Starting Over

[Gary Gibson]

Let's say you threw away a good career with lots of security and money to go write about economics and politics for a firm offering very little security and a lot less money. Then you fell in love and decided you wanted to reproduce and realized that you needed a lot of income again. But you're living at the beginning of a grand economic depression.

Would you go back to school to learn something? What would you learn? A lot of this has to do with inborn ability and inclination, I know, but just want to get some opinions.

[MazdaMatt]

One thing I've learned by going through school and a few years as an engineer is that it doesn't matter how talented you are, the salesmen always make more money. If i did it again, I'd go for a business degree and sell something expensive.

Or, keep doing what you enjoy and realize that there are a lot of people with a lot more children than you want that make a lot less money and they still eat.

[Joel Chapman]

Gary, in your Baby, Gear, Bathwater article you talk about hanging out in the middle of a continuum, that living at the extremes is not wise. It seems to me that you are trying too hard to plan the next 50 years of your life before it happens. I tend to do this too. Maybe you should shift just a hair towards the middle on this continuum and let life happen a bit. Don't get me wrong, it is good to have a plan, a career, etc. But sometimes you can't force it, especially on a predetermined timeline.

[Scott_Robison]

I'm with Joel. Of course, "a lot less money" means many things to many different people. If your combined income is $30k and you want 8 kids, then yes, you need to make something happen for yourself. If your combined income is $60k and you want one or two, that's a whole other story.

[TomF]

I've got a friend who runs a gym, with his wife. Things are going well for them - well enough that a year ago he left his day-job to run the gym full-time, though his wife kept hers. Now they're moving their box into roughly double the space to accommodate all the new members, and the extra staff they'll need to hire to keep the place running as seamlessly as ever.

Back when he was about to leave his day job, I asked my friend what part of the gym work really got him happiest. Was it the training? The 1-on-1 contact with clients? Having the freedom to set the place up to run like he wants it to? To train in a place that has the equipment you actually want to train with? The money? etc. etc.

How you answer those questions defines what kind of business you want to run. If it's more about the money, then you expand your box size and scope of offerings as much as the market will bear, recognizing that you'll lose a lot of your 1-on-1 client time. If it's the client-training relationship that cranks you, then keep all the face time you can, while recognizing that you'll not have time to "grow" the business (and make as much money) as you might in another model.

So figure out what makes you most happy, and then accept the things that go along with it. If procreating now makes you happiest ... then do what you need to, to be able to support that habit. It's been my choice, and it's been a great one. But make the choice consciously, so you have a good shot at knowing where the balance points on these decisions will actually be ... not just where you might hope they'd be in Valhalla somewhere.

Me? I wouldn't take a high-powered, high demand, high $ career ... because I'd miss my kids too much. I think my kids are better off for that choice too.

[Sami]

Don't do medicine. kthnxbai

[jjohal]

Sami,

Are you in medicine? I'm just finishing my 3rd year of medical school. I can second that about not going in medicine, at least not being a doctor or a nurse. I think physical therapists make good money with decent workload.

[METAL VIPER]

Let's say you threw away a good career with lots of security and money to go write about economics and politics for a firm offering very little security and a lot less money. Then you fell in love and decided you wanted to reproduce and realized that you needed a lot of income again. But you're living at the beginning of a grand economic depression.

Would you go back to school to learn something? What would you learn? A lot of this has to do with inborn ability and inclination, I know, but just want to get some opinions.
I'm only 23, but I'll throw in my two cents, seeing as I'm dealing with a change of lifestyle and this topic is relevant to my current situation. I got a B.S. in business, graduated with honors last May. Hell, I thought I was done and would find a good job and be happy. Worst time to graduate - in the middle of this economic slump, but I found a job last August close to my house and it was a job, but it was alright. Last November, they decided to move - 15 miles away. I should have mentioned that I hate commuting. My 2 minute drive to work and back turned into 15 minutes to and 45 minutes from. I hate this 9-5, 50 weeks a year bullshit. I fucking hate my professional life. In my truck coming home, I feel like Michael Douglas in Falling Down. That's why I decided to take a step back and really think about what I want. Personally, I don't care about money, as long as I can afford to keep living. I eat, workout, and watch TV/play videogames. It's not an extravagant life by any means. The only luxury is eating out with my girlfriend - no not eating out my girlfriend - well yeah, but I digress, and a movie once in a while.

So after much personal insight, I decided the thing most precious to me, besides my massive hulk-body, is time. I talked to my cousin who is going to become a teacher and decided that that is something that doesn't seem to bad, so I applied to post-baccalaureate at my university and got in. I start in late August. My goal is to get in teaching, obtain my credentials for math, PE, health science, and economics and become somewhat of a strength and conditioning coach for the football team. I would also then like to get a masters and try to get in at a local junior college.

Now before anyone says, but Viper, you ignorant jackass, look at the educational system now, there aren't any jobs. I say to you, everything goes in waves and this is no different. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, secondary education is predicted to grow with the average from until 2018. The median salary for seconday school out here is around $63k a year, which isn't too bad. I'm fine with not having a butler or a personal jet. I just want time to relax and enjoy life, instead of busting my ass to buy myself shit that I don't have time to enjoy.

