The technique of utilizing online market surveys and focus groups was developed in order to provide manufacturers with a keen insight into the psyche of the consumer. With time, the concept of an incentive-based or paid survey was also introduced. It attempted to find more willing participants, who … Continue Reading

Earlier this year a new dress shop opened at our local mall. It was one of those high-end boutique dress shops. My own assessment of the situation was that it would never last – the last thing this or any other mall needs is another boutique dress shop. Yesterday morning I walked by the same s… Continue Reading

We live in an information age. It means information, photographs, and even money change hands instantly across thousands of miles. Yet no matter how small our information world becomes, the globe itself is as big as ever. And when a person in one place needs something that’s in another place, ther… Continue Reading

I often promote starting a side business as a way to either create an additional income, or as a strategy to diversify income sources. But the very term "side business" may be intimidating to a lot of people who have never been self-employed. But a side business - like any form of self-employment - … Continue Reading

It seems that nearly every day we’re inundated with stories of the decline of retail chains, and of the destruction that will be left in their wake. But is it also possible that somewhere in the decline of retail chains could create hidden opportunities for the rest of us? The conventional … Continue Reading

One of the major themes here at OutOfYourRut is helping readers find ways to earn money. Sometimes that involves business ventures, sometimes careers, and sometimes ways to earn extra money to supplement other activities. In this post I'd like to explore the potential to earn extra money with Uber, … Continue Reading

My friend Jay and I were talking about jobs this past weekend and he pointed out something that I hadn’t thought about: There are no astronauts any more! That may not mean too much if you’re under 30, but when he and I were growing up being an astronaut was the ultimate “hero career”. Bac… Continue Reading

The vast majority of people in America have access to the internet now. Unfortunately, most of them are using it mostly as a toy. But the internet could be used to do a lot more in your life, and you can make it happen. You just have to figure out how to convert the internet from a playground to an … Continue Reading

I don’t know about you, but I’m something of a YouTube junkie. Since I work at home, I often have music videos playing while I work. And anytime I need to get information on how to do something, YouTube is my first stop. It’s something like a giant information and entertainment TV, but one tha… Continue Reading

In the past I've written about the often negative consequences of various jobs and income situations. Today's post is on a related topic, but it centers on my own personal experience with a job I probably would have been better off if I'd never taken. And it taught me - going forward - that some job… Continue Reading