I’d like to think we would all be doing the exact same thing in our careers if money wasn’t a factor but that isn’t realistic. It makes me wonder how many people out there love their jobs enough to continue working even if they didn’t need the money. Not to mention, I doubt any of us know which route we’d choose until presented with the opportunity. If I suddenly stumbled upon millions of dollars, would I still intend to go to law school? I sure hope so, but maybe not.
I have actually been thinking a lot about this topic. Not that I’m expecting or hoping to be awarded the luxury of not working, but it is an interesting thing to think about as I hunt for jobs. I guess in a way I hope it leads me to where I am supposed to be. When you are young (not that I think 23 is old) there isn’t anything you can’t do. All you hear is to follow your passions, do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Blah blah blah. Well that changes when you graduate college and have car insurance, gym memberships and $12.00 cocktails to afford. Suddenly, it becomes about getting by rather than doing what you love. For the lucky few an exciting paycheck parallels their first job but for the rest of us, we take the first thing we land on. I think I speak for most people my age when I say that the flowery illusion of that “dream job” right out of college no longer exists.
A few weeks ago I stumbled upon this article. It suggests using your childhood interests as a compass back to what you should really being doing with your life. I humored myself and gave it a try, immediately listing the following five activities that consumed my free time.
1. Labeling my drawers and organizing my closets
2. Making scenes with my American Girl dolls
3. Rearranging my doll house
4. Making up stories to put myself to sleep at night.
5. Coloring, scrapbooking, any type of arts and crafts
What do you notice? I spent my childhood exercising the right side of my brain, yet have chosen a totally analytical career. Have I chosen wrong all this time? While I absolutely have a passion and interest for law, it is possible to make a living doing every thing on that list. I could have been an interior decorator, a writer, a designer, a professional organizer (like the women on Hoarders, hehe), or a contributor for a magazine such as Martha Stewart Living–fuck I could have been Martha Stewart! So now what? I’m not going to suddenly change the course of my life because of something I read online, nevertheless it is interesting to think about.
I do admit that I’ve always thought that creative careers are harder to succeed at. Is it that only the top echelons of people in the field truly succeed? Or is it that fewer people dare to try? Why do I find it easier to become a lawyer than a designer or writer? Law is analytical and success is defined by your persuasion and ability to negotiate. The arts are so subjective and maybe I fear that I wouldn’t be accepted for my contributions to the field. I sit here and wonder that if money wasn’t a factor in my life, if I would go ahead and write or design because I love it, knowing that regardless of success I would be okay.
So would money, rather the abundance of it, change my career ambitions? I suppose since 10 million dollars isn’t going to appear under my pillow tonight we will never know… I so badly want to be working that at this point I am not picky; but I hope my job hunt leads me to a profession that meshes the creative with the analytical into one ever fulfilling career.
Stay picky. You deserve a life time of happiness . In that i am fifty years older I can tell you that twenty-three is just the beginning. The life you want is only two years old, never never give up.
As usual very “interesting” and deep thinking. Altho I woder if Matell would hire you to stage their stores. The man who designed Apples stores just uit to become the designer for J.C.Penney in hope to improve their sales.
G
As usual very “interesting” and deep thinking. Altho I woder if Matell would hire you to stage their stores. The man who designed Apples stores just quit to become the designer for J.C.Penney in hope to improve their sales.
G