Regarding your question about reproduction and needing income, I would say to your damndest to do something you love and make a living of it. If you exhaust your resources and still can't do it, but need to take care of your family, I guess you need to ask yourself which is more important, your happiness or that of your family. But you should never stop chasing your dream or settle. Good luck man

[BCGuy]

One thing I've learned by going through school and a few years as an engineer is that it doesn't matter how talented you are, the salesmen always make more money. If i did it again, I'd go for a business degree and sell something expensive...

So true. If I had a dime for every time I thought about this, I would probably be a millionaire by now.

I didn't really know what engineering specialty I wanted to go into a first. I decided to go the geological engineering route. The material was interesting enough, but I did not find the work available appealing at all. I ended up switching interest to structural engineering about 3 years ago after I graduated.

The beauty of already having a formal education is that you don't necessarily need to go back to school full time in order to learn something new (as I am sure you know quite well). In fact, I am supplementing my current degree by self study and examination through my local professional association.

[Dragar]

Gary,

When you say you threw away a better paying career - are there any barriers to returning to that kind of work? Unless it was a particularly unique situation, can't you find a way to return?

I recommend that whatever you do bases somehow on your existing skill and knowledge base, don't go looking for a new career where you have to start with a blank canvas at this stage

[Scott_Robison]

Now before anyone says, but Viper, you ignorant jackass, look at the educational system now, there aren't any jobs. I say to you, everything goes in waves and this is no different. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, secondary education is predicted to grow with the average from until 2018. The median salary for seconday school out here is around $63k a year, which isn't too bad. I'm fine with not having a butler or a personal jet. I just want time to relax and enjoy life, instead of busting my ass to buy myself shit that I don't have time to enjoy.

As a high school physics teacher, I'm going to weigh in on this one. First, good for you, we need more math teachers (btw, that's your best bet for finding work in the near future).

Second, make sure you enjoy teenagers. Regardless of all the other reasons you've stated for wanting to be a teacher, if you don't find their shenanigans entertaining, you'll hate this job to.

Third, I don't know why enjoying your free time is a reason for being a teacher. My wife and I don't work 40 hours per week 50 weeks per year, we work 80 hours per week 36 weeks per year. You'll be doing the same for the first few years if you want to be good at your job.

Lastly, that may be the median salary in your area, but you won't be getting that for some time. All school districts have a strict salary schedule they negotiate with the teachers' union, and you will start at the very bottom, no negotiating allowed. A master's degree related to your teaching will bump you up some, but that will just move you into a higher lowest starting salary.

Btw, a median salary of $63k tells me that most of the teachers in your area are at Master's +15 year's experience or more, so there may be a bunch of them retiring soon.

Sorry to hijack the thread, guys, but I just thought this needed some sensible response. Good luck, dude.

[METAL VIPER]

Thanks for the reply man. I don't mind teenagers and/or their shenanigans. I remember doing the same shit a few years ago and in my experience, the ones who give teachers the most trouble are the ones that are either still going to community college or dropped out and working shitty jobs. Besides, I'm very sardonic and thick skinned; nothing that they could say or do would get to me. I'd like to think by the time I get to teaching, I'd be scary enough not to fuck with - we had an auto teacher in high school who was super cool, but people knew not to fuck with him. He would walk around with a hammer and slam the desk with it for fun during quizzes.
I realize the part about not making median for some time, but I was more relating that into having to take care of a family, which I won't be doing for a while either. Once again, I didn't want to hijack this thread; I just saw it yesterday and saw the correlation with my present situation.

[Sami]

Sami,

Are you in medicine? I'm just finishing my 3rd year of medical school. I can second that about not going in medicine, at least not being a doctor or a nurse. I think physical therapists make good money with decent workload.

Yeah, I'm wrapping up 2nd year now. I predict my biggest issue is going to be working for the NHS. But I'll reserve judgement until I'm there. But lets just say, I haven't heard many.... any, good things from those in the know already.

[indian_lifter]

Yeah, I'm wrapping up 2nd year now. I predict my biggest issue is going to be working for the NHS. But I'll reserve judgement until I'm there. But lets just say, I haven't heard many.... any, good things from those in the know already.

I dont want to get into your personal life or anything..but i plan to do medicine. If this seems to personal of a question, feel free to not answer but did you move to England for medical school?

[jjohal]

I'm studying in CZ. I'm still deciding between going to England or heading back to the states. One of my friends out here has parents working for the NHS. Based on their experience he's planning on working in Canada or America. But, that is only one couple's experience, so I don't really know.

[Sami]

I dont want to get into your personal life or anything..but i plan to do medicine. If this seems to personal of a question, feel free to not answer but did you move to England for medical school?

No.

[tennisgod]

I've hired a hundred people in my time, and I always hire on attitude first, and native intelligence next. Knowledge can always be learned.
Therefore, do what you are passionate about, but plan how to make money with that passion.