How did you guys figure out what you wanted to be?

[Slimfast]

From my other thread, I gathered that a lot of the people on this board are in the same demographic as me: young and Chinese. I'm just wondering how you guys decided what degree and careers to pursue?

I'm at a loss right now with no direction. I really don't like engineering and would not like to pursue a pure-science degree in university. I really like interacting with people and really enjoyed my experience last summer teaching English in Shanghai. I can't imagine working the same job for the rest of my life, I need variety. I was thinking business would suit me. I like challenges when I'm actually doing something, not just scribbling numbers down on a page and I thrive under pressure. Do you guys think I should pursue a business degree, if so, which school should I go to and what courses should I take in my last year?

Thanks a lot guys. You don't know how much I appreciate it.

[kingsley]

Do what you enjoy doing or what you are good at.

[devious9191]

What about looking for work in a 'trade'? The work is often challenging, you meet new people every day, and you're not stuck working from the same office every day? The pay is also comparable to most people graduating out of non-engineering disciplines.. except that you're earning money doing an apprenticeship while your neighbour is paying to go to school.

[Slimfast]

I think my family would disown me if I told them I was going to be an electrician.

[slc95]

I think my family would disown me if I told them I was going to be an electrician.

Is it the stigma of being an electrician or the stereotype that white collar jobs pay more than blue collar trades that would bother your parents? Besides...who is living your life? You or them? I mean I understan they're your parents and all, and maybe it's just chinese culture, but I would never let my folks tell me I couldn't do a certain job. They were'nt exactly thrilled when they learned I joined the Air Force, but they knew that's what I wanted and they understood that.

[FearSonic]

Is it the stigma of being an electrician or the stereotype that white collar jobs pay more than blue collar trades that would bother your parents? Besides...who is living your life? You or them? I mean I understan they're your parents and all, and maybe it's just chinese culture, but I would never let my folks tell me I couldn't do a certain job. They were'nt exactly thrilled when they learned I joined the Air Force, but they knew that's what I wanted and they understood that.

You don't know how powerful Chinese parents are man.. they have level 67 Guilt. =/

And I found accounting to be rather fun for me (It's my program choice for university) because I thought it was rather fun and challenging to manage books while keeping many rules and what not in mind. Meh, I'm just a typical asian nerd. Minus the marks. =D

[siriuskao]

Is it the stigma of being an electrician or the stereotype that white collar jobs pay more than blue collar trades that would bother your parents?

Unfortunately I think most Asian parents are like that, plus the perception that white collar has a higher earning ceiling (climb the coporate ladder) than blue collar jobs.

[kingsley]

You don't know how powerful Chinese parents are man.. they have level 67 Guilt. =/


:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Slimfast]

I don't think im the typical Asian nerd. I'm alright at math, but I want to avoid it as much as possible. I'd say I'm pretty extroverted. I was looking at International Business. China is booming and I want to get in on it! Wouldn't you agree that a lot of us first generation kids are poised to do so? Maybe I'm just dreaming..

[gman]

From my other thread, I gathered that a lot of the people on this board are in the same demographic as me: young and Chinese. I'm just wondering how you guys decided what degree and careers to pursue?

I'm at a loss right now with no direction. I really don't like engineering and would not like to pursue a pure-science degree in university. I really like interacting with people and really enjoyed my experience last summer teaching English in Shanghai. I can't imagine working the same job for the rest of my life, I need variety. I was thinking business would suit me. I like challenges when I'm actually doing something, not just scribbling numbers down on a page and I thrive under pressure. Do you guys think I should pursue a business degree, if so, which school should I go to and what courses should I take in my last year?

Thanks a lot guys. You don't know how much I appreciate it.

You do what you like. Go that direction and never look back.
If your parents do not like that, listen to their point of view, think about it, digest it, think again, then go for the gut feeling and find what is right for you.

[Slimfast]

I don't know of a job that I like...except something silly like a wet t-shirt judge :lol:

[drucillica]

I thought you only get three choices: Doctor, Engineer or a Lawyer :confused:

[gman]

I don't know of a job that I like...except something silly like a wet t-shirt judge :lol:

Nobody can find a job you like without being you. If you can't answer that question, nobody can.
You may as well just take your parents' advice. At least, somebody in your family will like it even though you may not. ;)

[slc95]

I think I remember seeing a census statistic somewhere (no I don't have a link) that only 5% of white collar employees, including executives, make over 100K a year. I'm sure tradespeople make less than that, comparatively, but the gap isn't as wide as it used to be due to shortages of trained tradespeople.

