work all hours of the day and night only to receive a pittance, but you do have to apply yourself and put in some effort---and if you do, the rewards are there---far greater rewards than you would ever receive working as an employee.

I don't mean for this to sound overly simplistic---I know everyone's situation is different. Different people have different work ethics. There are many variables, but the point I am making here is that if you really want to change your life for the better, the opportunities are there. If you continue to do what you have been doing all along, the results will never change.

Copyright (c) 2009 Michael Crank