After being sold a boom-era bill of goods that promised purpose through 9-to-9 editorial employment, my years of responsible labor gradually gave way to workahol abuse and, finally, workaholism. By the time I realized I had a problem, I was being laid off amid the sparsest job market in four generations. My resultant disillusionment touched off a wholly unspiritual journey that took me across China, Australia and Southeast Asia but, most importantly, my couch. It was there where I regained my sense of self, my sense of meaning and my sense of smell. (Unemployment isn’t so conducive to routine hygiene.) I had became a consumer again, making me a daywalker between those who produce content and those who read it. Being a shiftless non-contributor had realigned my perception.

This is the triumphant story of one man’s search for enlightenment through unemployment that will culminate with this presentation.