O/T Career advice needed!

[CorsairMac]

MM: it's called a leap of faith, and it's the scariest leap you'll ever make! Keep us posted hun.......keeping you in my thougths!

[MightyMitre]

Aw - thanks guys. You're GREAT!!

Maybe being off work for so long has given me a rose tinted view of my previous job. I've been trying to remember how I felt before I left and remember all the things I was looking for in a new job/ career path.(This is where I wish I kept a diary. )

I guess I'm worried of making a mistake. Like someone else wrote, I've seen my dad work hard all his life too, running his own buisness 6 days a weeks, and he's now only a few years from retirement . Because he spent his whole life working there's so many things he hasn't done and really wishes he had. I don't want to wake up one day and thing ' How did I get here - this wasn't part of the plan'

Aaaaaaggggh mid-life crisis at 30? That can't be right.....

[snowtulip]

MM- good luck to you in your decision. My words of so called wisdom are, live your life now! I have a medical condition that put into perspective how important quality of life is. What good is saving everything for the future if you're gone tomorrow? Don't get me wrong, retirement, savings, etc. are great, but make sure you still get the chance to enjoy life now.

Once I started feeling better, my perspective on work changed (was a slave to work before and wanted to do what was societally expected of me, now I work to ensure I have money to live a simple life that allows me happy opportunities). Also, I thought work defined me...not the case. Also, listen to your gut, I'm a strong believer of the gut feeling, what is it telling you?

Good luck!

[LBTC]

I guess I'm worried of making a mistake.

<big hug> MM, we're all worried about making mistakes. The truth is, though, that there are NO mistakes. Nothing is permanent. If you find you're unhappy with the next job you find....just put your chin up and start looking again. <grin>

scary, exciting.....sounds like something a cyclist would LOVE!

You can do it!! Enjoy life!

Namaste,
~T~

[LBTC]

as Joseph Campbell said: "Follow your bliss"

Namaste,
~T~

[pedalfaster]

money can't buy you back those 2 hours a day

When it comes down to money vs. time I , personally, always always choose time.

Time=health/fitness/emotional well-being/creativity. Money=more stuff. I've learned to live with less "stuff".

That's just me. I'm sure you'll make the best decision for you .

Good luck!

[Melody]

as Joseph Campbell said: "Follow your bliss"

heh. I did that. Did I mention my last name is now Bliss? I took my hubby's name.

Mel

[LBTC]

wow! Melody that's the coolest thing I've heard today! yay, you!!



Namaste,
~T~

[BikeMomma]

Bliss on a Bike. Now that's poetic!

MM, I have no more advice to add than what has already been said by all these wise and wonderful ladies, except to stress that whatever decision you make, make it for YOU, not anybody else.

Part of the reason I got out of cycling years ago was to spend time with my then BF, now hubby, which usually entailed going with him to do the things that HE liked to do or just hanging out with him just to be with him (he doesn't ride). I forgot who I was and what made me tick in there somewhere while falling in love with him and forgot to pay attention to myself too.

Ten years of marriage (happy, mind you) and three great, crazy children later, I'm putting my foot down HARD and fighting for my "me" time. I completely regret totally giving up who I was to be the model wife, mom, and career woman (still have that too). I wish now that I had not dropped the things I loved doing because I felt I should, in order to build a life with my husband and have a career job with better money.

The point of my gibberish may be: you're getting married soon (I remember from previous posts by you in other threads -- I'm the half-Brit who's English side lives close to you in Basingstoke - hello again!), you have no kids yet, and you're debating the career thing that will take time and you away from the things you enjoy doing, the things that define you. I see a parallel with myself as described above. With my hindsight now clear, if this were my choice to make again, I would definitely choose the job that will allow you to be and stay who you are (a cyclist, dog owner , etc.!), and not you molded into someone you won't recognize in 15 years.

Yet another point of view, huh? You have loads to think about now. I wish you the best, MM!
- Kim

[MightyMitre]

I'm amazed at the number of responses. I guess work/life balance is a pretty key issue to all of us. Maybe I should start another thread about how people achieve that balance.

Apparently us Brits work the longest hours in Europe, and I think I'm right in say you guys in the States work even harder that us. I know from for sure you have far less paid holiday than we get and work very long hours.

It's great to hear so many people are bucking the trend and saying no to long hour and yes to more 'me' time.

