As an engineering professor, I find it concerning when people think school will get them somewhere. While in computer science etc you can certainly find a good paying job, fact is the employers WILL hire people without it. I was talking to a CTO of a company just the other day who had a young man working for him who is in engineering school. The student is not doing well in school – but this guy STILL hired him and loves him. He did NOT hire him for the degree – he hired him to get results.

Check out the article at http://www.dalecallahan.com/how-to-conduct-a-reverse-interview-%E2%80%93-a-guaranteed-method-to-find-a-job/

and you will see some methods that REALLY work to break out of the set need to school.

Also, there are alternative degrees which do NOT require a bunch of backup work from the undergrad. We have a masters of engineering program which looks mostly for people with experience – no matter what their degree was in. We accept people based on resume and their personal goals – not their transcripts. So look around if you really want to do the degree thing.

Dale

Thanks to JD for the outstanding review, and thanks to you guys for sharing your own stories. I would love to hear what you think about the book – please feel free to e-mail me anytime or send me a message via our New Job, New You Facebook group. Also, Get Rich Slowly is featured in the career change webinar that’s offered for free with book purchase. Check it out at http://www.newjobnewyou.com/webinar.html. Cheers to better careers in 2010!

Kind Regards,

Alexandra Levit
Author, New Job, New You
http://www.newjobnewyou.com

Passion = figuring out at the age of 37 that I want to become a primary school teacher and applying to University to study part time online for the next eight years!

This year I’m being a sugar momma and supporting my husband’s passion, but he’s made a lot of sacrifices for my career too. We make these decisions as a team. We don’t know what’s going on in other people’s families.

Still, as a wife, the laundry thing sends chills down my spine. With cloth diapering there’s going to be even more laundry in the near future. If it were me in that situation he would have to step up more with the housework and schlepping or be able to pay for someone to take care of it. (Or at least cut time spent on chores by buying laundry detergent and using the dryer! The person who wants to save the planet/money might ought to take over the additional chore generated from that desire.) But, I have a lower tolerance threshold than many wives and have never put up with having to do more housework.

On average, (from time-use studies) wives do more chores than husbands, no matter the work situation in the household. There definitely should not be a double standard. If women home pursuing passions do more housework so should men, or alternatively if men don’t, women shouldn’t either.

(I’m willing to bet JD does his fair share of chores– Kris sounds pretty awesome.)

Most technical MS programs require the BS to be sure you have the background necessary to succeed in the program. Call the graduate adviser for your local state university and ask what you would need to do to fill in the holes in your education. Most likely you can take a few upper level classes to make sure you have the technical background. It will add 12-18 months to the program, but that’s better than 4 years. And many universities acknowledge this and will even give you credit toward your MS for 400 level classes (I believe USC allows up to 9 credits, many allow 6).

Kelly,

We have one of those in our family. My mother’s brother is 62 and facing retirement with very little to show for his life. For years his lifestyle was supplemented by my grandparents and now that they have passed he has no more wells to tap. And the inheritance he was planning on to retire himself isn’t as big as he was expecting. He told my mom she should sign over some of hers to keep it ‘fair’ (she got a slightly larger share because she cared for my grandfather for the last decade of his life and he changed his will a bit). He worked hard, but couldn’t make enough to support his family (and his wife refused to work because that was his responsibility). I’m with you: follow your dream, but only if and after you take care of your other responsibilities. I really don’t care if it’s not your passion, if you can’t pull your weight otherwise you have no right to do anything else.

As an individual with a Bachelors and two Masters, most of the jobs I’ve seen don’t pay more than $30,000 a year. I need to make at least that to pay off the school loans that got me here. I’ve thought about getting another Masters in Computer Science (my first two are in Theology and Library Science) but most of the programs want you to have a Bachelors in Computer Science. A second Bachelors does not seems like a good idea.

Basically, I’m too far in debt to keep going to school, but I’m too far in debt to stop going to school.

Most of these things are my mistakes, if I had to do it all over again, I’d be getting a BA in Computer Science and leaving it at that. I have two degrees in Theology and I’m not even religious anymore. I did what I had a passion for, now I have a different passion.

I’m trying to branch out by getting tech certification and learn things my library program doesn’t teach me (as in anything practical) in order to actually secure a job (which is not easy right now).

This blog helps me save money and think about what I could do with $30,000 a year if I need to.

