When your brain is racing around like a rabid caged possum, it's time to stop and think.

As Thufir Hawat once said, the first step in avoiding a trap is knowing of its existence. Look at what is happening to the newspaper business. It is failing because (a) it's expensive to produce and doing so online allows infinite page views with exponentially less cost than printing more newsprint (bandwidth being much cheaper than ink, presses and paper), (b) competition from other media, not the least of which is blogs and other online news sources, see (a.) above, and (c) the decrepit attitude of the old news establishment that won't let it adapt fast enough to this changing market.

It boils down to this -- online news is more up-to-the-minute, can be filtered to the user's specifications, and can be delivered right to the user's computer at no cost through whatever form of content viewing the customer demands. RSS, website, podcast, streaming media, Twitter, whatever.

This principal can also be applied to any form of personal communication in this day and age. Bills, catalogs, shopping, e-mail, taking the place of paper bills, catalogs, mail-order, letters and cards.

I make a prediction that in ten years there will no longer be a Postal Service. Between the 'Net and FedEx/UPS/etc, our functions will be completely taken over by cheaper, faster and better alternatives.

So maybe it's time to think about the future beyond just this job transfer. Like, changing careers altogether.


So I've been thinking this lately in between the times when I was being worried about the job transfer thing and mentally chasing my tail about the house. As I've been doing some pretty heavy Jungian stuff lately I decided to put it to my subconscious as a problem to solve. And the thought came to me first that I would have to go back to school. Again. Which on the surface of it I can't do, because I was thinking that I'd have to go back and finish the Creative Writing degree.

I was reading the type description for my type in Gifts Differing again. One of the things my INFJ type is supposed to be best at is counseling -- there are apparently a lot of INFJ psychologists, career counselors, and such. One of the people who follows me on Twitter is an outfit that specializes in teaching and certifying people to administer and interpret the MBTI. I figured a person would have to have a psych degree to even get in the door. But Twitter being what it is, I fired off a question about whether one had to have a college degree to take the certification program. They sent back that no, you didn't have to have a degree, and yes it was common that people made a living off this kind of thing. Cost for the first level certification program is around $1500 and takes 4 days. They're based in Gainesville FL and run the programs there every month and in several other places around the country.

This certification could qualify me to work in Human Resources for companies, in colleges or high schools doing career counseling, team building and employee retention. I could even work in child counseling, helping parents understand how their kids' minds work and what style of learning will help them learn best.

I don't have to stay with the Postal Service. If I go on to the higher level certifications (which I would anyway) I could probably make more money that I'm making now at the REC. Especially if I take certifications for the other assessment types they offer as well. There is another way out.

It can't be that easy. I need more info. Now is not the time to let my tertiary Judging function take a hike. Preferably before I do something rash. But now I have more reason than ever to ask for a Florida posting.