[Jo-n-NY]

Quote from LB

I'm an admin myself for a large forestry company that has recently been bought out by an equally larger forestry company so the company is now twice the size. My job hasn't changed a lot, but the morale is about as low as it can go. we've had a small organizational change and are currently waiting for our new building to be finished so we can move in. All of us expects that there will be more "org" changes (read job losses) and we just don't know when. The mood is less than cheerful. When I really look at it - I don't mind my job, I like the wages and benefits and what I get for the fairly low level of stress (the morale issue notwithstanding).

Another thread where you grabbed my attention. As I mentioned above, I am also and admin assist., company sold and bought years ago and now going through those organ. changes. I was the only one given a decision package or stay. As I feel there will be another organ. change at some point, 6mos or maybe 3 years who knows I decided to stay and by my time. At that point I will take the package but I have time to set up my family life. Personally, I also would rather do with less I take the time to do what we enjoy.

My husband owns a business with my brother, retail, which means working weekends. Of course I am off on weekends, so the only time we spend together, including riding together is me taking a vacation day on a Thursday his day off. But I don't have 52 vacation day. I don't mean this to be a sob story, but try to make the point that things have to be put into perspective, it just might take a little time to figure out. I better have mine figured out by the next organ. change

[Irulan]

but I guess you can put it into the leap of faith category.

18 years ago, He had a great $$ job, I was pregnant with our first, and he lost his job. In a lot of ways it was good because he was able to get into ground water ( his love and training) and out of oil. The bad part was he went in at ground level and we have to move to a really expensive area, live with his folks for a few months and so on.

We were living pay check to pay check, he was commuting 40 miles each way that took 2 hours each way, we weren't near the kind of area we liked being in the big city. Long story short, we had the oppurtunity to move, 1600 miles away, no family, pay cut, etc BUT it was a small city with good schools, affordable housing, and most importantly close to the outdoors lifestyle that we needed. We got a lot of crap for choosing to leave. Why would you leave the bay area?

You know, we never regretted our leap, not once. We were able to buy a beautiful home that we could have never afforded had we stayed. The school system is phenomenal. We have 5 ski areas within 70 miles. The cost of living is less. And we recoupped the pay cut and then some.

just 2¢

penny

[massbikebabe]

MM:

Last year I was commuting for an hour+/day and making a healthy 6 figure income...but I was MISERABLE!! I missed my hubby, my kids, my bike and my dogs all in that order. Now, I am making half the money, have very flexible hours, am self supervised, ride weather permitting, and get home sometimes before the kids and I've never been happier. I always miss the money but make do...(forces me out of the bike shop)...and feel like I have a better QUALITY of life commuting less, and making less...but then again I am
a little older than you, (I'm 42), and maybe at a different stage in life...hope I'm not confusing you. Just my two cents...

karen

[Dogmama]

[QUOTE=LBTC]<big hug> MM, we're all worried about making mistakes. The truth is, though, that there are NO mistakes. Nothing is permanent. If you find you're unhappy with the next job you find....just put your chin up and start looking again. <grin>

So true. I always say, "I was looking for a job when I found this one."

Well, here's where I part from the group (sort of)

MM, you are young. In 20-30 years, you'll be thinking of retirement. I, too, "fell" into a job I never thought I'd do (business manager at a University - heck I'm not even that good at math!). I'm now 5 years from retirement (due to the way that our retirement works, I'll can retire a 55) and I wouldn't change anything. I often thought that I'd rather have a job closer to home, more in line with my major (Romance Languages - hey - there's a money maker!) etc. But this has been a good career.

I think I'd bite the bullet & go for the bigger job. I also don't think that a commute is a bad thing. I used to commute an hour to work (driving) and found it to be relaxing because I listened to books on tape. If you're in a train, you can read, knit or take a nap. Heck, you could even do your makeup if you want! You already said in another thread that you don't have to do your hair

If the job totally reeks, you can find another. But I'd look towards the future first.

My $.03 (oops! I don't know how that converts to pounds!)

[Justina]

I used to take the bus in and ride 25 miles home in the spring and summer. I quit that job last August ( it was part time anyway ) and went to being self employed full time. Now I ride the bus to work and ride 18 miles home all year except in the very worst weather. I'm Scared and poor but content.

Go with your gut & good luck