would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

[ezbtr]

I have mouths to feed, I am grateful for what I do for work and have, and it pays well and is stable.and I like it.....but there is something out there i would be good at as well, looking into - it wouldnt just be a job, a passion, that I know is in demand, Id have to learn it, but know Id be good - no smoke outta my tail pipe.....and have some past experinece kinda(ok mind set) and I'm a bit reluctant to say what fieldjob it is........

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Any chance you could take a leave of absense from your present job to try it?

Or maybe start part time on days off?

 

[Bucks45]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

I did it! I was a senior manager for a very large, well known company. I had over 200 employees and a great salary. I had been a part-time police officer for years and loved it. I quit! Went full-time into law enforcement and took about a $40k pay decrease. I was off of blood pressure medication within 6 months and have loved it since. It was a VERY hard decision to make, but one on the best that I've made!

 

[JB]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

My friend, one of the great gentlemen I have known in my life, did that.

The year his youngest graduated High School, Les resigned his job as Sears National Service Manager and bought a resort on a lake in northern Wisconsin. They sold everything they owned and moved there permanently.

I spent a week there every summer for several years.

He was up at about 0400 every morning during "the season" and closed the bar at the lodge at about 2300. He got in a "nap" in the afternoon.

I joined him on the dock at about 0500 one Sunday morning with a cup of Betty's great coffee. I asked him how he was "doing".

He replied that he was making less than he had been paying in income tax but was having a ball. He was planning a way to keep the resort open year round for snowmobilers and ice fishermen.

Conclusion: Don't ask your family to give up too much for your dream, but as soon as you can, go for it.

 

[worldmac1]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Conclusion: Don't ask your family to give up too much for your dream, but as soon as you can, go for it.

Absolutely! That helps me!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Great words from JB there.
Mrs Ken and I are seriously looking at buying a campground / cottage / B&B resort on a lake when the time is right. Our goal is in 5 years time but time will tell.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Conclusion: Don't ask your family to give up too much for your dream, but as soon as you can, go for it.

Have you ever known someone in the prime of their life who suddenly died?

This is one of life's hardest but most important lessons. It's one of those "first hand" experience's though.

GO FOR IT.

 

[angus63]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Spent 20+ years as a design/project engineer for Aerospace and Military platforms. Good money and enjoyed the work but....... Leaner, faster, cheaper, better, lighter, smaller, tighter, ........... Stress, stress, stress,.......... Downsize, RIF, Relocate, Program cancelled, smaller team, temp layoff, union strike...........stress and more stress. At 45 with two kids in middle school took the plunge and changed careers to teach at a federal academy. Love my "job" and my family loves my new attitude. Took a hit in the wallet but the results are worth it.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Took a hit in the wallet but the results are worth it.

Angus,
We don't mind you taking a hit in the wallet, just don't ever take that avatar down !!!
Seriously though, glad you got the stress out of your life.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Have you ever heard of a rich man on his deathbed wishing they had more money rather than wishing they would have done something they wanted to do but never did?

 

[achris]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Have you ever known someone in the prime of their life who suddenly died?....

Yep, my father.... . Had work all his life without taking the time to enjoy things, and was looking forward to retiring and traveling around Australia, and all the things he planned to do 'When he had the time'.... Died at 60.

That's why I now do things that take time and money, and maybe I should wait until I retire... But I've seen the results of waiting, first hand.

Chris......

 

[eaglejim]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

I have worked for myself most of my life,I did close shop in the 80's because after 12 years I was tired of the bull but after working for a big company I realized I enjoyed my life a lot more not answering to someone that did not have a clue.Even though I work everyday I would not trade it for anything

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

There is a saying; Wealth is wasted on the old and health is wasted on the young.

What your asking depends on the person. What that person wants out of life.

For me money ( knowing It makes the world go around) does not mean much other than a way to pay my bills and get things. The money thing is actually boring to me. I would rather go out in a small boat on a lake and enjoy my self than have a huge boat on the ocean worried that it will get scratched.