FWIW, I'm going back to school on company (IE government) time to switch to an "executive" (Read: Officer) job. Has nothing to do with not liking what I'm doing. I just want to go back to school and make more money/get a better pension when I am done working.

[Slimfast]

I was just reading through university calenders and could not find a degree that I would want. I just look at them and say, "What could I do with that!?"

[pandaharo]

Like you, I was lost and didn't know what to do. I just went to university and went with what everybody else wanted to get into. In my case, back in first year everybody was Biochem, Biochem, Biochem, so I'm graduating with a biochem degree in april. :)

I feel that Biochem will get me a good career, but the potential for growth is limited. So I am going back to school and getting a commerce degree, it's gonna take another 2 years or so, but I think it's worth it. In the end, my parents had no or very little input into my decisions, I made all the choices.

Lifer is pretty long, I think you should just choose something you like and stick with it till the end. When you graduate with like a engineering degree or something, it doesn't mean you have given up on everything else you wanted to be. There are so many people in university now that are even in their 40ies getthing like their 5th degree. It's probably really hard to make a choice now, just remember, if you think you are going to regret, dont do it and if you do it don't regret it. Nothing is worst than switching programs in university back and forth then graduating with 1 and a 1/4 degree after 8 years.

[trusoulja2g]

Since you mentioned business as a possibility, these are the things to consider:
- What are your high school marks like? The university you can get into will directly affect your career opportunities in business.
- How important is money to you? Is it the single most important goal in choosing a career?
- What kind of lifestyle do you want? How many hours are you willing to work?

I wish someone had told me this when I was in high school: going to a top business school will earn you the most amount of money in the shortest amount of time. Possible careers: accountant, investment banker, consultant, financial analyst, corporate lawyer...

An example...accounting grad at a Big 4 firm starts at $45K at age 22, $60K+ by age 25, and has a good shot of making $100K by age 30. The average CA in Ontario makes $164K. And accountants are the least paid of the above careers! However, the workload and hours are not for everyone. Be prepared to work at least 60 hours a week.

The reputation of your university is very important to business grads. Most jobs are found through on campus recruiting, and top employers only recruit at top schools. Good business schools: Western (Ivey), Queens, McGill, York (Schulich) (approximately in that order). Big 4 accounting jobs are available at second-tier schools too, but most good finance and consulting jobs are not. If you are interested in a business school, visit the best ones your marks can get you into, and talk to the upper year students about their recruiting experiences. How many 4th years have jobs already? How many 3rd years have summer internships? If I were in high school again, I would work my butt off and squeeze out every % of my average as possible - there is a world of difference in getting into a top business program when it comes to recruiting opportunities.

Of course, money is not the important thing for everyone. Many people are happy with a steady 40 hour/week career that pays up to $80-100K. You can get that in numerous careers depending on your interests.

Regarding the advice about trades - it's not just a Chinese thing that most people aren't interested, which explains why we have a shortage in Canada. Each type of career has its own personality and culture. If you encounter different types of workers, there's a difference in the way they act, talk, dress, etc. Huge difference between a blue collar worker, techie science/engineering type, and a Bay Street financial type. So it depends where you fit in better and what type of culture suits you.

[CodecX81]

Hmm... experienced electricians make 22.20 - 30.75/hr.. I don't see that as a "low" wage personally :) ..starting off at 15/hr might be, but its still livable.

Limiting maybe.. but getting experience in the world and going into business for yourself will let you do a lot of writing off for business expenses to offset the wage.... and then there's the "cash transactions" as well.

My dad is a general labourer (wood worker/plumber/electrician) and he's getting on in age...My brother is thinking of taking up a trade, since he's more of a snowboarder than a student.


Any career that is a shortage is a good industry to get into right now. I'm changing my careers, Training for a Database Administrator.
Helpdesk is becoming a little too diluted.

For the generation whose graduating, Tool&Die is very lucrative.. the Plumber, electrician, spot welder, carpenter..all great jobs to fill a void of a retiring babyboomer generation.

My two cousins, ages 26&28.. Never really had a flair for post-secondary. One took up an apprenticeship as a carpenter, the other as a chef. Both are doing quite well for themselves.

[FearSonic]

I was joking on the nerd thing, I'm as normal as can be.

