OT: Career discussion, your thoughts??

[defpearlpilot]

Yeah Andrew, I agree completely. In the end it's a personal thing, ya know...just need to make a choice eventually. It's great that you have that healthy balance though, good for you.

If I may, what kind of work are you into?

-Joe

I'm a software engineer/developer. It's funny cause I remember when I was about 15 or so, I asked my mom for one of two things: a guitar or a computer. I knew that I'd be happy doing both. Polish mothers being practical, my mom got me the computer. I taught myself how to program by reading lots of books on it. I FULLY credit my success now with the fact that I started early. I ended up buying a guitar when I was a junior in college at the encouragement of my then-girlfriend. Now I have both things that I wanted.

 

[Bob Savage]

Well, I could argue the semantics of "what he does now will have a huge impact" vs "what he does now can have a huge impact." But I won't.

What I said was that his choices now wouldn't define his life. That statement was meant to encompass more than just financial/career considerations and was more of a response to his idea of selling himself out, or selling himself short. It's easy to place way too much pressure on yourself, and put too much weight on that "big decision" when you're graduating, when for many (most?) people, that "big decision" you made at graduation time has fuck all to do with where you're at 10, 20, or 30 years later.

I'm sure I'm not the only one here whose degree(s), experience, first job out of college, etc. having nothing to do with current occuptation, am I?

I don't believe there are any semantics about it. What he does now *will* have a huge impact. That's not saying he couldn't wait until he was 35, pickup a career and be set very well by 50. The bottom line is his decisions now will direct where he ends up at 50.

As far as the education lining up with the field of business, of course you're not the only one. That happens often, but I don't believe using this as a reason for not worrying about your carrer path is a wise decision.

And again, I'm not saying he needs to freak out over the decision, forget about enjoying his 20's, stop playing music or anything silly like that. What I am saying is that goals need to be set and followed even if they change down the road. Not knowing what you're going to end up doing later in life isn't a good reason to just not worry about it.

As others have said, our perspectives are at least partially due to our situations. I screwed around for a lot of years and you guessed it, looking back I regret my lack of focus. I had a heck of a lot of fun, but playing catch up in your 40's is bit of a drag.

 

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

Yeah Andrew, I agree completely. In the end it's a personal thing, ya know...just need to make a choice eventually. It's great that you have that healthy balance though, good for you.

If I may, what kind of work are you into?

-Joe

I'm a software engineer/developer. It's funny cause I remember when I was about 15 or so, I asked my mom for one of two things: a guitar or a computer. I knew that I'd be happy doing both. Polish mothers being practical, my mom got me the computer. I taught myself how to program by reading lots of books on it. I FULLY credit my success now with the fact that I started early. I ended up buying a guitar when I was a junior in college at the encouragement of my then-girlfriend. Now I have both things that I wanted.

Hah, cool man...Worked out well then. I'll still always have my guitars that's for sure.

-Joe

 

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

...
What I said was that his choices now wouldn't define his life. That statement was meant to encompass more than just financial/career considerations and was more of a response to his idea of selling himself out, or selling himself short. It's easy to place way too much pressure on yourself, and put too much weight on that "big decision" when you're graduating, when for many (most?) people, that "big decision" you made at graduation time has fuck all to do with where you're at 10, 20, or 30 years later.

I'm sure I'm not the only one here whose degree(s), experience, first job out of college, etc. having nothing to do with current occuptation, am I?

Good point about the "big decision." Making smart "little decisions" on the way is what worked for me.

Chris

I think that's the smart way of looking at it man. It seems that the little decisions have a way of working themselves out sooner or later. I whole heartedly plan on pursuing my Master's education, whether it's full or part time. Most likely in 2 yrs or so, will by my ideal time to apply.

So for me personally, it probably wouldn't make very much sense to drop everything now and try my hand at the studio deal. But who knows, the right decisions aren't always smart in the beginning...

I could have easily formed a hardcore band out of high school and toured relentlessly like most of these guys, but I have a feeling that right now I would regret not finishing school first. So I'm glad that I'm finishing that right now, I guess I should be proud of that.

I also agree with Bob...because any decision you make regarding life decisions will affect your future somehow, even if it's in a minescule way.

-Joe

 

[ratter]

As others have said, our perspectives are at least partially due to our situations.

Agreed. And everyone's own personal definition of "success" should drive their decision making, as well.

 

[Bob Savage]

Agreed. And everyone's own personal definition of "success" should drive their decision making, as well.

That's it? That's all you've got? No name calling? What the...

 

[ratter]

Agreed. And everyone's own personal definition of "success" should drive their decision making, as well.

That's it? That's all you've got? No name calling? What the...

Fucker!

 

[Bob Savage]

Agreed. And everyone's own personal definition of "success" should drive their decision making, as well.

That's it? That's all you've got? No name calling? What the...

Fucker!

Now we're getting somewhere!

 

[SeaDog]

I think Bob hit on the key point. If I had focused on my career in music like my technology career maybe things would have been very different. Most of the successful people I know have laser focus on whatever their current goals are. Changing your mind about a career in life is not the problem, not putting your best in it is.

Back in my twenties I knew this kid that used to record in his basement. He started coming around the music store where I worked when he was like ten years old. After years of him asking me to come record some tracks on his sampler for his dance music mixes, I finally went over and recorded some stuff because I felt bad for blowing him off for so long. At his house he played me some of the tracks he was writing and I was blown away at how professional they sounded. A few weeks later he dropped a demo tape off at the store that had some of my playing on it. He said he was shopping it to some guys in NY (he was like fifteen years old at the time). All of us at the store used to talk about how he was just pushing for a music career like no one we've ever seen. I kinda forgot about it for about for a few years until I was back visiting the store and my old boss told me that the kid had hit the big time. He shopped his tape around for some time and ended up getting a gig producing some dance albums, and now he's a world famous producer. I'm sure you've all heard his work his name is Rodney Jerkins and he's written and produced tons of famous dance music. I wonder if it was luck or just a result of all his hard work.