What do you want to be when you grow up?

[Chopaholic]

This post is somewhat in response to an unhappy work day and a conversation I had with my brother on Saturday, who is also not thrilled with his current employment. Here are my questions, which hopefully will result in some interesting conversation.

1. What do you do?
2. Do you like it?
3. If money were not an issue, what would you do?


I'll go first.

1. I raise money for a large non-profit organization.
2. Not really. I value the work that we do, and I'm lucky to have a very good working environment (ie no one bats an eye when I go to the gym in the middle of the day), but the job is lacking in intellectual challenge and stimulation. It's very repetitive, and it's not hard.
3. This is the question of the hour. Unfortunately, I have no idea...

[bloggins02]

1. I am a computer programmer
2. I actually like it a lot, but that has a lot to do with the company I work for. It's a great atmosphere
3. If money were no object, I would still program, but maybe on an independent consulting basis when I felt like it. Mostly I would work out, read, invest in real estate, and help my fiancee with her personal training business.

Come to think of it, number three is pretty much what I'm doing now (minus the consulting part) so I guess I'm doing OK

This will be an interesting thread, I hope a lot of people participate

[andi]

1. I voice and produce commercials for radio. I work for the Microsoft of media.
2. I've been doing it for 12 years now. My goals in life have changed since when I started. The free schwag has always been a cool bonus though.
3. My husband and I want to complete our bachelors degrees, sell our houses and move to Eastern Europe to teach English. Though we might end up in Australia at some point. But not to teach English. Supposedly, they already know it there

[houtexan26]

1. I work for a bank. I support the Loan Division designing databases, programs, and look for more efficient ways of productivity.
2. I enjoy it. It is much more stimulating mentally than my last job (military), plus I have always enjoyed the financial world.
3. If money were not an issue, I would probably want to teach drama, and work in theatre. Not Hollywood, but the stage; New York, London, community theatre.

[Jim G.]

Very interesting thread!

Here goes:

1. I work in a warehouse, I'm in charge of incoming and outgoing orders.
2. Not really, I work with the company for 2 years now and my interest is starting to decline, I guess it's time for something else.
3. This is dreaming out loud, but I'd love to do something artistic, like acting or so, or writing. Also a very good 2nd would be to be a full time aikido teacher, I'm thinking about moving to Japan within a couple of years to be able to study there for a while (I'll need it, I'm only an orange belt for now).

On the side: when I was a kid I wanted to own my own gym

[Mahdimael]

1. I am a systems and network administrator

2. I really like my job- good hours, good compensation, good people.

3. However, I've always wanted to do one of two things: either be a pirate, or do voice-over work for cartoons and stuff. Since the former is probably not going to happen, I've been working on voices and preparing to make a demo CD. If I can supplement my current job with some voice work, and maybe eventually go full time, I'd be ecstatic

Edit: one of my best character voices is a pirate, so I've got that going for me

1. UNIX Systems Administrator
2. No...I'm sick of technology...
3. I want to start my own brewery. I already make great beer.....

[GM Enthusiast]

1. Technical 'jack of all trades' for a small company - I do system administration, network security, programming, and everything else thats required to keep several complex web sites running.

2. For the most part, no. I got into the field for the money, but I really dislike sitting for the entire day. Sometimes it frustrates me so much I'm ready to throw stuff just to use up a little more energy.

3. I've always wanted to work in the movie industry. In high school I started studying filmmaking, and there has never been a single subject I enjoyed more. When I was 17 I also became interested in what goes on in front of the camera. In college I was an extra in several films (no blockbusters, unfortunately). I even took a job at the theme park Universal Studios just so I could be closer to the industry. Ultimately that job didn't pay enough and that is when I started working with computers. I still look back and I know that Universal was by far the most enjoyable job I ever had. I'm a people person, so I fit in there perfect.

[JeremyLikness]

Your post is great. I say this because for the longest time, I was caught in the mentality of "working for a paycheck" instead of doing what I wanted to do and creating my own success. Many people get trapped in this mentality. There is nothing wrong with a J.O.B. - trading time for money - that is why they are popular, but in America, it seems people are raised to believe that is "security". It is interesting, because I've had a few conversations with people who were laid off and desperately looking for workouts, who refused to consider their own business because the job was secure (the one they just got laid off from!).

After dropping my 65 pounds of fat, I knew my "why" - my driving passion - was to coach others to good health and impact their lives. I just didn't know how to go about it. Of course, there is a saying that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. For me, this happened when Australian physical preparation consultant and legend Ian King provided me the opportunity to become an entrepeneur.

