Workamper Dreamers

In this day of the information super highway, more commonly known as the Internet, we have volumes of information on any subject at our fingertips.  You name it; you can find it on the Internet.  This is a good thing, and can be a bad thing.  Many times you will see people begin and fail and then begin again, only to fail again.  Why is this?  Chances are they are listening to everyone else and they are not taking time to listen to themselves.

As you go through your life journey take time to get quiet with yourself and listen to yourself.  That small voice (some call it their gut feeling) that provides is with wisdom,  if we will only listen.

So today, take time to get alone and just listen to yourself when you are considering something for your future journey.

Until later…

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer

One of the downsides to living is that we all squander many of the days we have to live.  You never know when your turn is up and it is our responsibility to step up and make the very best of what God has provided us.

Dr. Sasavich gave us five steps that he suggests we consider as we journey through life.

Step #1:  Stand for it.  Decide what you purpose in life truly is and become focused on working toward that purpose.  Don’t just let life happen, and then one day look back and go should of, would of and could of.

More steps over the coming days.

Until later…

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer

Yesterday I mentioned Dr. Michael Sasavich, a heart surgeon that shared a speech during a marketing conference I attended last week in San Diego, CA.  During his speech he shared many pearls that apply closely with your Dream of entering the Workamping lifestyle.

Dr. Sasavich told us how he deals with death on a regular basis, hopefully less than more if the operations are successful.  He asked us to consider this question – “What one thing do you want to accomplish before your die?”   That is a question that many of us have not asked ourselves because we have gotten caught up in the day-to-day living of life.  It is as if life actually runs us, instead of the other way around.

So today, I would ask you to consider that question closely.  Getting involved in the Workamper lifestyle is probably not the answer to that question, but could be an important element in meeting whatever your answer to question may be.

Until later…

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer

Last week and into the weekend I participated in a marketing conference in San Diego, CA with my daughter Jody, who I have the privilege of working with at Workamper News.  One of the presenters, Dr. Michael Sasavich, a heart surgeon was very insightful and a great example of why we must hold to our dreams.  His dream took14 years of education before he could even begin practicing his craft as a surgeon.  He told of the many times he thought about quitting when finances were tight and the loans were building up.

He shared the contents of a speech that Winston Churchill presented a number of years ago to a college graduating class.  Mr. Churchill, in his stately manner stepped to the podium and took off his hat, and placed his cigar on the table and looked and the graduates and simply said “never give up!”  He then stepped back from the podium and surveyed the graduates with his eyes.  He once again stepped to the podium and simply said, in bit louder voice “Never Give Up!”  Once again he stepped back and scanned the audience and you could hear a pin drop in the auditorium.  One last time he stepped to the podium and simply said in a booming voice “NEVER GIVE UP!”  He then placed the hat back upon his head and picked up his cigar and left the stage.

This was a simple speech, with powerful words that we should all take to heart.  It is so easy for life to rob us of our dreams, if we allow it.  If you have been following this blog and taking the steps to someday follow your dream to try the Workamping lifestyle.  NEVER GIVE UP!  It can come to fruition and on your schedule.

Until later…

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer

I am often asked by Workampers why wages are not on the same level as the real world.  My response – they are if you take a close look.  The majority of the positions you will find in the Workamping world are going to be more aligned or similar in nature to entry level.  You will NOT find employers advertising for degrees or 10 years of experience as, or you must have this experience to apply.  Just as the McDonalds trainee can soon be taught how to run the cash register system and to take an order at the window, Workampers can learn how to run the registration software at the resort front desk, or how to operate the lawn keeping equipment. etc.

On average you will find Workamping wages ranging from minimum wage range in the $7’s to $12 to $14 /hour for management level occupations.  Remember I am talking only paid hours here.  If they opportunity provides you with a campsite you have to then take the long term value of that site and add that value to your wages to develop a true picture of your total benefit package.

Until later…

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer

You may be in a situation where you still need an income because your monthly income stream just isn’t enough.  So you go looking for the opportunity where they provide wages either for hours worked above X amount you trade out for the site or for all hours worked and they also provide you the site.

