You CAN do what you love

[BogusJoe]

The biggest mistake everyone makes when attempting to make a career change or head down a certain career path is... listening to other people.

It doesn't matter who you are-- when you ask too many people their opinion on your chosen career, you're going to get everything from "wow, you'll do well in that field" to "are you crazy- there's no money in that"..

see... the first person you ask says "yeah! go for it! good choice!"

and the next person you ask says "no way.. you'll never make it"..


so, in other words.. don't ask other people for advice on what you want to do... DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

other people do not matter; they do no not count; and they have no impact on what you choose to do. Forget them. You need to do your own research and then head out to do what you want to do.


Want proof?

I'm living proof that you CAN do what you want to do. And you can go against everyone's oppositional beliefs, just like I did and am still doing each and every day.

And I love proving all these people wrong, on a consistent basis.

Let me cut to the chase.

Since I was 4 years old, I liked drawing, sketching, painting. I was obviously artistic and creative at a baby age.

My parents never, EVER once acknowledged my talent or even mentioned it to me. I drew and painted as a kid my entire life, and they never once made a comment on it or cared to look at what I was creating.

This proved to be a MASSIVE obstacle later on for me.

I graduated from art school with a degree in my mid-20s.

After school- guess what? No job. Surprised? Lol. Of course not. It's the most typical story of an art graduate.

Went into a 9-5, 40 hours a week. Nothing to do with art, of course. Hated it. And saved every penny over an 8 year period working this same day job.

Got married, got a car, house, kids, all that jazz. You know, the usual. Was still working this stupid 9-5 monkey-job. Hated everyone around me, hated the lack of education, talent, passion about the people I worked with. Nothing wrong with no education, talent or passion, but it usually reflects the character of people around you- trust me, this isn't just a stereotype, it's very common for people without high school diplomas to be of a lower-standard type of lifestyle- a.k.a. the "high school drop-out". This of course doesn't reflect everyone in that boat. I'm just speaking from my experience at a large corporation requiring a grade 4 education to get in.

Anyhow- working the 9-5, good money, and hating every day of it. And wishing I was working creatively in my field- art.

I was always doing artwork on the side. Always. Something here, something there. A small commission for someone here, a mural for someone there. A few hundred bucks extra a month was great. I was absolutely ecstatic that I could make 300 bucks extra a month just drawing or painting for other people.

Eventually I began drawing caricatures of all my co-workers (while on the job, in fact). The respone was crazy- everyone loved it- they put all my work up on the main office wall-- a hundred peices or so of co-workers- and they were all good peices- they all looked like them, too. All my co-workers began telling me that I was wasting my time in that place- and that I should get out there and 'draw caricatures'.

Sure. Draw caricatures for a living? Lol. Come on.

So I applied to a local theme park just for the heck of it on weekends- got the job, and began working weekends.

Again, hated it.

BUT- I saw what the business was like- and it was nuts. The theme park was making thousands per night on a few caricature artists.

I thought- jeez, people really like having their portrait/cartoon drawn by an artist. In large flocks, too. Line-ups all night.

The light-bulb went on in my head.

I quit the theme park. I started applying to my own events, fairs, festivals, you name it, as a caricature artist. I was accepted to just about every one of them. I just had to pay the rent for my space for a few days, and everything I made was mine.

Started working these local events.

I began cashing in pretty good that I quit my crappy day job. My day job paid pretty good, too- 45K a year. But drawing caricatures was paying even more, so long as done frequently enough.

I'm now a few years into my new career- and the numbers are good. Not rich people's money, or big money--- but this wasn't about money.

A minimum of $1000 can be made per 3 days in this business if you're good and fast enough. And I'm consistently acheiving these figures each weekend, so business is good. Better than a sh*t 9-5 job.


SO--- here's the point of the post.

You can do whatever you want. Yeah, we've all heard this a million times before.

But what success requires is persistance. Again, this is a common comment.

But it is 100% accurate and true.

When you start your business or your search for your new career path-- you're going to begin as a newbie, and you're going to think you're going no where. You're going to make little to no money, and you're going to feel hopeless every now and then.

When you stick with it, even though you appear to be going no where-- this is when you're on the path to your own individual success- because your future will unfold infront of you very slowly and unexpected.

So long as you stick to your goal and you're willing to put money out of the picture--- you are going to get where you want to be.

Look at me-- I went from a 9-5 in an industrial job to drawing cartoon faces- and having everyone call me a joke because of my choice--- and now I'm able to make a good living from it-- much better and more free than a restricted 9-5. It just took some serious dedication and hard work.