I felt like you did in grade 11 when I was suddenly hit by something: I hated computer programming. So I dropped it and thought of my choices, what could I be good at and enjoy? I thought back to my grade 9 take your kids to work day and I went to my mom's workplace where she did some accounting stuff. As sad as it sounds, I enjoyed it because I have some weird fetish for crunching numbers. :D

Anyway, I applied to Schulich, Queens and Western, in that order if they all accept me. I didn't apply to Ivey because 100 dollar application for something I might not get accepted into? Nahh, I can apply in second year.

[gman]

Hmm... experienced electricians make 22.20 - 30.75/hr.. I don't see that as a "low" wage personally :) ..starting off at 15/hr might be, but its still livable.

If $30.75/hr is the ceiling, it is not high.


Limiting maybe.. but getting experience in the world and going into business for yourself will let you do a lot of writing off for business expenses to offset the wage.... and then there's the "cash transactions" as well.
There is always ways to earn more money illegally.


My dad is a general labourer (wood worker/plumber/electrician) and he's getting on in age...My brother is thinking of taking up a trade, since he's more of a snowboarder than a student.
Blue collar has to work hard to get money. White collar can easily earn money without doing anything.

Both white collar and blue collar can earn big money. However, IMO, in most case, white collar can earn more and does not need to work as hard phyiscally as blue collar.

[CodecX81]

All I am saying is:

University Schooling is not for everyone & either way you go, you will be successful in life if you apply yourself & enjoy what you do.

100k a year is nice. Don't get me wrong, I have a personal goal to make 100k/yr by the time I am 35. But that is me. & I wouldn't look down upon someone for making less. The line of work that I am in is not for everyone. Just like how I don't think I'd enjoy the labour of say.. Construction work. In a pinch I'd still do it mind you ;) money is money.

For all I know, they might get married and have a spouse that makes equivalent to what they do... two people making 22.20/hr is pretty close to 1 person making 100k/yr.. more than enough to raise a family and be comfortable.

All of this does not amount to anything if you plan to live beyond your means...or hate your line of work.

[spawnr]

Don't be afraid to change your career. I think I have changed about three times already and I'm on number 4. This one is not looking to great either . As you get older, you will see money is not everything. I personally will take any job that pays me less than now, as long I would enjoy it...

Only way to really know what you like is by exploring. It's too bad they got rid of OACs, the student's no longer have the chance to explore other courses.

If you decide to go to post-secondary, make soure you take some diverse electives. You never know, what you might actually like.

[Sylvestre]

From my other thread, I gathered that a lot of the people on this board are in the same demographic as me: young and Chinese.

damm, I don't fit. :(

[bionicbadger]

If $30.75/hr is the ceiling, it is not high.


Thats if: a) you work for someone else, and b) don't want to leave the city.

Many trades have their own business and pull in way more than $30/hour, and can write off a ton of stuff.
Or if you are willing to work in a camp or someplace like Fort McMurray you can pull in a bunch more money too.

If I was back in high schooland had to choose what I wanted to do, I think I would choose trade instead of going to university.

There are tons of "trades" guys that never got any sort of ticket/education and are pulling in huge bucks. Drywall guys for example. Try to get one to do your basement/house and see what they charge and how long it takes them. It isn't rocket science, and these guys are pulling in over $100K/yeear easy. Same with landscapers, the shovel dirt, resod lawns and plant some plants and pull in huge dollars. Many take the winter off since they make more than enough the rest of the year.

[gman]

Thats if: a) you work for someone else, and b) don't want to leave the city.

Many trades have their own business and pull in way more than $30/hour, and can write off a ton of stuff.
Or if you are willing to work in a camp or someplace like Fort McMurray you can pull in a bunch more money too.

If I was back in high schooland had to choose what I wanted to do, I think I would choose trade instead of going to university.

There are tons of "trades" guys that never got any sort of ticket/education and are pulling in huge bucks. Drywall guys for example. Try to get one to do your basement/house and see what they charge and how long it takes them. It isn't rocket science, and these guys are pulling in over $100K/yeear easy. Same with landscapers, the shovel dirt, resod lawns and plant some plants and pull in huge dollars. Many take the winter off since they make more than enough the rest of the year.

First, I did say 'if'.
Second, if a white collar does not do your (a) and (b), he can earn a lot too.