Life is to short not to live but you also need to look out for your future.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

I think its great that you have identified the what. i know for me, I am good at a lot of things, but am not quite sure how that translates into making a living at something I am passionate about.

Like many others, I feel trapped by committments that keeps me in the role I am in. For instance, we have made the choice to send our kids to private schools. I have 2 in HS which runs about $11K/ea per year and I will have three next year. After that it is college. In my heart I know that we made a good choice and I do not feel I would change it for the two that are coming up.

I have been fortunate in the fact that my employer has very good benefits and has been very good to me over the 15 years. My specific role is a very good gig. I work about 50 hours a week and get paid very well. I am just not passionate about it. I don't desire to become a VP as many of my peers have done or are working towards. I just don't want to trade my life for adding 10-15% to my bonus.

With all that in mind, if i knew what I wanted to do, I would be planning to move to that once i saw the window of opportunity to do it.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

I've been struggling with this question for a long time. My dream is to be a professional bass fisherman. The odds of being succesful and making enough money to keep it going are very much against me. I'm single with no kid but have student loans, mortagage and other financial obligations that have to be taken care of. I'm still young but getting old in a hurry and I'd like to establish a family before it's too late. Like puddle jumper said "Life is to short not to live but you also need to look out for your future". I can go for it but if I don't make it, my future is shot. My dad also worked very hard all of his life and passed away at 61. I'm not sure if he got a chance to do what he really wanted to. I guess it's time for me to find a different dream, one that is more attainable. This goes along with a post I made awhile back. I was trying to differentiate between needs and wants. It seems to me that dreams are what you want but not what you need. Wants are goals and goals need to be attainable without severe consequences. How harsh the consequences are subjective. I hate making life's big decision.

 

[jonesg]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

It just proves to me the more money people make the more they spend it on things they could very well live without.

 

[bowman316]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

The last thing I want to do is spend most of my life working at a job i hate. No matter what it pays. I would rather tend bar in the carribean, than work an office job i hate.

Ever notice that everyone can't wait till the retire, but i bet most retired people with they still worked, so they would have something to do. You basically always hate your life.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Sorry Bowman I will have to disagree,I have always enjoyed every kind of work I have done working for a company or for myself the big difference is I don't have to sit in a meeting I could care less about and I never have to put on a suit and tie,rewards for a job well done are better, and on the other side of that I applaud the people that like doing that it does take a certain type of person to do either.My Dad was always happy having a job (8 to 6)he never complained and to this day he is the happiest man I know

 

[bowman316]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

i think i might get a part time job that i like after i retire.

just to keep me occupied. i think even boating would get boring after a while

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: would you quit a great job for perhaps a great passion job??

Sorry Bowman I will have to disagree,I have always enjoyed every kind of work I have done working for a company or for myself the big difference is I don't have to sit in a meeting I could care less about and I never have to put on a suit and tie,rewards for a job well done are better, and on the other side of that I applaud the people that like doing that it does take a certain type of person to do either.My Dad was always happy having a job (8 to 6)he never complained and to this day he is the happiest man I know

I have never had a job I hated either. EVERYTHING has pros and cons. If you have a job that you mostly like and supports your financial needs, BE THANKFUL.

The last thing I want to do is spend most of my life working at a job i hate. No matter what it pays. I would rather tend bar in the carribean, than work an office job i hate.

Ever notice that everyone can't wait till the retire, but i bet most retired people with they still worked, so they would have something to do. You basically always hate your life.

I can't wait to retire so I can do something different. I've been in the same
field for 34 yrs. (automotive). I will never "retire", just do different things, at
a pace dictated by me, not someone else.

Bowman my guess is your quite a bit younger then eaglejim and I.
If you basically hate your life you need to do some serious soul searching.
It is truly amazing how fast time goes by. Make any changes now, before
it's too late.