Now I draw cartoons for a living on weekends, and chill during the week. And and making more $$$ than I was at a good-paying 9-5 job. It IS possible to get what you want. All you need is a clear plan and a to make real decision on what you'd like to do.

Again- DO NOT LISTEN TO ANYONE ELSE. Do what you choose to do, and go there. Fight through it, make no money when you start out, take all the risks.
My own parents continue to discourage me to this day on what I chose to do-- and I keep shoving it in their faces daily. Everyone is a hater, and will discourage you. No one wants to see someone else get ahead. Screw 'em. Go forward without them- it's what I did.


Thanks for reading. I hope there's some encouragement in my post for you guys/gals.

[abridgel]

Thanks for posting your story - its very inspiring - only problem is I have no idea what I like to do.

[BananaHunter]

Good stuff. But what if all you want to do is play games/go clubbing/get drunk? Tons of people have no real passion in life. They just want to have lazy fun and this rarely can translate into a career. Some passions are just more practical than others.

For every inspirational story like yours, there are probably 9 others who'll fail. And those 9 people probably aren't going to post here. So one has to work really really hard to become that minority.

My post isn't meant to discourage people. If you're truly passionate and love what you do, other's opinions shouldn't matter to you to begin with.

[norgos]

Good stuff. But what if all you want to do is play games/go clubbing/get drunk? Tons of people have no real passion in life. They just want to have lazy fun and this rarely can translate into a career. Some passions are just more practical than others.

For every inspirational story like yours, there are probably 9 others who'll fail. And those 9 people probably aren't going to post here. So one has to work really really hard to become that minority.

My post isn't meant to discourage people. If you're truly passionate and love what you do, other's opinions shouldn't matter to you to begin with.

the only profession i can think of where you just play games, go clubbing and get wasted is prostitution. You practically work in that environment :P

[george benjamin]

You will never be successful if you are doing something you don't like.

People going into accounting, law, medicine, just for the money, they will never be successful. Because success is about being happy, not about making money.

How can we characterize someone that hates his job but makes 90k a year as successful ?

[lightning_king2000]

The hardest part for many people is finding out what it is that they love.

[adehbone]

anyone got the cliff notes version? thats a long post....

shall read it later.

[heymikey]

People going into accounting, law, medicine, just for the money, they will never be successful. Because success is about being happy, not about making money. Not really. I'm sure there are people who live and breathe accounting, law, medicine, etc.

[geronimo]

Excellent post BogusJoe! :cheesygri +1000

It is essential that you chase after your dreams, whatever they may be. Out of your various passions, pick one in which you could earn a decent or better-than-decent living and enjoy life.




Not really. I'm sure there are people who live and breathe accounting, law, medicine, etc. They said for those people who only get into these careers for the money, not for all people in these careers in general. Of course there are many people who truly LOVE accounting or law or medicine.

[BogusJoe]

And another positive note-

from my experience, I'd say that the 'career choice' idea starts playing in people's heads sometime in the mid to late 20s, and this seems common.

Don't sweat it.

I'm approaching my mid-30s, and that's still considered very young, with a lot of time ahead. And only now am I getting the ball rolling.

So there's lots of time to search for what you'd like to do. For me, it took 8 years or so to really get on track.

So long as people in their mid/late 20s are truly thinking about it, then that's a good sign- it means they'll get to wherever they're going succesfully in due time. It might take years, and that's fine. Just keep moving forward, that's all.

[Churo1]

Excellent post BogusJoe! :cheesygri +1000

It is essential that you chase after your dreams, whatever they may be. Out of your various passions, pick one in which you could earn a decent or better-than-decent living and enjoy life.




They said for those people who only get into these careers for the money, not for all people in these careers in general. Of course there are many people who truly LOVE accounting or law or medicine.

Aren't you still a student? I would advise you and others like you to wait until getting out in the real world to make such comments. We were all young optimistic students once. I'm sure you've heard the multitude of "wait til you get out in the real world..." talk and just thought it was bitter old people being bitter and old. Well, the truth is, it's tough out there. Life is hard, it's hard to do what you love, and even if you are, you probably have to do it so often in terrible weather, when you're not feeling well, on other peoples watches and so forth.

[Islander101]

Great post Bogus Joe!! Loved it!!! Bet your family is proud of what you're accomplishing.

One of the key aspects of your post I think (and the ones following) - is that you had to work hard to get were you are at. It sounds like you thought strategically and took a well-thought out risk.

[BogusJoe]

lol no, my parents are my worst enemies with my choice.