Many, many times, it seems that – in a marriage/life partner situation, what ultimately happens is that one partner winds up taking advantage of the other. Meaning that one party ends up working at a J-O-B to provide the “backbone income” for the family, so that the other individual can “pursue their passions”, as it’s popularly called. Usually, the person who agrees to go out and earn the “reliable” income is the “less assertive” personality of the two. He/she is often in a mindset of loving the other person, wanting him or her to be happy, and wanting to be a “supportive” partner. So he/she agrees to shoulder the lion’s share of the burden (with its accompanying stress and sacrifices) of being the main breadwinner for the family – for years, and often for decades – the provider of the family health insurance, regular contributions to the couple’s retirement account and so on.

What I’ve seen in many cases is that “following one’s passions” becomes almost a sort of religion with some people, to the point that they justify taking advantage of others – especially their spouses, but sometimes parents or other relatives as well. Since when does ONE person’s desire to “pursue their passions” justify taking advantage of someone else? Note please that I am NOT talking about one parent staying home to raise the children, and the entire family making the financial sacrifices necessary in order to make that happen. I’m talking about when one person feels that following their own dreams in life is so important that it justifies forcing their partner to work for years at a job that is not fulfilling THEIR PARTNER’S dreams or passions – at least not to near the same degree.

There is a very successful blogger who describes not only being able to stay home to fulfill his dream of being a writer and have more “quality time” with his children, but also takes time for journaling, meditation, long walks for exercise and pleasure, pursuing of his interest in gourmet cooking, video and computer gaming, 1-2 hours daily set aside for pleasure reading, and other non-income producing activities. I was additionally shocked when his New Year’s resolutions included at least one hour daily to take up learning to play the piano. Yet in an earlier post, he described the “mountain of laundry” that he and his wife face each weekend due to laundry piling up and not being done all week. Meanwhile, his wife is schlepping their two preschool-age children(she’s pregnant with their third) off to daycare on the way to her full-time job during the week. This is the point at which “pursuing one’s passions” becomes more important than pulling one’s own weight in a relationship. The focus becomes “What ELSE can I add to the list of what might fulill me personally?” rather than “What do I need to contribute to make this arrangement a fair and equitable one for my partner, who is making this sacrifice for me?” Whether the partner is willing to continue in this exploitive arrangement really isn’t the point; it should be about personal integrity and responsibility – and about what is right and FAIR to the other person.

This is the kind of thing that turns my stomach. It starts out with a desire to pursue one’s passions, and where does it end? Work and providing for one’s family isn’t always “fun”, but it has to be done. It’s no accident that the generation of WWII is known as “The Greatest Generation”. These men and women recognized that there were things in life more important than chasing one’s dreams and striving to scratch every hedonistic itch that comes along – no matter who gets taken advantage of in the process.

I have a 28-year-old nephew who finished his Master’s degree about 5 years ago, and has spent his time since flitting from job to job, trying to decide “what he wants to do with his life”. In the meantime, he has spent most of that time working as few hours as possible and living off his part-time wages and his wife’s school loan money. The big concern in our family is that this very intelligent and talented young man will find a career that he will feel fulfilled in and happy with, and not hop from one job to another as soon as the novelty wears off – all in the name of “pursuing his passions”. Meanwhile, I can see the handwriting on the wall… another individual spending his life worshipping his own appetite for his personal interests and excitement, while his spouse trudges off to provide for the family and fund his folly (in the name of being a loving, supportive wife).

Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for pursuing your dreams, finding fulfillment in your life (and work, if possible), etc. Just realize that the bills still have to be paid (even if you’re living frugally), and that your desire to live the life of your dreams doesn’t give you license to take advantage of your partner.

I have done essentially the same type of work for about 16 years at three different companies. I have gone through periods of loving my career and feeling disillusioned with it — sometimes even while working for the same employer.

When I think back on those periods when I was happiest, it was when I was working with great people who were talented and whom I “clicked” with personally. In other words, I was happiest when I was part of a great team.

It seems all too rare for a company to bring together the right mix of people to form a great team. Unfortunately, unless you make hiring decisions, that’s not something you can usually control. And even if you have some influence over hiring, there’s a lot of luck involved in finding people who just get along really well.

My point is that finding work that you love is a worthy goal, but it’s not the only factor that determines your happiness with your career path. Not by a long shot. As in other aspects of life, your relationships with the people you meet along the way matter a lot. If you don’t click with your colleagues, you can be doing work you’re passionate about and still curse the sound of the alarm clock in the morning.