Yes, these types of opportunities do exist in the world of Workamping.  You will find a large variety of benefit packages that range from minimum wages to management level wages depending on the opportunity.

So, you don’t have to be able to live on no wages to live the Workamper lifestyle.  You do need to understand that you are not going to make the level of wages paid for most career type positions, such as the one you are enjoying right now, or that you may have already retired from a short while ago.

Until later…

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer

You might be in the situation where you already pay a fair sum of taxes each year to the government, and earning more income will simply place you into a higher tax bracket.  So the idea of entering the Workamping lifestyle to earn income is not high on your list.  The idea of traveling America one job at a time and reducing your cost to do so is high on your list.  That is where the ability to barter your hours for a campsite, or even propane, or WiFi services, laundry facility use, golf course green fees, fishing excursions, equipment rentals, and the list goes on, may be just the ticket for you.

So in exchange for your service you would look for a Workamping opportunity where you could do an exchange, where no monetary dollars actually exchanged hands.  This is legal under the IRS codes.  Workamper employers in some states of late have been challenged on the rules and latitude of barter, but it is still alive in America.

Until later…

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer

Not all Workamper volunteer opportunities are completely unpaid/no benefits.  Even the Corps of Engineers that I mentioned yesterday have what they call Volunteer positions, but they provide a campsite for X number of hours worked each week.  You might say that is still working for nothing.  That is definitely not true, and you would only say that if you have not paid very many overnight camping fees.  The trade of a site for hours worked is a very beneficial arrangement for you and the organization.

So, does this mean all volunteer opportunities have the potential to provide you with a campsite?  No, especially if they do not have a campground.  This is why as Dreamers you are taking the time to educate yourself about the many possibilities that exist.  When you are ready to enter the Workamping lifestyle you will know exactly what type of positions you will need for your situation.

Until later…

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer

Today we will address the question:  “Why organizations or institutions expect you to work that much for so little or no pay?”

This question actually does not have anything to do with whether a Workamper would consider volunteering.  It has everything to do with the stability and future life of the organization or institution.

Not long ago I had the pleasure to host a Dreaminar with Carolyn Bauer, who is the Volunteer Clearinghouse director for the Army Corps of Engineers.  Yes, they are a government organization that utilizes volunteers!  You may say, the government can afford to pay for all work done for them!  If that were the case, you know who is actually paying for the government dollars that are spent.  It would simply mean higher taxes, but more likely fewer services since the government would most likely the Corps of Engineers in this case would not provide all of the services they are able to provide, thanks to the thousands of volunteers that work with the Corps of Engineers projects each and every year.

The care and services provided by the Corps of Engineers would be much more limited in scope if not for their volunteer program.  Workampers who volunteer for the Corps of Engineers love nature and want to give back to provide for future generations. 

It really comes down to, without the volunteers – America would not have the awesome recreational resource properties we currently enjoy.  Properties such as County Parks to National Parks,  Lakes to ocean shorelines.

Volunteers in many cases are the backbones of organizations.  I guess you could say if volunteers disappeared we would see many organizations with broken backs, or in essence begin to disappear.

Until later…                                                                                                        

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer

Today we are going to address the question – “Why would anyone work for nothing?”  or “Why would anyone work that many hours for no pay?”

Chances are, the folks that asked these questions will never volunteer of their time.  Remember we started this discussion talking about service.  What service are you willing to provide?  If you receive no personal benefit from providing service to others without being paid monetarily or in some other barter form, you will most likely never find yourself accepting a volunteer Workamping position.

If you have the mindset that you have been blessed with a wonderful life and realize that now is the time to give back something, you can accomplish this in a big way through volunteerism.   If you don’t have this mindset, you most likely will not be volunteering.  Does that make you a bad person?  No, we all come down different paths and many have not had as blessed of lives as others and have developed a mindset that their service has value and they have placed a monetary or barter value upon it.

We will always have Workampers on both sides of the issue.  As long as the number of volunteers remain strong, organizations and institutions who utilize volunteers will continue to be blessed.

Until later…

Steve Anderson
Dream Engineer