 |
|
07-18-2007, 02:44 PM
|
#21
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 537
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Independent
From the time they are little, kids hear "What do you want to do when you grow up?", not "How do you plan to support yourself when you grow up?". They expect they will be able to earn good money while doing something that's fairly enjoyable.
They can even see examples of people who really do have jobs that fit them so well that "work" is almost a hobby. But they don't realize that those lucky people make up about 10% of the workforce. The remaining 90% settled for the least-unpleasant way they could earn a living.
|
That's a really good distinction between two big life questions. When kids are young, they're encouraged more to develop their interests and figure out what they like or want to do.
At some point, when they are older, then they do need to think about how they will support themselves. Reconciling making a living with what they like to do, finding a way to marry the answers to the two questions is a challenge.
I think it helps when parents and schools expose young people to the realities of different careers by hooking them up with friends that they can job-shadow or work with as an intern/apprentice. Reviews of salaries/wages in comparison with what "lifestyle" those would allow also help.
(I have no kids but in hindsight, when I was a youngster, some guidance like the above would've been valuable. But I really don't know if I would've listened well to advice or if I would've been thick-headed. Still, all parents can do is help in laying out options.)
|
|
|
 |
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
07-18-2007, 08:15 PM
|
#22
|
Administrator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 28,362
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by flipstress
That's a really good distinction between two big life questions. When kids are young, they're encouraged more to develop their interests and figure out what they like or want to do.
At some point, when they are older, then they do need to think about how they will support themselves. Reconciling making a living with what they like to do, finding a way to marry the answers to the two questions is a challenge.
I think it helps when parents and schools expose young people to the realities of different careers by hooking them up with friends that they can job-shadow or work with as an intern/apprentice. Reviews of salaries/wages in comparison with what "lifestyle" those would allow also help.
(I have no kids but in hindsight, when I was a youngster, some guidance like the above would've been valuable. But I really don't know if I would've listened well to advice or if I would've been thick-headed. Still, all parents can do is help in laying out options.)
|
The advice thing is really tough. I think it is better to teach by example and make sure you have time to spend with them, and spend more of your discretionary spending on vacations and other experiences rather than things. May be then they will learn that work is what happens in between the weekends and you need to work to live rather than the other way around
__________________
Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
|
|
|
07-18-2007, 09:25 PM
|
#23
|
Moderator
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 14,404
|
This career counselor pretty much hits it on the head:
In part:
"I’ve come to the conclusion that we’ve been sold a bill of goods when we’re told to “Follow your passion, “ or “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Fact is, if you do what you love, you’ll probably starve.
Yes, some people do what they love and the money follows. But millions of people have followed their passion and still haven’t earned enough money to even pay back their student loans, let alone make even a bare middle-class living doing what they love."
Do What You Love -- And Starve?
But, I don't know how you'd actually induce a young person to internalize this information. Most are sure they'll be artists, actors, sports stars, or that they will stay kids forever.
|
|
|
07-19-2007, 07:03 AM
|
#24
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 44,593
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by samclem
This career counselor pretty much hits it on the head:
In part:
"I’ve come to the conclusion that we’ve been sold a bill of goods when we’re told to “Follow your passion, “ or “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Fact is, if you do what you love, you’ll probably starve.
Yes, some people do what they love and the money follows. But millions of people have followed their passion and still haven’t earned enough money to even pay back their student loans, let alone make even a bare middle-class living doing what they love."
Do What You Love -- And Starve?
But, I don't know how you'd actually induce a young person to internalize this information. Most are sure they'll be artists, actors, sports stars, or that they will stay kids forever.
|
You may starve (or may not), but at least you won't always wonder if you could have made it in that longed for profession. Life is not all about money!
Personally I would modify the advice to say, "Do what you love until the time if/when you bomb out, then do what you must".
|
|
|
07-19-2007, 10:09 AM
|
#25
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 944
|
Want2retire:
I definitely agree with you. I think that one should at least attempt to do something they love before just mindlessly following the corporate herd. If you really do fail following your passion, then you still have time to do what you need to.
My parents made me go to college to get that diploma....and I went and didn't do my best....just enough to get it and leave the house to pursue my freedom. If my creativity would have been nurtured instead of squashed....I am sure that I would have been a success in the art field. However, thank god that I did start pursuing it agressively this year and so far it is going wonderful.
|
|
|
07-19-2007, 12:04 PM
|
#26
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 44,593
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by citrine
Want2retire:
I definitely agree with you. I think that one should at least attempt to do something they love before just mindlessly following the corporate herd. If you really do fail following your passion, then you still have time to do what you need to.
My parents made me go to college to get that diploma....and I went and didn't do my best....just enough to get it and leave the house to pursue my freedom. If my creativity would have been nurtured instead of squashed....I am sure that I would have been a success in the art field. However, thank god that I did start pursuing it agressively this year and so far it is going wonderful.
|
Citrine, congratulations on your accomplishments this year in the art field! I am so pleased to hear that you are pursuing your dream, even if it had to be delayed until you could. Good for you and I wish you the best!
|
|
|
07-25-2007, 11:04 AM
|
#27
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 944
|
Want2Retire:
Thank you....if layoffs come in Megacorp.....hopefully I will be able to pursue the art full time.
citrine
|
|
|
07-25-2007, 11:46 AM
|
#28
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,624
|
Of course, you could reverse the order. Do what you need to do now to make yourself financially independent. Then, do what you love.
We could even give that a name, something like "retire early"?
|
|
|
07-25-2007, 12:10 PM
|
#29
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 377
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Independent
Of course, you could reverse the order. Do what you need to do now to make yourself financially independent. Then, do what you love.
We could even give that a name, something like "retire early"?
|
Yea I really hate what I have done for the last decade, and my wife REALLY hates it, I keep telling her "honey we are retiring at 30, it isn't that bad", and she says "GET ME OUTA HERE!"
I do not think I would really like any work, although I do enjoy some good hard work, I cannot stand having my life influenced by outside forces, so with me, it was always, utter sacrifice so I can goof off the rest of my life.
|
|
|
07-25-2007, 12:23 PM
|
#30
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,250
|
I believe my parents did not sacrifice their nest eggs for my brother and I. As a (former step-) parent, I used to tell J that we kept him in Boy Scouts so he'd be able to survive in the wilderness after high school because he would not be living at home with us anymore  Even though the statement was delivered in a joking manner, he got the point (whew!) 22 and co-owner of a restaurant these days. (and not living with either parent!!!)
__________________
Make no mistake, my friend, it takes more than money to make men rich. - A. P. Gouthey
|
|
|
07-25-2007, 12:37 PM
|
#31
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 4,401
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by haha
Parents delaying retirement, depleting savigs and even taking out loans to support kids beyond college.
"I just wish we coud get her an apartment in the Village."
Ha
|
Sigh! They are not babies anymore.
|
|
|
 |
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|