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.

Comments

[JudyGee]

Thank goodness you have come along to provide us with a map to extreme success, given that we are lost in a crapload of fascist imposed despair. Is your offering satire? Is it fiction? Is it self-help? It is impossible to know what you are writing about, from what you have written here.
The possibility, however, of extreme success, whatever that is, should boost your self-proclaimed best seller, especially when it is remaindered.

[stavros]

Thanks Thorn.
Sounds a little hypocritical Karen.

[Mormondude]

"6. Genetic dietician -- Creates diets tailored to people's individual genetic makeup."

I hope this wasn't made in jest, because this will be a reality sooner rather than later.

Scientists are already finding genetic differences that predispose us to processing starchy foods well or poorly. We see in many aboriginal populations that have survived for thousands of years on diets of primarily meat or blubber, that they are unable to cope with a diet high in carbohydrates and pack on the pounds and develop diabetes.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see this in the next 10 years. Perhaps as an infomercial style weight loss plan where you send in biological sample to get genetically tested as part of the package deal.

[Thorn]

You can censor me all you like, but that phrase "best-selling" does jump off the page, because most people will know what you're doin' there.

[Thorn]

It's natural that you want to promote your book, but it's not so cool to call it "best-selling" just because that sounds good.