[Slimfast]

What courses should I take and what grades should I be aiming for if I want to get into Schulich? Should I take hard science courses such as chem and physics, or humanities? Should I do a lot of extra-cirrcicular stuff as well? How many years am I looking at in University and would it be a wise choice for me to take my undergrad degree here at home, and then transfer to a big-name business school for my MBA?

Thanks a bunch guys; nothing beats experience.

[slc95]

I wrote and erased this post 4 times in response to the above posts and I thought I'd point you all to this article. There are many others out there that would illustrate my point better I'm sure, but this is what I found after a quick Google and seemed to fit this topic.

http://www.ahrdcc.com/resource/articles_trading.htm

Trade school is also generally much cheaper (and shorter) than university, so you can be out working sooner that way, too...probably with little or no student debt to boot.

I'm not saying stay away from university. I'm just playing the Devil's advocate here, having experienced both sides of the fence. University and/or business may very well be the best choice for you. But it's up to YOU to decide that, along with some guidance from others maybe, but it's ultimately your decision.

If you don't think you could handle the Super Asian Parent Guilt Trip, then fine...choose a career that they want you to have. Then know that the only decision you have made is that you have let your parents decide for you. If you're comfortable with that, than this post is kind of moot.

You could always go the route I did. I was originally supposed to go to University for music (at WLU on scholarship) after HS but sat down after I got accepted and realized, "What the hell do I do with a BMus?". Not a whole hell of a lot, I later concluded. So I joined the Air Force as an Aircraft Structures Technician. I took (auto) shop once in Gd 9 and never did anything hands on again in school, but strangely enough, choosing a trade was one of the best decisions I ever made up to this point.(There's a back story to why I ended up in this particular trade, but I'll leave it for now for within 6 years of signing up, including full medical and dental and 25 days paid vacation off a year (not including stat holidays, of course).

Someone joining up straight out of HS (with as little as grade 10), no experience, would start out making at least 30K/yr. I don't know anywhere else you can typically do that, save maybe Ft. McMurray or illegal activities.

I don't mean this to be a recruiting drive and it's certainly not for everyone. But I know it works for me. I have a good salary and benefits, good work environment and hours (not everyone will have this mind), and I enjoy what I do. I will soon be attending University paid for by the CF (location undeterined as of yet) will be working as an officer, ie "white collar" and will be able to leave at 38 with a full pension, both a diploma and a degree (hopefully a Masters), 5 years away from being mortgage free and, with any luck, a well paying executive job once I leave the CF.

You have options...lots of them. Don't limit them to just the "Asian Trifecta" (Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer) if you don't want them.

[Azxster]

[QUOTE=slc95] 5% of white collar employees, including executives, make over 100K a year. I'm sure tradespeople make less than thatQUOTE]

;) yea...

(hidden message)

[Alvito]

York Schulich

[CodecX81]

Or you could just screw all this and do something that just makes more than they do.. lol

[Sylvestre]

moneysense had a great article last year somewhat related to this topic. long story short, they comapred two people, one that worked for a lot of money but didn't really enjoy their job and one that made half but loved their job.
long story short, the person who made lots wanted to retire at 55. the one who enjoyed retired at 65 (but could have potentially kept working). the one making less actually had more cash due to 10 extra years of working & savings.

sure, the best! option is a job you love and that pays very well but if that's not realistic, I'd say you are better of having a job you enjoy doing rather than one you don't but make more.

[Eazy E]

From my other thread, I gathered that a lot of the people on this board are in the same demographic as me: young and Chinese. I'm just wondering how you guys decided what degree and careers to pursue?

I'm at a loss right now with no direction. I really don't like engineering and would not like to pursue a pure-science degree in university. I really like interacting with people and really enjoyed my experience last summer teaching English in Shanghai. I can't imagine working the same job for the rest of my life, I need variety. I was thinking business would suit me. I like challenges when I'm actually doing something, not just scribbling numbers down on a page and I thrive under pressure. Do you guys think I should pursue a business degree, if so, which school should I go to and what courses should I take in my last year?

I'd agree with Kingsley's sentiments.

Being CBC myself, I can appreciate where your parents are coming from (if you're first gen Canadian) but ultimately, you're the one living your life; not them. They mean well when they want you to succeed and they associate success and happiness with prestigious titles (MD, JD, MBA, CA, PEng, PhD) and money.