I learned that while the majority of people are trained to be good workers, that there are multiple types of income and I should really be aware of all of them. For example, most income is earned - trading time for money. You stop working, and the money stops coming. Another form of income is passive income. We invested in a rental property, and we receive a profit each month as the tenants pay their rent - this is passive because we don't work to receive that income (we pay a property management company). There is also leveraged income. This means you amplify your gains from an effort. An example is writing a book. At the beginning, you are working hard and putting time into it. When the book is selling, however, your effort is leveraged - you could multiple to 1,000,000 sales and while your EFFORT doesn't increase, your PROFIT does. As Jim Rohn says, "profits are better than wages." There is also a concept of residual income - income that comes when you stop working. If you invest in a business and receive a dividend, for example, you are earning residual income.

So, having said that ...

1. What do you do?

What I want to! I coach others to good health, share pharmaceutical-grade supplements (multi-vitamins, etc.), and write for a living. I used to work for someone else - but now I am pursuing my own dreams. In fact, my family just bought a house in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We move this summer. I will be blessed to have the opportunity to take my daughter to school in the morning and pick her up after school, and play basketball with my son when I want to!

2. Do you like it?

I love it.

3. If money were not an issue, what would you do?

Money is not an issue. Money is a perception. We limit ourselves by allowing ourselves to think money is an issue.

For example, my wife and I wanted a home in South Dakota. We were not incredibly wealthy at the time, and had no funds to invest. But we truly wanted to create that standard of living for ourselves. So, we pursued that vision with a passion. We found that we could refinance our current home, take the payout, and use that as a downpayment on the South Dakota home, then rent our current residence to turn it into a passive income generator. So - we did not create new money where there was none, we simply pursued a passion and made it happen. I have seen this happen with people time and time again. If someone NEEDS money, they will create it. There are plenty of opportunities out there to be independently wealthy, people just don't pursue it with a passion - they don't empower themselves.

For example, in November of 2003 (just 4 months ago) I was working full time, dreaming about being my own boss. The only difference between then and now is that I decided to change. For things to change, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE. So I made that change - now I have put notice in at my job, have my dream home waiting for me to move into this summer, and am doing what I WANT to do - coaching others, through writing, making websites available, sharing healthy products, etc.

I really encourage you to tap into your greatest resource and potential - YOU. Your life is only limited by the size of your vision!

I have a page dedicated to the books and resources that helped me change my life - it is here:

http://www.naturalphysiques.com/cms/...id=75&catid=10

I also have a few works, such as Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich", available for viewing in eBook format - just drop me a line and I"ll set you up with the link.

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST! DON'T SETTLE FOR YOUR DREAMS - CREATE THEM!

Jeremy

[neckowi]

Originally Posted by GM Enthusiast

3. I've always wanted to work in the movie industry. In high school I started studying filmmaking, and there has never been a single subject I enjoyed more. When I was 17 I also became interested in what goes on in front of the camera. In college I was an extra in several films (no blockbusters, unfortunately). I even took a job at the theme park Universal Studios just so I could be closer to the industry. Ultimately that job didn't pay enough and that is when I started working with computers. I still look back and I know that Universal was by far the most enjoyable job I ever had. I'm a people person, so I fit in there perfect.

Can I live with you when I move out to LA? Just kidding.

1. Been with the same software company for 4 years. I've done tech support, testing, cd production, videography, management, and some programming.

2. No. I'm back in my home town, and I've already given notice. I'm quitting in July to drive around the country and figure out my life.

3. Travel, make films. I'm planning to move to Maryland to live with my friend who I started a production company with (see my signature) and write and make indie movies for a few years. Then it's hopefully off to Cali. If I had a ton of money, I would be a wanderer, and I plan to do that anyway. I've been at this job for too long because I was comfortable. It's easy, silly, and not for me anymore.

[BusyChild]

1. I'm not working right now but I am a software developer.

2. I enjoy it but I didn't like the company I worked for so when they offered me severence to leave I grabbed it.

On a side note, it was a horrible environment to work in where I was. I had a boss who didn't give a rats a** about anything including people working. As a result people were coming and going as they please doing whatever. I remember 2 guys who went to the gym 2 hours a day then came back and having lunch while surfing the web and chit chatting. They were in great shape when they got laid off.

3. I'd be a comedian.

[Sheepish]

1. What do you do?
I'm contracts manager for my family's civil engineering business. This involves labouring on site three or four days a week, with the rest of my time spent at home on paperwork (or lying around... ).

2. Do you like it?
Yes. First I've got to say there are downsides, especially if you don't like pain! Some of the work can be very physical but neither me or my dad have a problem with that. Anyway, we are a very small company (me and my dad are the only "full time" staff, although we have other men working for us on a site-to-site basis) so we can pretty much suit ourselves how we work. My dad is reaching retirement age (and is comfortable), and I don't have a family to support, so we're both happy with making a tidy profit rather than killing ourselves for a huge one.

Secondly, because we're so small we're flexible. The company has very few overheads, so we can take our time. For example, on a tarmac job me and my dad could spend three or four days preparing it at a real steady pace, and then on the day we're laying we would get extra men in and get it all done in a morning. Whereas a larger company with lots of men and plant would maybe have to get in there and do it in a day just to break even. So, you end up with us spending more time and care on a job then they would, while at the same time we charge the same or less. And we can do complicated, or physically harder jobs (by pacing ourselves on them) which larger companies won't consider. Which is why we're constantly turning work down!

