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Unsure, insecure, and proud of it
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” At some point you were asked what really is one of the most difficult questions to answer.
At an age where you’ve yet to experience one thousandth of what life has to throw at you, your response would have resembled your parents’; doctor, fireman, veterinarian, etc…
When’s the last time you asked yourself that question? Do you have any idea where’ll you’ll be and what you’ll be doing 20, 10, 5, even 1 year from now?
Don’t worry if you can’t answer that question. I myself, haven’t the slightest clue.
Your life most likely revolves around an industry or two, and you’re aware of the tasks you enjoy doing, and those you don’t. But can you really see exactly the who, what, and where of your life in a year’s time?
My parents have each worked in the same industry for at least 25 years and with one company for well over a decade. I couldn’t imagine doing practically the same tasks for 48,000 hours of my life.
Do you know where you’ll be and what you’ll be doing in a year or two?
March 12th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
[...] post by Travis and powered by Img [...]
March 12th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I want to be in several industries because like yourself I couldn’t imagine doing the same thing for 48,000 hours of my life.
I need the be in a place where I am constantly challenged with new and unique projects.
March 12th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I actually have a pretty clear picture of where I’m going to be. I know where I WANT to be…that’s the first step I suppose.
March 12th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I agree with Eric. I have a clear picture of where I want to be and that includes not being tide down to one project.
March 13th, 2007 at 7:31 am
i want to retire at 35. if that is even possible, i have no idea.
March 13th, 2007 at 9:11 am
I think there is a difference between knowing what you want to do (having goals) and knowing what you are going to do. Having goals and a vision of where you are going in life is a great way to focus your direction. But limiting yourself to only experiencing those things that are directly related to the goals you have set is a harsh and secluded way to live. I have no idea what I will be doing in 15 years, but I hope that it is in the creative realm. There is something to be said for being flexible enough with your goals to allow yourself the freedom to experience and try paths that you otherwise may not have taken. And by the way, if you find a way to retire at age 35, please share it with the rest of us!
March 13th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I’ve been in two industries and I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy both. I’m a graphic designer and I’ve also done broadcasting. I feel that I can do both at the same time. One key though on loving what you do is what has been mentioned.. challenges are important and it’s important also to keep up to date with all trends of you industry. I’m pretty sure i’ll be in both or one of those jobs and I feel confident that i’ll be happy doing it.
About retiring at 35.. my brother is in the navy and they retire early i think it’s 36 or 39. Close enough?
March 13th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Erm like Eric said, I know where I WANT to be. Thats somewhere along the lines of going to University and studying Economics/Economics and Management. After that, I do want to try my hand at the corporate life (maybe investment banking), before moving on and starting my own business.
March 13th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
I am half way through University and still don’t know what I want to do… I have a pretty good idea of what I’m capable of doing, or what I would enjoy doing with my free time, once I retire at the age of 35 ;)
March 14th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
It’s funny, even as an adult while I was going through University, what I thought I wanted to do ended up not being what I actually do at all. I think the world moves at such a high pace now compared to when my parents were growing up. 20-30 years ago, you really wanted that stable job that kept you paid for 30 years.
Now, you can analyze 100 angles and see what everyone else is doing all the time. We have so many more options available to us now that we tend to not settle and constantly are changing things up.
April 17th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
[...] This article in Young Go Getter was exactly how I felt during the past few years of my undergrad. I was taking courses on history, political science, english, french, and anything else that I thought might interest me. During this time, I absolutely had NO idea what I would be doing after graduation. Almost every two to three weeks or so, I’d go through some sort of phase – the “journalist” phase, the “financial advisor” phase, the “interior designer” phase – and so on, and so on. I did so much research on practically every career listed in those career guides that my friends and I could consider myself an unofficial guidance counsellor. [...]