New Job Options for 2020

In my book Ballsy, I warn up front that the world is constantly changing -- so don't forget to change with it!

If you want to enjoy a career of extreme success, you must always be asking yourself: Due to all the technological and social change out there, are there now new materials, new fears, new problems, new needs, new desires -- all of which are creating new demands for new widgets and new services?

In summary: Your widget or service might be good... but in this speedily shifting world, good has a very, very short expiration date.

But there's some good news behind about all this speedy change. Soon the world will be offering up some very exciting career options.

For example, here are 10 new job options for 2020, predicted by futurist Josh Calder, leader of the Global Lifestyles program at Social Technologies LLC, a research and consulting firm.

1. E-scrubber -- Works to undo or minimize the indiscretions that people
accumulate on the Web.
2. Deceptionist -- Provides tech-enabled deception services for those
wishing to disguise their activities.
3. Unrealtor -- Creates virtual tourism, adventure, and retail destinations.
4. Realizer -- Creates real versions of virtual objects for people, from
grog tankards to sports cars.
5. Nano-decontaminator -- Cleans up nanomaterials now being spread
through the environment.
6. Genetic dietician -- Creates diets tailored to people's individual
genetic makeup.
7. Geoscaper -- Makes corporate and private properties look attractive in
Google Earth-style aerial views.
8. Eye pilot -- Operates small, remotely piloted, camera-equipped aerial
vehicles over war zones, disasters, and other locations of interest on
behalf of news services, nongovernmental organizations, and private
companies.
9. Sexbot controller -- Many things can be done remotely. Not for the
squeamish.
10. Unplugger -- Counselor/mental health professional who helps wean
people from excessive technology use.

I find some of what Calder lists to sound a wee bit like science fiction. And some of it to sound like job necessities for 2007. But what all these positions share in common are larger trends for
transparency, virtualization, and outsourcing. And if you study his list further, you'll see that most of Calder's job listings involve new ways to manage information -- which is becoming more and more central to more and more careers.