Another issue. Career / Direction advice needed

[shmerham]

F it. I just read Blatant's thread and I want to get some crap off my chest too. I'm in a slightly different situation. I don't entirely mind the idea of working for the man. I just don't like what I currently have to do for the man. There are challenges in my job, but mostly it's my weakenesses that are challenged. I feel like I would be living up to my potential if my strengths were being challenged. Living up to my "potential" is not something I feel obligated to do. It's in an inner desire. Perhaps you can't relate in the working world, but maybe you can on the mountain. I think all of us as here have a hedonistic desire to search out and ski powder, but many of us also search for lines or excursions that challenge us. I find it incredibly fulfilling to conquer a challenge while doing something I'm already pretty good at. I would like more of that fulfillment in my career.

I think this problem goes beyond my specific job and into my career. I search around for companies and jobs that I'm qualified for and I just don't see much I'm interested in. I have ideas of what I'd like to do instead, but I don't really know. I can't just try out careers like I can try out a pair of skis. Even if I did know exactly what I wanted to do, getting there is more than just a challenge; it's a gamble. Going back to school for instance means debt, and without a big a salary that debt doesn't get paid off. There are some careers that seem really interesting to me and they'd pay quite well, but they probably mean LOTS of hours, and that's just something I don't want. I'd be cool with a significantly smaller salary if the hours were normal, but that doesn't seem like an option.

Those of you have built fulfilling careers while maintaining a non-work life, how did you get there?

[BigDaddy]

Self-employment... lots of hard, long hours initially, but now I can be around the house with family and take off when it snows or blows (windsurf). I didn't really achieve this until I was almost 40, though, so be patient... You can be your own boss and get to make the rules. You be the man.

Also, it depends where you go to school. Assumming you're independent of your parents for at least four years, you may qualify for A LOT more in financial aid.

I know that's not much, but I hope it helps...

[pechelman]

Those of you have built fulfilling careers while maintaining a non-work life, how did you get there?

Well its far from a fullfilling career at the moment, but thats ok right now because this is my first job and Ive only been here 1.5 years.

Anyway, for me I would have to say working on a 9-80 schedule with 3 weeks vacation ontop of thanksgiving and christmas shutdowns allows me to have a nice life outside of work. Roughly this results in ~50-55 days off every year not including weekends, sickdays, or other random reasons to leave.

fyi 980 is working 9 hours a day, 8 hours one friday, and having the next friday off. It still totals to 80 hours over the 2 weeks.

[shmerham]

Well its far from a fullfilling career at the moment, but thats ok right now because this is my first job and Ive only been here 1.5 years.

Anyway, for me I would have to say working on a 9-80 schedule with 3 weeks vacation ontop of thanksgiving and christmas shutdowns allows me to have a nice life outside of work. Roughly this results in ~50-55 days off every year not including weekends, sickdays, or other random reasons to leave.

fyi 980 is working 9 hours a day, 8 hours one friday, and having the next friday off. It still totals to 80 hours over the 2 weeks.

I have 9-80 with 3 weeks of vacation as well. It rocks and it's probably one of the reasons I haven't done more about my situation.

[PassTheDutchie]

Have you thought about going to a career counselor?

[Blatant]

shit at this rate we might have to implement a new "TGR Life Questions" category on the main forum page....


I'll give shmerham that, my job pays well but is such an unchallenging joke that I continue to become more festered about it...no one to blame but myself but I think of all the shit jobs i've had and could have and that keeps me somewhat complacent.....also it may not really be a joke, but i'm bored and burned out with the IT industry....

[shmerham]

Have you thought about going to a career counselor?

I have actually. I kinda feel like its a service I shouldn't have to pay for (something along the lines of "why should I give someone money to help me figure out how I want to get money.")

Has anyone used one and found it to be valuable?

[flatNshallow]

this sounds like the question to which the answer is "43".

2 things to remember:

1) don't sweat the small stuff
2) its all small stuff...

and lastly, quoting Master Po.....


...must have-a barance, Glasshoppah.