Being your parents, I am confident they will love you and support you if you decide to switch out of engineering because it doesn't make you happy. Ultimately, they just want you to be happy and they think that you being an MD, for example, will make you happy.

That being said though, because it seems like you don't really know what you want to do, I would suggest doing exercises or tests (Myers-Briggs, Strong Interest Inventory, Seven Stories exercise through Five O'Clock Club) to determine what your strengths and interests are.

I would also suggest informational interviewing with people who are doing those jobs that you think you might enjoy. Through this process, you might realize that it is or isn't a job that you'd like to explore further (through education, professional credentials).

Good luck,

[SamInfinity]

I've always been intrigued by the sciences, and I knew that I would be doing something science. In high school, I wasn't sure what I was going to do in University, so I took all the science and math courses to keep options open. I volunteered at the local hospital and decided that the health field was for me. There was some pressure from family to head towards a doctor of something degree, whether it be dentistry, medicine, optometry or philosophy. I guess there's a bit of prestige in being a doctor. After first year of university, my marks were respectable, but they weren't stellar either...I did a bit of soul searching about what I wanted from life. Do I want to be raking in the big bucks but hating my job? Do I want to live to work or work to live? Do I want to be there for my children when they're growing up? How much more schooling can I handle - being in school until 30 doesn't appeal to me. Long story short, I really didn't want to go into a field for all the wrong reasons. Afterwards, I decided that pharmacy was for me - there's a good balance of all the things important to me. I love my decision right now, and hopefully I'll love it 30 years later.

[Slimfast]

This thread has been a lot of help guys, thanks.

Going into business will be of my own accord. My mom wants me to stay close to her and take some health care degree at UVic. (University of Victoria)
Can someone explain to me all the possibilities for careers for a business degree? Also, what's the difference between consulting, finance and marketing? I heard these word's a lot at orientations, but I can't make heads or tails out of it.

[trusoulja2g]

This thread has been a lot of help guys, thanks.

Going into business will be of my own accord. My mom wants me to stay close to her and take some health care degree at UVic. (University of Victoria)
Can someone explain to me all the possibilities for careers for a business degree? Also, what's the difference between consulting, finance and marketing? I heard these word's a lot at orientations, but I can't make heads or tails out of it.

The possibilities for a business degree can depend a lot on the quality and reputation of your business school. As I mentioned in my previous post, all the big employers have target schools that they visit for recruiting.

You will learn about the different career options for business grads once you start, but I'll get you started by listing some of the more prestigious employers in each field. Go to their websites and figure out what they do. Most of their sites will have a careers section. All of these companies recruit at SOME Canadian business schools.

Accounting: Ernst & Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte
Consulting: McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Bain, Accenture
Finance: Goldman Sachs, Merril Lynch, Credit Suisse First Boston, RBC Dominion
Marketing: Procter & Gamble, Maple Leaf Foods, any consumer goods company

[Eazy E]

Going into business will be of my own accord. My mom wants me to stay close to her and take some health care degree at UVic. (University of Victoria)
Can someone explain to me all the possibilities for careers for a business degree? Also, what's the difference between consulting, finance and marketing? I heard these word's a lot at orientations, but I can't make heads or tails out of it.

A biz degree doesn't restrict you from other areas either; it should provide you with a general understanding of how different areas of companies work. What you do with that knowledge depends on your aptitudes, interests and experience. That's why, I believe, its so important to take the time to figure out what you want first and then find career areas that cater to your strengths and interests second.

[DirtyDave]

I think my family would disown me if I told them I was going to be an electrician.


id slap your family upside the head then. there is nothing wrong with working in the trades. Very good career choice. union work. always guarenteed work in the GTA since there is a lot of construction. and there is a big demand for new workers!!!!! you will have opertunity to work lots of overtime. its fun and it also pays VERY VERY well. its not uncommon for first year electrician apprentices to be making between $18 and $20 an hour. after several years get some experiance, own your own construction company. Big bucks. if your family frowns upon the trades, then they dont know what they are talking about

[plucky duck]

Yeah, if you enjoy being physical and hands on, trade work can be appealing, with decent pay to boot. Right now, especially in Alberta I think, with the baby boomers retirng there are a lot of demand for truck drivers, electricians, journeymen/women, construction.

University is not for everybody. Don't always go with the flow like others, otherwise you may be wasting time and money, ending up nowhere.

