Charles,
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At some point in your life, whether its at a time of formal change, like graduation, or just in general, you will realize that the job you work at now is no longer a job. It is part of something bigger. You cant just tell your boss, or coworkers to shove it, you worry about advancing and raises (and not just so you can buy a new do-dad) etc. You have to really look down the road. Not, I wonder if we're going to get screwed on raises again, or I wonder if they're going to bring Bob from department X in above me... but where do you want to be in 10 years.
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Believe me, that's my exact line of thinking. Right now I have total job stability, but my potential for advancement seems to be limited not by my abilities or work ethic, but by company policy and seniority. In the past, I've always excelled at things that I've tried (work related), as long as I could see it as a way to accomplish something. My problem now is that I know I could eventually move up through the ranks o my present company, slowly but surely, but for what? A 2% raise? If I could find something that would allow me to strike out on my own, it would be sink or swim. Of course that can be a very scary thought, but the idea of starting a business and growing it through my own hard work is something I've always dreamed about. My problem is I can see myself succeeding but I can't see what I'm succeeding at!
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Peter Gibbons: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you'd do if you had a million dollars and you didn't have to work. And invariably what you'd say was supposed to be your career. So, if you wanted to fix old cars you're supposed to be an auto mechanic.
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You forgot the best part! "Two chicks at the same time, man"
Scott,
I appreciate the reality check. I must say I wouldn't put all of my faith in a choice made by some web site, but it would be nice to have some fresh ideas thrown out there. I'm ready to go do the legwork to research different careers, to talk to people that are in whatever field I'm thinking about. I just need more ideas for what there is out there.
If I were to try and find a specialist in my area, where would I look? Any chance you could recommend a practice in the Cleveland area (either here or via PM)?
As for interests vs ability, I completely understand where you're coming from. Example: I'd love to move to Hollywood an become the next Jay Leno... a wildly successful, honest, car loving comedian. That's not going to happen, and I can accept that.
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you also don't want to "just try something" out and be in the same position ten years from now either.
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Which is why I'm so concerned about doing things right this time. With a family, a house, cars, bills, etc, things are a lot harder to change at this point in my life. If I'm going to go through the effort of making a career change, I'd better be sure about it.
Thanks for the thoughts, I really appreciate the depth of the replies around here!
-Brett.