Figuring it all out

[Finesse]

Lately I have been pondering over what I want to do for a living.

I want to do something I love doing. I also want to make alot of money.... that however isnt really big on my list. I just want to do what I love doing.
I think that how happy you are has a big effect on how successful you are in maintaining inner game, and being happy with what you do for a living is a main cause.

So, my question is two fold..

If money wasnt an object what would you do?

and

Has anyone experienced this and what has your experience been?

[Dr_W]

This is an interesting question. I was at a similar place about four years ago. Here is my story.

I had what most people would have considered a successful career on the outside looking in. I had the company car, I set my own hours, I worked from my home with little or no supervision, I slept late more often than not, I traveled a lot, and I made great money doing it. The problem was that I hated what I did. I wasn’t doing anything that challenged me or inspired me. For some people that might be fine, but I like to set the bar high for myself, and what I was doing was just existing. So in August of 2004 I took my last commission check, all my vacation time, quit my career in sales, and started looking for what my passion in life was going to be. It wasn’t the smartest move I have ever made. I had no income coming in and I had no plan, but I needed time to sit at Barnes and Noble and just research what I wanted to do. I read a ton of books, some better than others, and in the end I kept coming back to the same thing: Dentistry. So for the last three years I have been working on becoming a Dentist. I went back to school, I have worked crap jobs at odd hours, and it has been a tough road. I have lost relationships and friends over my choice, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am happy, I love the field, I love helping people, and it is a ton of fun. I would do it for free… and I have…

So my suggestion is to take time for yourself to research what you think you would like to do, find out as much as you can about the subject, maybe test the waters with a job working in that field (maybe work for free… I have done hundreds of hours of volunteer work to confirm my interest) and then set a goal. If when you either reach or don’t reach your goal, set another goal and work toward it. I find having a big goal that is No.1 on my list of things to do, that overrides any little goals, is the best way I am motivated to succeed. Good luck!

[Spinz2112]

ive been in the engineering field since I graduated college, i currently work for a top 3 Fortune 500 company and the money is great...but my biggest problem is I have aspirations to start my own tech company.

All my life ive attracted great things and something always good happens. I moved to dallas blindly, didnt know anyone, just packed a couple of bags, i knew there was something here that was gonna help me out for my future in the back of my mind, just didnt know what it was gonna be.

Couple of months back I stumbled into an energy business that i got involved with, at first i was skeptical, and energy wasnt my passion. But the more i thought into it, it was a question of time and money. Every single human being uses some form of energy, and this was an opportunity for me to build up a strong stream of residual income over time while making good linear money. The money has been great since, and its allowing me to take risks and pursue what i enjoy because the energy gig doesnt take up any time. We are also in the domestic energy hub of America being Dallas. This has afforded me many great things now, nice car - BMW, own my condo etc.

If anyone is interested in finding out for themselves what the energy gig is, and if you are interested in getting involved, pm me and i can give you some information. Its working great for me, and it will for you, i just want to share the pie with everyone.

[phoenix_rising]

What are your interests? I enjoy playing poker, I wouldn't consider myself a professional, but I make decent money. I'm also working on a nursing degree, just in case though.

-phoenix

[Finesse]

See, thats the problem... I dont really know what my interests are. Im still trying to figure that out..... all I have been able to come up with so far is that when I get into something, I tend to get bored with it pretty fast and then I start looking for the next shiny butterfly.

[Rhody]

See, thats the problem... I dont really know what my interests are. Im still trying to figure that out..... all I have been able to come up with so far is that when I get into something, I tend to get bored with it pretty fast and then I start looking for the next shiny butterfly.

Maybe you should be a butterfly catcher. I can see you running around with one of those nets.

[Check_Mate]

See, thats the problem... I dont really know what my interests are. Im still trying to figure that out..... all I have been able to come up with so far is that when I get into something, I tend to get bored with it pretty fast and then I start looking for the next shiny butterfly.

I know exactly what you mean because i'm the same way. I'm always involved in a different type of activity and end up moving on to something else after a while. I don't really know the details about your case but I'll just tell my story and you see if you can relate.

As far as the career decision go it will depend on how old you are. I'm 24 and just barely found out what I like about 1 yr ago. Everybody has that stage when they're undecided and that's the thing about college (Assuming your question is about which academic career to pick). It takes about 2 yrs for you to finally have to set your foot down on a specific major.
I always thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up. I liked opening and messing with computer parts and software since I was about 12 and I gave little thought to anything other than "Computer Science". After I started the program I never really liked what I was doing and went as far as becoming a Junior until I decided to change majors. I thought I wanted it so much that I kept ignoring the fact that I hated doing programming.

One day in physics class i realized that I really enjoyed learning and doing my physics homework and labs a lot more than my programing assignments. I didn't think that it was ok because physics of motion is not really that relevant to computer science . What you are supposed to enjoy the most is whatever you're gonna be doing for the rest of your life. So I switched majors to "Aerospace Engineering" and lost a bunch of college credits and got bumped down to sophomore year. which is not that big of a deal to me because now i don't mind doing my homework that much. I actually read the textbook because i find it interesting and I "know my stuff" a lot more because of it.

As far as activities go. I've tried everything. Play guitar, piano; soccer, basketball, skateboarding, surfing, brazilian jiu-jitsu, capoeira, dancing. After starting so many new projects of what i wanted to learn next i realized that deep down i'm just a "learner". I like to learn. I like to jump into things can't do and learn how to do them well. Maybe you fall in the same category. Just get out there and do a buch of stuff until you find something you really like.

I guess the point i'm trying to make is that there is no way to find out what you want to do until you actually "get to do it". Other than that it's just speculation.