They are actually a big reason I found it so difficult to believe that I could make money as an artist for a living- because as a child, they paid no attention to my artistic creations. None at all. They never once told me that I was pretty good at drawing- infact, my parents used to throw out a lot of my work when it was lying around- during their clean-ups of the house, they tossed some work out like it was garbage- I clearly remember seeing this infront of me and I suppose it just installed this thought in my heads that art was nothing special.

And even today, they tell me "don't quit my day job" or "your business won't last forever", and that I'm nuts for doing what I do. So now, I eliminate them from the whole process; I don't dicusss what I do, and I don't tell them where I'll be on the upcoming weekends, because I don't want them showing up to discourage me. I hold serious resentment towards them for this- after all, aren't parents supposed to support their kids with their decisions? Doesn't matter though lol, I'm too old now to worry about their thoughts, but it's definitely the major reason I stumbled for so long with a career path involving art.

This probably leads me to my first paragraph in this entire thread- don't listen to anyone else who tells you that you can't make it in your chosen field. No one can tell you that you can't become successful so long as you're determined to get where you want to go.

[rharor]

lol no, my parents are my worst enemies with my choice.

They are actually a big reason I found it so difficult to believe that I could make money as an artist for a living- because as a child, they paid no attention to my artistic creations. None at all. They never once told me that I was pretty good at drawing- infact, my parents used to throw out a lot of my work when it was lying around- during their clean-ups of the house, they tossed some work out like it was garbage- I clearly remember seeing this infront of me and I suppose it just installed this thought in my heads that art was nothing special.


Awesome post. I would recommend you actually go thank your parents. The reason being is that I think their hate for it drove you to prove them wrong and show them you can do what you love. So thank them for doing that, it'll piss em off for sure:cheesygri

[Mysteek]

Thanks for posting. I really enjoyed reading that, especially since I'm a student just about to enter post secondary and I have no clue where I'm headed.

[M.D.]

thanks for posting, I have similar parents and I totally understand what you went through.

[CSR]

Great story, how much do you charge per portrait?

[sardaukar]

anyone got the cliff notes version? thats a long post....

shall read it later.

No, read the whole thing. It's definitely worth your time.

[Churo1]

No, read the whole thing. It's definitely worth your time.

Why? It reads like a self-help book, complete with the "they lived happily ever after". Come on I thought there were mature adults on this forum.

[TooSoonJr]

To the OP and everyone else here, hear me out and let me know what your thoughts are.

I’ve always loved mechanics, cars, motorcycles, trucks, machinery, whatever the hell had an engine or even moved (bicycles) I just love and have an eye for. Doesn’t matter if it’s building from the ground up, to repairing, to fixing, to cutting or re-welding, whatever, just working on these “things” and using my simplistic approach has yielded a **** ton of fun for me. I’ve been doing this for over a decade, I used to modify my bicycles and now I am modifying my cars and motorcycles.

The problem lies in the fact that I am an Accountant. I knew going into it that it’s not going to be something I will do for the rest of my life. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it, especially the mundane nature and the lack of hands on and social interaction that it restrains me to.

Aside from Accounting I make a few hundred to a few thousand every couple of months by working on people’s cars…I could make a LOT more, but I am restricted due to lack of time. I get asked all the time “Why don’t you open up your own shop?” You know it’s funny how it sounds so simple. Owning my own shop would solve all of my problems right?

Well, I’d like to think I am ahead of the curve and due to being a very thorough person I put my time in working at a shop during university for a year (just to see what it’s like). I enjoyed it a lot more than Accounting, but not by a far margin. What I did start to realize is that my passion for working on my own cars was fading and I didn’t have that burning desire. Even though I work an 8-6 job with overtime and other b.s. I still have a burning passion in me to go home and get dirty with my projects (currently I am building an older motorcycle into a race bike). This passion isn’t something I ever want to lose as it helps me keep my sanity and helps me relax. Some people relax reading books or watching TV, for me working on my projects is my #1 form of life appreciation and relaxation. Take my projects and tools away and I have nothing.

Having said all of that, sometimes as much I don’t like my current profession (which isn’t all that bad in the grand scheme of things) I am not willing to risk losing my passion and desire for cars/bikes by entering the business. It may not be a very rational train of thought, at least some think so, but to me it makes a lot of sense. I hope that I find a happy medium somewhere, or a niche within my current field where I am happy work/money wise, while still sustaining my life long hobby.

Opinions?

[ItechJester]

To the OP and everyone else here, hear me out and let me know what your thoughts are.


Opinions?

i think you should keep both. you seem to enjoy both. whichever one you feel more passionate about, you dedicate the bulk of your time to it.


since accounting is your safety net, you should keep it full time, spend your spare time on your hobby (cars/bikes). you'll know if you ever need to totally ditch one and devote yourself entirely to the other.....but you're not there yet.

