How did you find out what you want to do with your life?

scorpionldr · #1 09-16-2009, 07:41 AM

Well, it's back on the phone trying to reach an unemployment rep these days. Apparently Insurance wasn't the big career move for me. So lately I'm wondering what I should do to find a new career, as the getting laid off/fired/whatever have you has shaken my confidence some.

I've always wanted to persue my music full time, but it's made out to be a pipe dream by everyone I know.

Anyone ever made guitars? I think I want to look into it.

jojobean39 · #2 09-16-2009, 08:26 AM

I don't think making musical instruments is a very lucrative business. It takes a lot to get your name out there, get people to pay for an instrument they have never heard of, etc.

Maybe a doctor? There might be 50 million new patients needed care in the next few years. (Kidding)

CrispyDelicious · #3 09-16-2009, 08:39 AM

Ask any of the luthiers in their subforum. It's not the best way to make money.

PSPookie · #4 09-16-2009, 08:42 AM

My career found me.

EricF · #5 09-16-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

My career found me.

This.

I thought I wanted to be an Architect. I ended up a swimming pool contractor. Sometimes life leads you down strange paths.

René_Julien · #6 09-16-2009, 09:29 AM

We must do something with our life?

Lurker79 · #7 09-16-2009, 09:30 AM

You have two choices, help people or make money. You can't do both. Try to hold a negative and positive thought in your head at the same time, you can't do it. Help people or make money. And follow your path, even if you think it may lead away from your dream.

Balog · #8 09-16-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurker79

You have two choices, help people or make money. You can't do both. Try to hold a negative and positive thought in your head at the same time, you can't do it. Help people or make money. And follow your path, even if you think it may lead away from your dream.

This is complete and utter bull excrement. Unless you think surgeons either don't help people, or don't make money. $ is neutral, neither good nor bad. It's how you deal with it that matters.

If you are looking for a career anything in medicine is a stable field with good pay. The upcoming "reform" may hurt earning potential, but I think it'll still be a solid choice.

As for how I found my current gig, it was foretold in the prophecy.

Lurker79 · #9 09-16-2009, 09:36 AM

I don't know but most people are not doctors, and our op certainly is not. And with the reform, I wonder how many people are going to think they are getting helped?

Balog · #10 09-16-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurker79

I don't know but most people are not doctors, and our op certainly is not. And with the reform, I wonder how many people are going to think they are getting helped?

I'm a building engineer. Because of me, people are able to do their work in a safe comfortable environment. Does that count as helping people? The good people at USAA who sell me insurance have taken care of us after accidents etc, does that not count as helping people? Many succesful business owners make good money providing goods and services people want; does that not count as helping people?

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "helping people" and what you mean by "making money."

René_Julien · #11 09-16-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurker79

You have two choices, help people or make money. You can't do both.

+1

I have a business. (store/garage)

You can do business... in an ethical or sometimes not so ethical way, but you are not helping the people you are doing business with.
It's all give and take, making compromises.

Helping people is a "life calling".
I doubt if anyone ever succesfully packaged that and distributed it at some profit.

Why do we so anxiously want to "help" people anyway?
Just treat everyone friendly and right and lookout for yourself.

PSPookie · #12 09-16-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

Sometimes life leads you down strange paths.

+1

Learn to recognize opportunities.

Lurker79 · #13 09-16-2009, 09:51 AM

No, I am talking about the extremes, like Mother Teresa Vs. The Anti-Christ. I do think that all people have to decide what is best for them, regardless of money made, or how many they've saved.

DeluxeRed · #14 09-16-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpionldr

...I've always wanted to persue my music full time, but it's made out to be a pipe dream by everyone I know...

No, it's not a pipe dream. It is just a lot harder work than most people are willing to put in. Are you willing to work hard (enough)?

Getting more education is a good way to both explore new fields you might be interested in as well as better position yourself in the job market.

Din Of Win · #15 09-16-2009, 10:18 AM

For me it was traveling.

I left high school with aspirations of becoming a physicist. But, after dealing with a nasty physics teacher my freshman year of college i completely droped out of school.

I spent that summer living in Nicaragua, and the next year train-hopping and hitch hiking. When i returned home (summor of '03), i joined a band and did heavy touring through '05. After that i traveled to the south and spent time in Ashville, Atlanta, Gainesville, Athens, Louisville and Savannah.

I then returned to MD with LOTS of life experience and a much better direction. After working all of '06, i had the money to go back to school. I just got my AA from the community college where i was on the deans list every semester and i was even awarded for being the #1 English and Literature student in the entire college. I am persuing a double major in Ecology and Linguistics now and know EXACTLY where i want to go.

I'm in my mid 20's now (26 to be exact), and i feel great. I feel sorry for the kids starting college right out of high school and all of my friends that have been in school since graduation and are now in grad school. They haven't even LIVED yet. The 20's are some of the most exciting times of your life, why would you want to waste it in a class room?

Anyways, long story short: Quit school and travel untill you know exactly what you want to do. No one is forcing you to define your entire life before you've even had a chance to know what life is all about.

Fontaine · #16 09-16-2009, 10:20 AM

Never really knew it was the right field for me, I`m still not done school, but I loved every second of work term (a semester working with a company in your field of study), and i find it the most interesting stuff to be a part of. Clearly I picked the right field for myself, absolutely no regrets.

**Eric Perry** · #17 09-16-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurker79

You have two choices, help people or make money. You can't do both. Try to hold a negative and positive thought in your head at the same time, you can't do it. Help people or make money. And follow your path, even if you think it may lead away from your dream.

While I disagree with this on many levels, for me it's spot on. I'm a psychotherapist with a boatload of credentials (Master's Degree, licenced professonal counselor, national certification in counseling, state certifications in family therapy and school counseling, etc.) and 15+ years experience. I make CRAP money!

I do this work because I enjoy it, but in all honesty I would have been a physical therapist if I had my way, but due to the fact that I'm quite literally about as sharp as a marble when it comes to anything math-based (like the multiple calculus, physics, and chemistry classes that were required as a PT major), I had to change majors very early on in my college days.

I settled on Psychology. Quite literally the dumbest decision I have ever made in my entire life. Again, I like my job, and I think I'm damn good at it, but it sickens me every other Friday when I get my disgusting paycheck!

**Vorago** · #18 09-16-2009, 10:27 AM

Holy **** you're a psychotherapist???

Nevermind

Jim Nazium · #19 09-16-2009, 10:30 AM

How did I find out what I want to do with my life? Um, as soon as I figure it out, I'll let you know.

I'm 44 BTW.

jojobean39 · #20 09-16-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

I'm in my mid 20's now (26 to be exact), and i feel great. I feel sorry for the kids starting college right out of high school and all of my friends that have been in school since graduation and are now in grad school. They haven't even LIVED yet. The 20's are some of the most exciting times of your life, why would you want to waste it in a class room?

Different strokes I guess. Traveling around with no aim seems horrible to me. I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I got out of high school so I went to college and did it. I graduated and 21 and haven't regretted it. Now I have a stable job making decent money, which is something for which I am extremely thankful. Had I floundered around (my words) for a few years I'd just now be graduating and trying to land a job. That would NOT be fun in this economy.