"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." ~~Confucius
I know that envy is a sin. Along with overeating, it is my biggest issue. Not for peoples money or looks or clothes. Nope, not any of the "normal" stuff. My issue is career based. I am going to confess now one of my biggest regrets. I never chose a career. Sometimes, I like to blame my family for not explaining the importance of it and pushing me to make a choice, but deep down I know it was my flub. I decided somehow the way it would work and I was WRONG.
I was under the impression that a college education was the foundation to a career. I wrongly thought that if I went at my education 150%, I'd be set to go on graduation day. Colleges talk it up too. You see it on TV and in print advertisements. You might see "Ann Smith" who just completed her bachelors degree and is now making more money than ever and has many more job opportunities. Au contraire! It might happen like that for some people. Maybe they have a can do spirit or they know the right people. For the rest of us...a plan is a must.
In my opinion, education without direction is as useful as a flashlight without batteries. Someone told me in the beginning of my college years that a business degree was a good one to get because it offered a lot of flexibility. That is advice I might offer up to my least favorite enemy. Talk about setting someone up to fail. Now, I'm not saying business degree's are a bad thing, but you had better have a goal in mind and stock up on extra classes that specialize your education somehow.
In a nutshell, I have a Masters Degree in Business that isn't worth a dime. In fact, the cost of it is going to hinder my financial strength until I'm about 65. I'm not kidding. I am so angry and embarrassed of my college decisions, I could spit. Throughout the years in college, I often times wondered if the other students felt they weren't learning anything either or if it was just me. I learned about theories, laws and statistics, but gained no skills.
I am not dismissing the importance of college. What I'm saying is that education before career choice is like buying gas for a car you don't own. It simply doesn't make sense. If I had it to do over, I would pick something...anything...and figure out what I needed to become that anything. I would have focused on experience building and learning valuable skills. I probably wouldn't have an MBA. Had I received the direction I obviously needed, someone would have recognized my dream of owning a small hotel. Someone would have pushed me to pursue the hotel and hospitality field. Someone would have shown me how to create a plan of action.
I am 37, have LOADS of college loan debt, no skills, no experience, and can't even begin to figure out how to build them up. I have many entrepreneurial ideas and dreams, but with no skills, I have no decent income, which leads to no savings and big debt. I wish I had a skill that I could market. Something that I was good at. Something that someone would want me to do.
It is depressing to be "overqualified" for a secretarial position, but under qualified to be the office manager. Overqualified to do data entry, but not qualified to work in upper management. I missed the boat on my career. At 37, there is no way I would go back to school and learn how to do something now. I fear that I will be stuck in little office jobs and retail for the rest of my working years.
Please don't do what I did.
Choose a specific career or skill and go at it with gusto. I know this entry sounds like a pity party and, yes, I'm having a low day today. Looking at the classifieds makes me sad and angry at the same time. There are thousands of career choices out there. Have something in mind. Have an idea of what seems fun and interesting. Be very intentional about your career choice. Don't tell yourself that you want to be a doctor, figure out what kind of doctor you want to be. Don't limit yourself to business degree, focus on accounting or human resources.
I will be an instrument in helping you decide your career path. Not just any instrument, either. I'm going to be a drum set on overload. I'm not going to push you down a path because I want you to go there, but because I see your interest. I won't push you to be a pain in your butt, but to help kick start the rest of your life. Pick a career. Focus in school. Find success in your work life! And remember what I always tell you...most things stink when you're just learning them, but once you've mastered it, it's one of life's greatest joys!!
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