I was just talking to someone the other day who wish they spent more time thinking about their career when they were in the mid 20′s. Although I’m young and think I’m on the right track, it’s always great to get a new perspective.

I’m ecstatic for you that you’ve found your calling.

I have a passion for sleeping in, reading novels, watching anime, and surfing the net.

What is stopping me from becoming a copy-editor or research librarian?

Well, I’d probably be reasonably decent at the latter, but there are a lot fewer people who are really good at what I do than there are at what I really love doing. My Protestant work ethic tells me to go where my comparative advantage is, since I don’t hate it, it’s important, and the money is good, and to do my passions in my free time. (Though my job does allow me to sleep in, which is important.)

Some part of me does think that if you’re a great artist or a scientific genius, then you have some obligation to use your talent for the betterment of society… even if you’d rather be what you’re mediocre at. The economics training in me, oddly, says that you should be allowed to be a mediocre short order cook rather than a genius physicist if that’s what you want to do (or a mediocre physicist rather than a genius chef, like one of our former students… what a waste with someone who did such amazing and creative things with food.)

Edit: Just read Shara’s comment. That’s EXACTLY my situation.

If you are one of the fortunate few who are successful working for yourself, then great. I worked twice as many hours when working for myself, and taking vacations was a real pain when trying to find someone to watch my business. For the last 7 years I’ve work as a budget officer and I can take vacation when ever I want.

So there are trade offs both ways. I wouldn’t trade my experience of working for myself for anything, but I am jealous of all my co-workers my age who have 30 year retirements under their belt.

I think I might just go and pick up a copy of this book at the library just to see what other info it can offer

Re: hobbies into work: I have a friend who runs a half-dozen home-based businesses. Only one makes a profit and it’s the one he enjoys least. His wife (who does all their business paperwork but whose day job provides their financial security) constantly urges me to turn my Hobbies into cash flow. I constantly tell her that if I had pressure to create, it would no longer be fun, i.e., a Hobby.

I have sold nearly everything I’ve made (jewelry/art) but not at prices that covered much more than supplies. You have to look at the market and say, can I sell this thing for the cost of materials PLUS a reasonable compensation for my labor? Most of the time, with art/music/writing the answer is a big, loud NO.

All too often, people who want to live for their passion (artists are notorious for this!) are unwilling or unable to produce a) on a scale that will support life or b) in a manner that will generate sales. You have to create something people want to buy, not just something that pleases you and suits your artistic vision.

Thus, 99% of creatives have “day jobs.”

I do think the notion of job satisfaction is extremely recent. There have always been people who wouldn’t settle for less than living their passion, but have understood that doing so meant a lifetime of financial insecurity. This is why successful (able to marry, maintain a home, and support children)artists/writers/musicians/actors of the past were, in general, supported by patronage.

Anyway, I do think people should explore everything that interests them, but should never make big investments in hobbies just because they think they can make a living at it. Most of us can’t, many of us shouldn’t (passion does not equal talent), and that’s okay.

I also agree with Rob that you shouldn’t quit a well paying or secure job just because it doesn’t provide a sense of fulfillment. We could find our sense of fulfillment outside of work, through areas such as providing for our families, developing a skill or hobby, etc.

However, since most of us spend 40 or even more hours at our job every week, it can be difficult to find enough time to pursue those things that do bring us fulfillment. Often times we may be too tired from work, and want to just destress when we get home.

With that said, I’m all for finding your passion, and pursuing ways to have it generate a full-time income.

This year has been a turning point for me. I have been doing what I thought to be what I was born to do, but now I am transitioning into something and am just now starting to feel like it’s where I’m supposed to be.

I’ve heard of stories of other people who have taken less paying jobs to do what they enjoy doing and end up having more money because their lives are less stressful which makes them spend less money.

Thanks for the post!

I wonder if the concern about “job satisfaction” has only become more relevant as our society has progressed towards a more leisurely existence? According to the article 20% more people are unhappy with their work than 20 years ago. It may be that I am to young to know any different, but did the baby boom and pre-baby boom generation fret so much about being *happy* in their careers, or were they simply satisfied to have a means to provide for their family?

It seems odd to me that in a generation that has achieved a college education in greater numbers than any other previously, that supposedly allows you to follow your *dreams* and find the career of your choosing, is less satisfied with the work they are doing than previous generations who were not college educated and were more likely to work in a J.O.B and not a *career* that was selected after four years of higher education.

