Actually the concept of a shrug job is Ayn Rand's. Everyone had different jobs in the Gulch than outside. I would rather be making chemically engineered products. Instead, I am teaching students how to do it. It is a pretty nice gig in a very nice place. I will call it a partial shrug in my case.

I've lived mine. Over 35 years small machine shop. Fixtures, tooling, repairables, new product development. All from the private sector. I'd guess less than 1/2% of total revenue was from indirect Gov spending. 100% tangible product.

I stopped writing software for fortune 500 companies because I realized who I was indirectly serving.
Shrug is now home hi-fi stereo electronics manufacturing.

My father was a Tool and Die maker. I grew up with lathes and milling machines in the basement. Myself I’m a Industrial Electrician. I design and build control panels for all types of machinery. I also program the Touch Screens (HMI, Human Machine Interface) and the PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). I’ve worked abroad. Been part of some really cool projects. Like a 300 yard long 3 story machine that turns wood chips into OSB lumber. Power Plant emissions scrubber. But, I can design and build the distribution system for your factory as well.
My capabilities are equal to that of a fairly new degree title called “Mechatronics Engineer”. Coupled with the experience of a commercial/industrial construction electrician
One of my shrug jobs will be changing light bulbs for little old ladies and replacing electrical outlets when they want to change colors.
I’m just fed up with the corporate compliance in the erosion of our basic rights. I’m only in my early fifties. But, I’m ready to pull the plug. Pun intended. In HighSchool I spent summers as a short order cook. I too appreciate a well constructed hamburger.

I'm semi-retired so just working a meat slicer in a grocery store deli for some spending cash. I actually like it. I like helping the customers. I like making the food look decent, even though it's processed shit. It's my shrug job. I burn the money in my Aeronca engine, that is the value that I extract from the company. They get their value from me. For every hour I work, I can fly for 20 minutes.

School bus driver is one of my favorite ideas and I may just do it. Maybe working a diner like Hugh Akston. I do appreciate a well-made hamburger! Maybe bartender at a golf course...But, I'm too much of a smartass to last long at that...

Shrug Jobs as a concept....let’s unpack that a little and see what it could look like for the individual and society.

Great sense of humor there 💚