And finally, I love the labouring aspect. I worked in an office when I first started recovering from my illness, and I was there for over a year and a half. It was fun, but when you're outside everyday, in a different place every week and meeting new people... there's no comparison. Plus, you go to bed tired. It's awesome, I never have any stress in my life, I never lay awake at night worrying about the next day, I never come home from work needing a drink (like I used to).

So, as I said, yeah I like it!

3. If money were not an issue, what would you do?
As little as possible? Seriously, if I had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my days without working, I wouldn't do much. Travel the more comfortable parts of the world, keep my eye out for a nice lass to settle down with, and buy lots of old British bikes to restore. Oh, and try and avoid dying..

[daveo]

1. What do you do?
I'm a college student (last semester!) and a full-time programmer/UNIX admin. I work out every day, and help my girlfriend with her reef aquarium.

2. Do you like it?
I like most of it. The current job isn't too much of a problem, the location is. San Diego is freaking expensive -- ask Andi! I've grown-up here, so I'm used to it.

3. If money were not an issue, what would you do?
Get drunk for a week. Then get drunk for a month. Then I'd get a Doctorate in something (probably not Comp Sci) and do the acadamia thing. While money's not directly an issue, it is a means to my ends. A fairly big means.

So if money weren't an issue, I'd probably keep doing what I'm doing. I'd go consulting instead of taking a full-time position though. That'd suit me juuuust fine.

[andi]

Originally Posted by daveo

San Diego is freaking expensive -- ask Andi!

Here, here. I've got a house out there I'm tryin' to sell. Anyone interested?

The price? Way more than is reasonable.

[Mahdimael]

Originally Posted by andi

Here, here. I've got a house out there I'm tryin' to sell. Anyone interested?

The price? Way more than is reasonable.

I hate you, San Diego. I've lived here all my life, and just recently had to move to Murrieta (1/2 hour north) to afford something.

Andi, how did you get started in voice acting for commercials? Do you have an agent, or are you your own?

[andi]

Originally Posted by Mahdimael

Andi, how did you get started in voice acting for commercials? Do you have an agent, or are you your own?

I work for Clear Channel Communications, and with the exception of occasional freelance gigs I work exclusively for them- no agent involved. I started 12 years ago as an intern at KGB through my college. (I have an associate's in communications). When my internship was up I weaseled my way into a crappy job running the board overnights for KGB and KPOP. Over time it became a not so crappy job and I was helping assemble commercials for the stations. Then they started letting me tag spots ("tonight at 8 on the WB!"), and finally full on voicing, editing, and producing of 60 second spots. I also hosted a radio show on KPOP for three years, did other on air work, station imaging, etc. After I got pretty good at voice work I started doing freelance stuff for video games and other radio clients, advertising just by my website (which no longer exists).

My voice is mainly only heard in Atlanta, occasionally still in SD, and every once in a while in other Clear Channel markets. It sounds weird, but over the last few years I've developed a good read for sex shops, strip clubs and the like, and people within the company have started asking for me on those types of spots. I suppose if I really wanted to I could hang an online shingle again and just offer that specific niche, but it's not important enough to me, and it's not really what I want to do anymore.

If you're not into going the radio route and you aren't capable of doing your own audio production, I would suggest hiring a pro to put together an incredible demo for you, getting an agent, and have them start hitting the streets. Southern California is a hard market to do it in though. Your other option is to try selling yourself, set up a site, advertise like crazy, and do all the work on your own. Don't rule out radio, tv, internet, or games- they're all viable options. So are audio books on tape, industrial films, on hold messages, and any other projects that need voices. And there are plenty of international options.

Depends on what you really want to do, how bad you want to do it, whether you really are good enough (have someone in the business listen to some of your work and give you an honest opinion), and what your "specialty" is. Straight read? Soft sell? Hard sell? Character? Impersonations? Whatever it is, capitalize on it.

[Mahdimael]

Thanks for the in-depth response! When I'm in my car, I practice different voices, as you've described (and reading various books on the subject- not in the car). I do get the occassional sidelong look when I'm yammering on about nothing in a British accent, or when I'm talking along with a commercial.

[Chopaholic]

Originally Posted by andi

I work for Clear Channel Communications,

the devil. andi works for satan.




*duck and cover*

[andi]

Originally Posted by Chopaholic

the devil. andi works for satan.

(it's true)

[Destiny]

1. I currently work in Investor Relations.
2. I like it sometimes. I enjoy certain aspects better of the job than others.
3. If money was no issue I would like to work for a non profit organization. Anything where I feel I am making a difference in someone's life. I wouldn't mind working with the elderly, disabled (physically or mentally), or working to prevent domestic abuse or animal abuse. I am currently working towards my degree so once I get it I hope to change my career path to something I feel better about on a daily basis.