(Sorry to be hanging out in the comment section today, but we had a snow day today and I find this topic interesting)

As a result, many of these unemployed lawyers decided to hire themselves by starting their own solo law firms. They remembered that they didn’t leave all of their legal knowledge behind at their previous employer. For as little as $600 they could purchase a time, billing and accounting software program like PCLaw™, operate just as they did at their former employer and keep all of the money from their billable hours.

This lesson equally applies to anyone who is unhappy about their current employment environment. With a little introspection you can identify your strengths and decide to leverage those strengths for your own benefit.

Just Do It.

How can you make a statement like that while encouraging everyone to pursue a career that is fulfilling to them? Are you speaking to everyone or a lucky few? That sort of statement perpetuates the very attitude/feeling about work that you seem to want to discourage. There is an element of drudgery to all work, but when you do work that is meaningful to you those elements are just a part, not the sum of your day.

I think “Happier” is kind of like “More” on the curve of life (as highlighted in Your Money or Your Life) the more we pursue an undefinable destination of happier and try to achieve it by finding the “perfect” job, the less likely we are to reach that illusive place called happier. I think Dominguez was right when he suggests we should establish what *enough* is and learn to be content with it. After all the countries with the most content, happiest people are those who have lower expectations for life. That’s just a hard pill to swallow for the American Manifest Destiny mindsets.

Oh and ditto to what chacha1 said.

For me, this “career” has served to support everything else in my life that I actively love: travel, dancing, art, books, spoiling my cats.

I see nothing at all wrong with working at “just a job” so long as you are treated with civility and respect. My observation: true on-the-job misery is generally the result of a toxic boss/culture or an employee’s own attitude. I’ve experienced both, and have brought my own issues to the job more than once. It didn’t help.

We reap what we sow, and going to work from a place of negativity guarantees that every day will be less than great. It is often not the work itself that we hate, but the place where we have to do it – or else we are so unhappy in ourselves that no job would satisfy us.

So I’d suggest that people who are really unhappy at work look at themselves FIRST, and then start looking at whether it’s a new job they need. If I had dealt with my own issues earlier (professional counseling would have helped), I could have avoided a lot of stress, anxiety, depression, and overspending.

Sure, it has its downsides, not everything is always perfect, but everything in life has downsides. You’re never going to find a job where you’re never pushed up against a deadline, or don’t have to deal with an unreasonable boss or customer occasionally.

Also, it’s important to consider that “passions” are often fleeting. Sure, photography might be the most exciting thing right now, but what about two years ago, when it was bicycling, or two years before that, when it was modifying cars? If hobbies get old after a year or two in your spare time, they might get old after a month or two of full-time employment, especially since they now come with the annoyances that every job has that hobbies don’t, like irate customers and filing expense reports. I’ve had a *lot* of interests and hobbies in my life, and I’m not even 30 yet. Even though I still find most of them at least a little bit interesting, I only actively participate in a couple, one of which is where my job is focused.

Now I’m using my day job to support my passion for writing fiction. I want to do it full-time if the opportunity presents itself. But I wouldn’t have known this if I didn’t already experience the realities (and yes, headaches) of writing fiction for money while having a stable day job. I’ve seen too many wannabe writers quit the day job before they’ve even written a few pages and with no clue of how the publishing business works, including how little and how slowly it pays. Not a smart move. Many, if not most, published novelists still have a day job.

Perfect is the enemy of the good. That goes for careers too.

I have also found that what people are often “passionate” about wind up being the same things, which means there are plenty of people willing to do it for sucky pay. I prefer to keep my hobbies as hobbies.

I think the difference is: I don’t hate my job. If I did I would leave. I am already working on escape plans so if I do start hating it I can get out. But while I don’t love it here, I like it here. I find it an acceptable and fulfilling way to fill 40 hours each week, if not always ideal. And like another poster said:

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR BECAUSE YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT.

When I tell people what I do they often tell me how cool my job is. When you condense it to a few sentences it sounds pretty darn cool. But when you’re here you do a lot of paperwork and fix a lot of problems that shouldn’t be problems in the first place. We have the same personalities and frustrations that exist everywhere. Every job has it’s sucky points. So while I agree that you shouldn’t let things hold you back, you also need to be ready for reality and don’t think that if you could just “X” (change your job/house/car, lose some weight, get married/divorced, make more money) things would be better. Thrive in place.

The article at the URL below gives the background needed to make sense of the hostility evidenced in this comment:

http://www.passionsaving.com/internet-harassment.html

Rob

Rob — what exactly *is* your internet business?