Smoke said:
I know it's easy to say "Go for happiness" but there are obvious financial commitments.
Doc said:
I prefer to go with a job that makes me happy, and is also comfortable at the same time. As a matter of fact if I continue to follow my dream, I shouldn't have any problems. ^____^
Tsuyoiko said:
But I am working on my dream of having my own jewellery design business - I've done a couple of stalls and got a few more booked - that's what I really want to do.
lexico said:
Anyway, to make my reply meaningful, if you have some kind of pension plan provided, and you know what you enjoy and value most, I'd say do it without regret. Time is not something you can buy later on once it's spent, you are old, and too weak to do it -- whatever that may be. I know myself well enough that I wouldn't last long in a job that I don't appreciate; and without my heart in it, the job won't appreciate me either. But that's just me.
misa j. said:
Career is important for some people, but not for me. I prefer having a job with steady income(not that I'm making a lot, money is just not important for me) even though it's not as exciting as you wish and enjoy my own time with things I like to do.
Frank D. White said:
In my younger days I ran a business with my dad that bought in a LOT of money, but I was stressed out and depressed all the time. It seemed money went hand in hand with worry & problems, it definately didn't buy happiness.
Kara_Nari said:
However the way things are looking, I could be actually doing what I really want, in about three months, which is making me more happy.
As my signature says "Do What You Love, and You'll NEVER Work Another Day In Your Life."
I Used to care about career and money, because we never had any $ growing up so I decided that I would be the first one in our family to do something about it. Also, it was what was ingrained in us as kids: Get a good education, get a good high paying job and you'll be happy.
So I did. And you know what? It doesn't lead to happiness in my opinion. In the beginning, it was fun and challenging and the money, prestige, and position were good. Soon I began to learn the little intricacies of big business and business politics and discovered that you can't get anywhere in business unless you suck up, kiss ass, "yes" your superiors and scheme to knock them off the ladder so you can move up. Remember, in climbing the ladder of success, if you look up you are looking directly at somebodys ass. You either kiss it or kick it off the ladder. And if you look down somebody is doing the same to you.
The stress and long hours were awful and it began to take a toll on me, my health, my attitude, and my marriage. I used to wake up in the morning dreading going to work and thinking of ways to get out of it. Sometimes I would call in sick or just leave early. I began to think that having a good career was a bunch of crap if you didn't enjoy it.
However, I had a dream of making alot of money and retiring early to enjoy life. So I stuck it out, we saved our money, invested wisely, and never wasted a penny on frivolous things that we didn't need. While others were spending every penny they made on outlandish toys, eating out and such and were constantly in debt, we just did without. We practiced "delayed gratification" and the only debt we had was our mortgage.
Eight years ago we reached that goal when we paid off our 30 year mortgage in 8 years. Being completely debt free, I was able to chuck my crappy job and persue my boyhood dream of driving big trucks long distance. The money was far less than I was making previously, but without any debt who cares? Everyone except my wife thought I was nuts.
It was tough in the beginning as I was away from home five nights a week, but I enjoyed every minute of it. My wife was happy because I was happy and our relationship improved tremendously.
After a few years and a little seniority, I am now home every night. I drive 7 1/2 hrs a night and I couldn't be happier. I get paid to do what I love and what I used to do for fun on the weekends to relieve stress.
Come to think of it, even if I didn't have a college degree, I think I still would've ended up doing what I'm doing anyway. I may not have alot of money in the bank and such, but I would be happy and would still be making enough to support a family and save some money if the wife was also working.
The funny thing is I am now comfortable enough where I could retire right now and be comfortable for the rest of my life, but to tell you the truth, I have no desire to as I throughly enjoy what I am doing. I look forward to going to "work" and never scheme to take a day off. We could buy whatever we want, but we don't because it just doesn't seem important to spend so much money for a depreciating asset unless we really, really want or need it.
So my suggestion for being happy:
1. Stay out of debt (Being in debt makes you a slave. As the bible states: "The borrower will be slave to the lender."
2. Live within your means.
3. Find a job that you truely love even if it doesn't pay so much. You'll be much happier with less stress.
If you truly must work in a job that you despise because you need the money, suck it up with a goal in mind of saving every possible penny/yen/yuan, etc. to get you out of it. Do without the extra pizzas, eating out, the extra fees for Showtime and HBO which show only the same crappy movies agaian and again, the fancy TV's and furniture, the expensive cars and jewelery, the name brand clothes and such. You'll be glad you did in the long run. However, your partner must be on the same wavelength as you. If he/she is spending everything you make it's useless.
My observation of people over the years is this:
The majority of people buy things they don't need, with money they don't have, to impress people they don't like. Weird, but true.
Don't be one of them! :wave:
