Quote Originally Posted by GLC1968 View Post
LESSON TO ALL YOU YOUNGER BOYS AND GIRLS OUT THERE - DO NOT CHOOSE A CAREER UNLESS YOU ENJOY THE CAREER, NO MATTER HOW SMART OR LUCRATIVE YOU THINK IT WILL BE.
True words indeed. Software engineer here since the late '80s. There have been times, projects, hours when I loved what I was doing, but those times were short-lived. I never planned on this career (too late to write the story of how I ended up in it, but I was a psychology major originally!!), and I've never been passionate about it. I've felt, for the most part, that although I've done well financially and survived thousands of layoffs at my company over the years, that I am not in the "right" field for me. That *I* got lost somewhere along the way and inertia set in.

I don't have passion for it. I should have done something else, something that got my juices flowing. It is often very hard to know what that is when you make a career decision (which may well prove to be lifelong) at a young age. I still don't really know. I only know that this is not it.

I turn 50 this April and am ready to retire. I can't imagine starting over at something that requires more schooling. I wish I'd figured out my passion many years ago, taken the financial hit, and gone for it.

So, GLC, I've been reading this whole thread, and I can feel your passion. Yes, there will be difficult times and roadblocks, but I think it's worth a try, since it's something you really want. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Good luck!