I would say I know myself pretty well. I made the determination in grade 11 that University was definitely not for me. I closed all my doors, didn't take a single science (physics, bio, chem) in grade 12. I know I'm the lazy type, with no desire to climb any ladders. 9yrs later, I am exactly where I expected would be. I'm doing something that I actually enjoy doing, learning new things of the trade, and the pay I don't mind so much but it is decent for this type of work. I too prefer taking a lower pay and do something I enjoy rather than getting paid more and dreading to go to work everyday.

Nobody can answer the question except yourself.

BTW, I'm chinese and my parents (nor any relatives) aren't proud of the route I took. But I'm happy doing what I do, and in the end that's what counts.

And I'm sure in your lifetime you'll have more than one career, so don't sweat it. It's not the end all be all.

[CJ TXB]

Still deciding, it sucks though because even though im 19 I feel as if im in a very crappy downward spiral.

[airodus]

University has its purposes, but don't go there to really "learn" anything. The main purpose is to get your "I'm not stupid." degree. With a decent degree, you'll find a lot more opportunities open up to you as well as experience a higher earnings ceiling.

An MBA does not teach you 50k worth of education. But it "should" either get your a raise or into a higher paying job. You should quickly be able to pay off the initial investment and then start earning more than what you would have if you did not get the MBA.

So do something you will do well in. And get your "I'm not stupid." degree. I wasn't gung ho on going to University either, but I have to admit that it helped me immensely in terms of opportunities.

[airodus]

I thought you only get three choices: Doctor, Engineer or a Lawyer :confused:

And don't cave into the pressure from your folks. They mean well, but only you can determine what you will be successful in. I went to University to please my folks (which turned out to be a good choice in the end), but I went my own route during school which did displease them (but turned out to be an even better choice).

Now I make WAAAAAAY more than I would have if I had been an accountant, lawyer or doctor. Hell, I would still be in school if I was doing any of those.

[cell567]

^^^ so wut did u end up doing to make wayyyyy more and go to school less than any of those other professions would require.

[thelaw604]

Yes, please share, I am very interested.

[airodus]

I fit the stereotype, CBC and all. I took comp sci in University since I like computers. My parents did not think too highly of it, they figured I should have been an engineer if I wanted to get into a technical field. But they understood it was my decision and didn't hassle me after I decided.

When I graduated, I took a sales position at a startup software firm. My parents were not impressed at all thinking it was a waste of my education. In many ways it was, since I didn't really get to apply any of my learned skills, however it was a related industry (software development) and wasn't a total loss since I could relate well to our more technical customers and even to our own development team.

I spent a little over a year there. Lots of travel all around the US (2-4 times a month). Lots of money made (our brand new sales team tripled our revenue from the year before, over 2 mill and only a 12 person company). Made lots of contacts and clients, etc... Established a consulting division in the company and was soon Director of Sales and Consulting.

Then I said to hell with it and quit the job. It was way too busy, way too tiring and I wasn't getting as well paid as I thought I should have been. My parents of course went crazy thinking I was insane. Giving up a good paying job with virtually no ceiling and living in Toronto with no income is not the smartest thing to do (my family is in Edmonton). But I didn't sweat it and instead started my own consulting firm (one man show) and started picking up clients.

Now I do IT consulting for a couple clients, health information systems integration for a number of hospitals in the US (my bread and butter), and I also consult for and manage a small division for CN Rail. No experience or prior knowledge required, I just pick it up as I go along. On pace to clear 500k this year (I am currently at 400k after 8 months).

Anyways the point of all that, other than stroking my ego, is to show that you don't necessarily need to pursue a career related to your education or vice versa. Before graduating, I was a typical computer geek (even out of school I was a geek and always had geeky jobs like IT and stuff). I never had a retail job or sold a thing in my life. Never took any business classes. Etc...

I didn't have any real experience or skills that would have made me a good b2b salesman, much less a consultant. But that startup firm took a chance on me because I understood software (at least from a development stand point), and had my "I'm not stupid degree." It was like... "Well, you know all the hard stuff and you made it through school. Selling this stuff should be easy." And they were right... it was easy.

So don't be intimidated to try something new, something you will like, or something you see as a real good opportunity (like when I quit and struck out on my own). Parents are wise and well meaning, but they are often stuck in the stone age. These days, the pace of things is like 10 times faster than they were when our parents were our age. Opportunities come and go every moment. Carpe Diem!

Wow, my life's story (or the last couple years of it).

[TigerEROS]

using your brain.