Career stall or life stall (payments, real estate, degree, paycheck)

[Chowhound]

I was wondering how many people have the same feelings. I've been in my career for about 18 years now. It is stable and pays well but I'm bored and sick of it. When I was younger I wanted to excel and get ahead. Now it seems like it's all I can do is wait to get to the weekend. So my question is how many people feel this way. It seems like my whole life views have shifted in that I could give a sh*t less of defining myself through work or career. Any thoughts.

[gardener34]

Oh man, do I feel the same way. I just got laid off, and I honestly am in "just give me a job, I don't care (much) what it is, I just need a paycheck" mode.

I can't locate a job that is not retail or data entry though... and d.e. I am afraid of getting carpal tunnel so I won't do it.

My career for the last 23 years has been art/design related. After working in it so long, I am burnt out on it and I honestly want to change to something else (office work) and just do real art (painting, drawing) on the side where no artdirector or client can tell me it looks like cr*p all day long.

I am so relate... wish you luck.

[Dave1215]

I'm in the midst of switching jobs and after talking to many many people I'm thinking different career... one guy I've met that is a very senior executive is a huge advocate for a change every 7 years - reinvent yourself, even if its the same type job but different industry or different type of job same industry... I see lots of value in that relearning/retooling

[gold dust]

Originally Posted by Dave1215

I'm in the midst of switching jobs and after talking to many many people I'm thinking different career... one guy I've met that is a very senior executive is a huge advocate for a change every 7 years - reinvent yourself, even if its the same type job but different industry or different type of job same industry... I see lots of value in that relearning/retooling

wow - that is interesting...reinventing yourself every 7 years. I'm at a point where I need to do that ....

[FarNorthDallas]

Our college summer intern told me that was his plan, too. Only work in a certain type job for 8 or 9 years and then change to something else he likes, possibly changing locations or even in another country, and do that over and over his whole working life. Sounds a bit idealistic to me as it can be tough switching careers and then you'd start over on the pay scale every time, so I don't know.

[Chowhound]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

Our college summer intern told me that was his plan, too. Only work in a certain type job for 8 or 9 years and then change to something else he likes, possibly changing locations or even in another country, and do that over and over his whole working life. Sounds a bit idealistic to me as it can be tough switching careers and then you'd start over on the pay scale every time, so I don't know.

That is the tough about starting over is the pay cuts. If, after awhile you start making decent money it becomes hard to take a serious pay cut. I know if I was to start a new career I'd probably serious take a 40 to 50 percent pay cut. I don't have kids, but if you had a family with 2 car payments, kids in college, the whole nine I couldn't imagine that. It's like the more money you make the more you're trapped.

[gold dust]

Originally Posted by Chowhound

That is the tough about starting over is the pay cuts. If, after awhile you start making decent money it becomes hard to take a serious pay cut. I know if I was to start a new career I'd probably serious take a 40 to 50 percent pay cut. I don't have kids, but if you had a family with 2 car payments, kids in college, the whole nine I couldn't imagine that. It's like the more money you make the more you're trapped.

Agreed. It all sounds like a good plan, but in reality, it may not work. Esp. with kids.

[Prinny]

For those of you who can get up and go to work... be thankful and thank The Lord everyday you have your health. If you are not happy, be patient, the right door will open when you least expect and focus your energy outside of work during the week and not just the weekend. Life is a lot shorter than you realize and as fast as you are here it can be gone. Appreciate every day for what it is. A new day and special, it will never return again.

[Dave1215]

On the very 7 year reinvent yourself idea I did not mention anything about paycuts. Some of the folks I've talked to are senior execs and middle managers... in each case the trick is taking the previous experience and figuiring out how its a transferable skill to the next career... its this transference of skill that makes the person broader and more valuable.

Don't jump for the sake of jumping, but at about the 5 year point start lookiing for that next opportunity and sometime over that next 2-3 years as you look, spread the word and network the opportunity presents itself.

Try to always be looking for that next opportunity while still employed. High chances you don't take cuts in compensation but at least stay even or move higher.

[Bazzwell]

Twenty years behind the mike in radio. What started out as my dream career turned into watching the second hand go by for six hours a day. Tick, tick, tick, tick...all day. Then consolidation came, corporate thinking from people who had no feel for the industry. That was enough. To have stayed in the industry would have served nothing. I'd already hit the ceiling in management and the money wasn't going to go up to any great degree, probably less in fact as radio is a dying industry. What I wanted to accomplish in the field was done.

Left it behind 100% with no intention of ever getting behind a studio mike again. Took some time to figure out what to do and ended up in real estate. Those years of doing public appearances and talk shows came in handy as I can start a conversation with anyone from any level of life. Already had a built-in customer base of former listeners. Plus my time is basically mine to deal with as I see fit. That's what's important to me now.