[HiMyNameIs]

Having said all of that, sometimes as much I don’t like my current profession (which isn’t all that bad in the grand scheme of things) I am not willing to risk losing my passion and desire for cars/bikes by entering the business. It may not be a very rational train of thought, at least some think so, but to me it makes a lot of sense. I hope that I find a happy medium somewhere, or a niche within my current field where I am happy work/money wise, while still sustaining my life long hobby.

Opinions?

I was like you, through two or three or 10 companies in the IT field, get laid off, get another job, etc etc, and the hobby that I had on the side, which was a cottage business was the thing that people said that I should be doing full time. I wasn't there yet, like ItechJester said, but now, looking again for an office type job, and there aren't any, and thinking, crap, I'll have to work until I'm dead anyway in this economy, I might as well do something that I can do forever. So, now is the time.

[sunshine00]

That was a great read, thanks for sharing. It's always nice to hear the true-but-cliche insights from someone who has merits to show they've actually been through it.

I'm somewhat of a young professional, past entry-level but not quite management level and finding it to be an uncomfortable position to be in when you're re-questioning your career path. After graduating from university I went into a completely different field, which I'm so glad I did, but now I'm finding that I've had to be a lot more introspective when considering my options this time around. Maybe I'm just looking into it too much and overanalyzing.. or maybe it's the side effect of the recession.. but even asking the simple question of "what do you LOVE to do" is a question that takes time to grapple with.

:confused:

[sunshine00]

To the OP and everyone else here, hear me out and let me know what your thoughts are.

I’ve always loved mechanics, cars, motorcycles, trucks, machinery, whatever the hell had an engine or even moved (bicycles) I just love and have an eye for. Doesn’t matter if it’s building from the ground up, to repairing, to fixing, to cutting or re-welding, whatever, just working on these “things” and using my simplistic approach has yielded a **** ton of fun for me. I’ve been doing this for over a decade, I used to modify my bicycles and now I am modifying my cars and motorcycles.

The problem lies in the fact that I am an Accountant. I knew going into it that it’s not going to be something I will do for the rest of my life. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it, especially the mundane nature and the lack of hands on and social interaction that it restrains me to.

Aside from Accounting I make a few hundred to a few thousand every couple of months by working on people’s cars…I could make a LOT more, but I am restricted due to lack of time. I get asked all the time “Why don’t you open up your own shop?” You know it’s funny how it sounds so simple. Owning my own shop would solve all of my problems right?

Well, I’d like to think I am ahead of the curve and due to being a very thorough person I put my time in working at a shop during university for a year (just to see what it’s like). I enjoyed it a lot more than Accounting, but not by a far margin. What I did start to realize is that my passion for working on my own cars was fading and I didn’t have that burning desire. Even though I work an 8-6 job with overtime and other b.s. I still have a burning passion in me to go home and get dirty with my projects (currently I am building an older motorcycle into a race bike). This passion isn’t something I ever want to lose as it helps me keep my sanity and helps me relax. Some people relax reading books or watching TV, for me working on my projects is my #1 form of life appreciation and relaxation. Take my projects and tools away and I have nothing.

Having said all of that, sometimes as much I don’t like my current profession (which isn’t all that bad in the grand scheme of things) I am not willing to risk losing my passion and desire for cars/bikes by entering the business. It may not be a very rational train of thought, at least some think so, but to me it makes a lot of sense. I hope that I find a happy medium somewhere, or a niche within my current field where I am happy work/money wise, while still sustaining my life long hobby.

Opinions?

I get you about the whole 'not wanting to turn your passion into your work' feeling, since that is how I feel about painting and my art as well. I haven't been doing it for nearly as long or have been as dedicated, but I do know that by considering your options before jumping right into it is a mature and wise decision. Some may argue that you won't truly know until you try it for yourself, but ask yourself whether what your approach to risk is? Take it all and deal with the consequences, take calculated risks, or none at all?

This is just my humble opinion, but if it were me, I would keep the day job for now, but look for something that could test the waters in the meantime, like working in an accounting role for a shop or related field. Or try to partner up with someone entrepreneurial in that industry, and get involved on their financial side. Maybe it's your career or job that needs change, and not necessarily your hobby? The thing about hobbies is that if you try to turn it into your work, it takes away from the "hobby" factor and adds a new layer of pressure.

Just my 2 cents, hope things work out for you!

[junot111]

You will never be successful if you are doing something you don't like.

People going into accounting, law, medicine, just for the money, they will never be successful. Because success is about being happy, not about making money.

