Comments on: Is Your Job A One Hit Wonder? http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/is-your-job-a-one-hit-wonder/ Wise Choices. Improved Finances. A Better Life. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:19:41 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Links For Super-Charged Living - October 25, 2008 | My Super-Charged Life http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/is-your-job-a-one-hit-wonder/comment-page-1/#comment-7796 Links For Super-Charged Living - October 25, 2008 | My Super-Charged Life Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:00:37 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=433#comment-7796 [...] for ExcellenceIs Your Job A One Hit Wonder?Can You Read My [...] [...] for ExcellenceIs Your Job A One Hit Wonder?Can You Read My [...]

]]> By: Ron http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/is-your-job-a-one-hit-wonder/comment-page-1/#comment-7767 Ron Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:47:35 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=433#comment-7767 <a href="#comment-7635" rel="nofollow">#</a>Guy→ Changing careers is not something to take lightly, but if you've discovered that you are truly dissatisfied with what you're doing, take steps to find what you are interested in. If you, like you say, are interested in computers and programming, check with a local university or community college to see if they offer career identification strategies just to verify that this would be something you're suited to do. Things change when you do them for a living. Sometimes it isn't what you thought! Should you change careers? Only you can answer that, but if I were in your shoes, I would not want to spend my entire life doing something that didn't appeal to me anymore. Take a night class or an online class. But don't think anything has passed you by. The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this: "If you want a HUGE oak tree, the best time to plant one was 100 years ago. The second best time to plant one is today." I would recommend that you outline what it is that appeals to you about programming ... big picture. Then I would break those things down into small attainable steps that will move you in that direction. Ask yourself, "What's my next step?" and then take that step. You may not be in a position to quit your current job cold turkey and plunge into programming, but I bet you could find some free online classes and take those. I bet you could check out every book in the library and teach yourself some of the basics. From there, not only would you be in a position to know if it really is all it's cracked up to be, but you would be starting the foundation of making that move. Keep me posted and if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. I'll help you all I can. #Guy→
Changing careers is not something to take lightly, but if you’ve discovered that you are truly dissatisfied with what you’re doing, take steps to find what you are interested in. If you, like you say, are interested in computers and programming, check with a local university or community college to see if they offer career identification strategies just to verify that this would be something you’re suited to do.

Things change when you do them for a living. Sometimes it isn’t what you thought!

Should you change careers? Only you can answer that, but if I were in your shoes, I would not want to spend my entire life doing something that didn’t appeal to me anymore. Take a night class or an online class. But don’t think anything has passed you by. The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this: “If you want a HUGE oak tree, the best time to plant one was 100 years ago. The second best time to plant one is today.”

I would recommend that you outline what it is that appeals to you about programming … big picture. Then I would break those things down into small attainable steps that will move you in that direction. Ask yourself, “What’s my next step?” and then take that step.

You may not be in a position to quit your current job cold turkey and plunge into programming, but I bet you could find some free online classes and take those. I bet you could check out every book in the library and teach yourself some of the basics. From there, not only would you be in a position to know if it really is all it’s cracked up to be, but you would be starting the foundation of making that move.

Keep me posted and if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. I’ll help you all I can.

]]> By: Sara at On Simplicity http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/is-your-job-a-one-hit-wonder/comment-page-1/#comment-7676 Sara at On Simplicity Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:05:34 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=433#comment-7676 This is a perfect list. These questions cut to the core of how we really feel about he job, not how we think we're supposed to feel. This is one to bookmark and keep on hand to check every quarter or so! This is a perfect list. These questions cut to the core of how we really feel about he job, not how we think we’re supposed to feel. This is one to bookmark and keep on hand to check every quarter or so!

