How To Choose A Career

How To Choose A Career

A few of those who read my blogs are retired or don't have a job. Most of those who read my blogs have a job and a career they have been in for a long, long time. However, far too many of those readers either don't like the job/career they are in or wish they would have chosen a different path.

Sooo, how did you get into this fine mess? Some just followed in their Father or Mother's footsteps. Some got into their path because the outside told them this is the career you should take. Some took a path that they believed would make more money than some other path. Some just fell into a path when they were young and never looked back.

What happened to that little boy or girl who wanted to be a Fireman or a TV Star? Yes, there are a few that actually fulfilled their boyhood/young girl dream. Most are happy with their choice - some are not. 

My boyhood dream was to be involved (in any way) with sports. I wasn't good enough to play a sport at a professional level, but it would have been just as rewarding washing jockstraps. Knowing me, if I would have taken that path I would have had many promotions and become a significant contributor to a sports team.

I can't complain because I'm one of the lucky ones that fell into a career in the High-Tech Industry. It was not only profitable, it was mentally rewarding. The path that wasn't as rewarding happened because they continued promoting me to management. I could have said no, but who says no to more money and prestige? Also, I was a dam good manager and proud of what my teams accomplished.

However, if I would have stayed being a computer programmer I would have made just as much money and would not have the pressure of management. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would have chosen washing jockstraps.

Is it too late to change your job or your career? There are a few answers to that question. When you're retired you can choose any career you want. By saving enough money to retire makes it a lot easier to choose a career that makes you happy without the burden of having to bring home the bacon. 

If you're not retired, your career change choices are more complicated, more risky and probably have an impact on someone other than yourself. Sooo, what's a person to do? That depends on many things. How unhappy are you? How much risk are you willing to take? Will taking a step back cause so much financial harm to you or your loved ones that it's just not worth it?

I can't answer these questions for you. I stayed until I couldn't take it any more then retired early at 62. I do believe staying miserable in a job/career will not only make for an unhappy life, it will also shorten your lifespan. 

To me the right answer is to save as much money as you can NOW. Only spend money on things that make you happy, not on things that aren't necessary. Don't become house poor. Don't become car poor. Remember what I've always said: "the real purpose of having money is to have choices. More money - more choices. Less money - less choices."

Ninety percent of career changes require you to live on less money. I'm living on less money, but I've never been happier than I am now. Therefore, don't make changing a career a snap choice. Plan a career change. Set a goal, do all the things you have to do to meet that goal and execute that career change when you have a positive answer to the questions I raised above.

I assure you that if you make a career change for your happiness, all good things will follow.