How can we characterize someone that hates his job but makes 90k a year as successful ?

Because he makes 90k a year?

[Islander101]

Having said all of that, sometimes as much I don’t like my current profession (which isn’t all that bad in the grand scheme of things) I am not willing to risk losing my passion and desire for cars/bikes by entering the business. It may not be a very rational train of thought, at least some think so, but to me it makes a lot of sense. I hope that I find a happy medium somewhere, or a niche within my current field where I am happy work/money wise, while still sustaining my life long hobby.

Opinions?


I know what you're saying: I too have an accounting designation - and there were times in my career where it was just ok, and I liked certain aspects, but not something I was passionate about. I was somewhat lucky, as I was able to identify the facets of the job that I enjoyed (like you - I wanted more interaction with teams/ people during my day and a little more challenge) - and I was able to find a new opportunity that had those facets.

A friend of mine was similar: She's an elementary school teacher with a masters degree; very successful, but was hating (hating!!) her current role as an elementary school in the situation she was in (long story). There were certain aspects of that role that she did love though, and that she was very good at (ie: mentoring young people etc.) Luckily she was able to isolate aspects of the job that she didn't want, and aspects of the job that she wanted more of - and she's now pursuing high school counselling, which she's really excited about.

I think my point being, is that most people I know, when they become dissatisfied, they still like certain aspects of their profession. Where they've been able to find a new position which increases those aspects, they have found happiness. In my case, I didn't need to give up my accounting background to pursue a totally different career... Just needed to find a way to use those skills to optimize the aspects I was passionate about.

Sorry for my rambling - but TooSoon Jr. - I don't know much about your specific position, but maybe you can find another position either inside or outside of your company that expands your dealing with people? ie: maybe you can move into an operational accounting role, where you deal with operations staff on a regular basis. Or maybe into a role where you are doing staff training regularly. Or...? Hard to say what is best for you- will depend on your specific situation - but it sounds as if you have given some good thought to your specific situation. Great to have a hobby that you can come home to & love!

[nyrz]

if you like to draw, you can become a film animater (Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, etc) or video game artist!

example:

http://www.bioware.com/bioware_info/jobs/

[drey2k]

Thank you for the very insightful and optimistic post.

I currently find myself in a very similar situation. I graduated with a degree in Finance just over a year ago, and I have been working in accounting for the past 8 months. Needless to say, I hate my job with a passion.

I wish everyday I would have done something else as a degree in university, something like engineering or the sciences. However I followed my parents' advice and got into Finance which was supposed to be a very high paying and "dream" field (look at where it's now... decimated). I hated my finance classes with a passion too.

Right now I'm trying to find myself, but it is really hard because I don't want to take a big risk by making a switch into something that I'm not sure I even want to do. Once thing I know for sure is that accounting is DEFINITELY not for me. I was going to do a CMA/CGA/CA but screw it there is no way I'm doing it, I hate it that much.

I really wish I truly knew what my passion is so I could already be pursuing it instead of wasting my time in this dead end accounting job...

[gman]

Well, first, you need to do what you like to do. However, it is not always possible.

If you happen to do something you don't like to do because of situation, figure out how to make fun out of it. i.e. to make yourself to do it happily.

In my book, there is more or less nothing I hate to do. If I really hate to do, I just don't do it from the beginning. Or, I would convince myself to like to do that. There is only other things I like to do more. Hating to do something only hurt one person, you.

If you view your work my way, you would be a more happy person from day one.

By the way, like to do something does not mean you have the talent to do so.

[BogusJoe]

Even though I enjoy drawing, doing this full-time has definitely turned it into a 'job'. I go through all sorts of emotions in one single day-- like "get me outta here, I don't want to do any more drawing".. to "ok, I'm loving this today"...

it's a daily roller-coaster, to be honest. So it's not all "dream job-ish" like we all think we'll find one day. If you're doing something you enjoy, there are still going to be LOTS of days you don't enjoy it.

Someone asked me for prices I charge- I usually max out at $50 per caricature drawing- that would be with 2 people in it with a frame. The average is $20-$30 and I can do between 5-6 an hour.

And because this is retail, it's impossible to say I make "$100 an hour", because in two hours I might make $200, but then for the next 2 hours I make nothing.

It's totally random- I have had days where I raked in $1000 in cash, BUT-- I have had other days where I made $0 and actually lost money on those days.

So it's a toss up.

On average though, it's nice $$$ for just drawing cartoons all day long lol.

Definitely risky, though. I can only give an estimated salary at the end of the year, when everything will balance out. At best, I would say doing this is just a living, with a salary the same as an average day job. (Which is fine by me!)