]]> By: Genesis http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/is-your-job-a-one-hit-wonder/comment-page-1/#comment-7654 Genesis Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:00:36 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=433#comment-7654 I`ve kept very few jobs in my life for longer than 6-9 months. My main reasons for leaving usually included boredom or not liking my co-workers or boss. Often, if there is a switch in bosses, the new one is not as considerate and I would leave. Some people say that`s flighty, but on the other hand, I`ve thoroughly enjoyed my life so far and have experience in a number of different industries . . . and I now work for myself. I`ve kept very few jobs in my life for longer than 6-9 months. My main reasons for leaving usually included boredom or not liking my co-workers or boss. Often, if there is a switch in bosses, the new one is not as considerate and I would leave. Some people say that`s flighty, but on the other hand, I`ve thoroughly enjoyed my life so far and have experience in a number of different industries . . . and I now work for myself.

]]> By: Uncommonadvice http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/is-your-job-a-one-hit-wonder/comment-page-1/#comment-7637 Uncommonadvice Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:49:58 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=433#comment-7637 If someone was to ak my advice at the moment, I'd say they'd have to be mad to leave their job with a recession imminent - so why do I feel so much like jumping ship myself? If someone was to ak my advice at the moment, I’d say they’d have to be mad to leave their job with a recession imminent – so why do I feel so much like jumping ship myself?

]]> By: Guy http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/is-your-job-a-one-hit-wonder/comment-page-1/#comment-7635 Guy Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:50:25 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=433#comment-7635 Nice post, Ron. But here's a question: what if you think you've made a bad mistake by going down your current career path? I was laid off after 9/11 and got a job as a lab technician. I had some experience doing this before. But, I also toyed with the idea of going into computers (networking or programming), which I did not really have background in but have loved since middle school. Fast forward 7 years later: I have an Associates in Chemical Technology now and have moved up the ladder a little to being a chemist, but dislike the work because 1) chemistry is fun as an academic subject but it did not prepare me for work that is way over my head, or 2) I'm just lazy. How do I determine if my situation is truly #1 or #2? Changing careers may mean junking 3 years of tech school. But...my imagination always seems to go back to programming. And now I wish I had made a different decision back when it would have been easier. Nice post, Ron. But here’s a question: what if you think you’ve made a bad mistake by going down your current career path? I was laid off after 9/11 and got a job as a lab technician. I had some experience doing this before. But, I also toyed with the idea of going into computers (networking or programming), which I did not really have background in but have loved since middle school. Fast forward 7 years later: I have an Associates in Chemical Technology now and have moved up the ladder a little to being a chemist, but dislike the work because 1) chemistry is fun as an academic subject but it did not prepare me for work that is way over my head, or 2) I’m just lazy.

How do I determine if my situation is truly #1 or #2? Changing careers may mean junking 3 years of tech school. But…my imagination always seems to go back to programming. And now I wish I had made a different decision back when it would have been easier.

]]> By: Frugal Dad http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/is-your-job-a-one-hit-wonder/comment-page-1/#comment-7634 Frugal Dad Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:35:40 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=433#comment-7634 Timely post, as I'm going through some of this now myself. My problem is that I have other things going on in my life that make a job hunt an unappealing task. It appears I'll have to stay in this rut a little longer! Timely post, as I’m going through some of this now myself. My problem is that I have other things going on in my life that make a job hunt an unappealing task. It appears I’ll have to stay in this rut a little longer!

]]> By: Jeff@MySuperChargedLife http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/is-your-job-a-one-hit-wonder/comment-page-1/#comment-7633 Jeff@MySuperChargedLife Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:59:29 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=433#comment-7633 Ron - These are some great questions to ask yourself. About three years ago, I was considering leaving a business I helped to start to take another position. I used some of this logic to make my decision. I think you have nailed this down pretty well. Life is too short to stay in a job that doesn't suit you anymore! Ron – These are some great questions to ask yourself. About three years ago, I was considering leaving a business I helped to start to take another position. I used some of this logic to make my decision. I think you have nailed this down pretty well. Life is too short to stay in a job that doesn’t suit you anymore!

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