Career choices

[greyscience5]

I don’t post too often, but I am curious what everyone here thinks. Would you rather choose an unfulfilling career that pays you a lot of money and gives you the freedom to pursue your hobbies in your free time? Or would you rather select a less lucrative career that you are more passionate about, even if it leaves you with fewer resources to pursue other interests? I would love to hear how and why people chose their respective careers, and what tradeoffs they made along the way. Thanks.

[moon/Laura]

Myself, I'd rather work at something I like (or can at least stand) for less.. I've worked job that I hated and it just isn't worth it, no matter how much you make.

[mmhmm]

IMO, the trick is to find something you truly enjoy doing that pays enough to support a reasonable lifestyle while leaving you enough "me time" to prevent burnout. You don't have to make a lot of money, but it is important to make enough to keep yourself out of misery. How much that is depends on the person.

[Deleted]

Show me the money!

[luckyme]

I think the love of money would be enough to overcome their lack of passion for how they earn it.

[formerroomate99]

I know people who went into those 'cool' jobs. They truely love the work but often end up hating their jobs because they were treated as the disposable employees they are and had to deal with insane office politics due to the fierce competetion for their jobs. If there are 1000 people willing and able to take you place, then your employer has no reason to give you decent pay, benefits, sane work hours, treat you with respect, or settle disputes between employees. And that is assuming you can even get that 'cool' job. If, on the other hand, it would be difficult and expensive to replace you, then your employer has more reason to make sure you are happy. There are a lot of external factors besides work itself, that determine your happiness at a job.

[El Conquistador]

Interesting thread. Let me think about a good answer when I'm not retired from a job I loved and drunk in the morning. ;D

[lilyofcourse]

When you love your job you never work a day in your life.

I've yet to find a job I love. But I've found jobs I dont mind so much.

I'd rather be fulfilled in my job. As long as ends meet and responsibilities are taken care of that is.

[crusher]

If it is not substantially less, take the lesser pay and be happy. Nah, take the money. Always take the money, and the lump sum if it's an option.

[Spellbound454]

I think it depends on the time you spend working.

If you work full time, as I do.... then its quite a lot of my life to devote to a career.....Its important that is something that I like doing or I'm just wasting my waking hours.

If I could do something I didn't like doing, for more money but half the time....I may consider it as a means to an end.... in that I would have more opportunities and financial incentives to enjoy my free time.

but to work all ours in a job I didn't like....just for money that I then wouldn't be able to enjoy....is a complete waste of time.

You don't need loads of money for happiness........you only need enough.
and it has to be weighed against what it takes out of you.

[Deleted]

If your main concern is money, it stands to reason that you wouldn't mind not "loving" your job because you love the money.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I think that you're asking this question in a backwards way. Those people who CHOOSE to be brain surgeons educate themseles in a field that they're passionate about. Brain surgery isn't a job you fall into. For someone to devote the time and energy to 6 figures to student loan debt, many, many years of additional schooling and working an obscene amount of hours weekly for low wages at the beginning, there MUST be some sort of passion for the subject to begin with.

Comparing it to someone who empties trash cans is like comparing apples and oranges. Yes, they're both jobs. But one is a profession that many brain surgeons spend a lifetime perfecting and (hopefully) the other is a stop gap way of making money while going onto bigger and better things.

IOW, the best brain surgeons are those whose passion IS their hobby.....and their profession.

[PK Bucko]

The OP question as phrased makes me say that I'd go for the job that I liked better for less cash. Specifically because I believe that you'd be engaged in your hobby or something close to it in that scenario.

If it's a straight up or down on money vs not hating your job. I'd take the money. Hell, that's what I've done anyway. I can't stand my job, but the pay made it too attractive to pass up. Over the years I've learned not to hate it so much.

[gawgagranny]

Personally, I chose my profession (Pharmacy) for 2 reasons--my passion for helping people and the ability to make a reasonable salary while doing it. I've been doing this for well over 30 years now and I still enjoy what I do.

As for my specific career path, I have spent most of my career in a job that pays less than most in my profession, but with stable hours and good benefits that have allowed me to pursue other interests such as my sons' activities when they were younger and in school. Now that both of my DS are adults with their own careers, I am able to spend time traveling more with DH. (XH/father of sons & I seldom traveled more than day trip/business type stuff)

I never even had a whole week long vacation (not used for home improvement or illness) until after I married my now-DH! I have seen more of the USA over the past few years than I did in my entire first 50 years--and my career has given me this freedom.

[domic]

I can't stand my job, but the pay made it too attractive to pass up. Over the years I've learned not to hate it so much.

How did you become a male escort to begin with?