Does your profession have to be your passion? (reaching life goals)

[Chamber36]

This might sound like an intellectual question - and I think it is - but sadly I do not know the answer, nor do I have a philosophy on it.

I would, however, shortly like to meditate on it, writing down my thoughts and seeing your reactions afterwards.

See, I study civil engineering. I've done all the curriculum, I'm about to do my minor in february and my internship next september.

I had my first internship talk last week though, and it all seemed perfect. He wants me to help him in september during the internship, perhaps on his project building a double-deck highway in Dhaka, the Capital city of Bangladesh, and he'd also advised me to look for a job in civil engineering before I start my minor in Feb, in order so that I may get more experience and roll straight into the internship from there. He could hook me up for the job.

So according to my teacher it seemed as though he was acting as an intermediate, who would be making money off of my labor. For example he may get 2/3 and I'd get 1/3. My teacher had sketched a situation he had seen: for example he'd seen two so-called engineers who did nothing but play foosball all day and drive around in Ferrari's because that's how they had outsourced all the work to their subordinates.

Sadly that sort of demotivates me.

Also, I am personally much more passionate about things like women, evolutionary biology, living a beautiful life and being a free man than I am interested in fvcking steel and concrete beams.

I do not want to work for some scam artist douchebag my whole life.

Then I see people like Donald trump for example. I know that he works in construction. But he does things much broader than just construction. He's interested in the finer things in life. He also runs hotels and restaurants. That sounds like something I'd like to do as well.

I just would like to know what route I would have to go to acheive a sense of freedom.

I'm 27 now. And I believe I should sketch an image of where I'd like to be 5 years from now.

I believe I'd still like to be single - however with plenty of girls to choose from - with a rolex on my wrist, with a nice car, possibly two cars (of which, 1 convertible for the summer), a big guarddog, a decent collection of clothes, and a handful of rifles, lol.

In order for that to happen I would probably have to move to the USA.

I do believe though, that a Civil Engineer from the Netherlands can make about 80 000 US as a starting salary on average per year in America.

So I do think those goals are all realistically acheivable. I just wonder. This is an aggravating time in my life when I'm about to step into the labor market and I don't know whether I can live the life I want.

Can I get you guys' advice?

 

[BlueAlpha1]

This might sound like an intellectual question - and I think it is - but sadly I do not know the answer, nor do I have a philosophy on it.

I would, however, shortly like to meditate on it, writing down my thoughts and seeing your reactions afterwards.

See, I study civil engineering. I've done all the curriculum, I'm about to do my minor in february and my internship next september.

I had my first internship talk last week though, and it all seemed perfect. He wants me to help him in september during the internship, perhaps on his project building a double-deck highway in Dhaka, the Capital city of Bangladesh, and he'd also advised me to look for a job in civil engineering before I start my minor in Feb, in order so that I may get more experience and roll straight into the internship from there. He could hook me up for the job.

So according to my teacher it seemed as though he was acting as an intermediate, who would be making money off of my labor. For example he may get 2/3 and I'd get 1/3. My teacher had sketched a situation he had seen: for example he'd seen two so-called engineers who did nothing but play foosball all day and drive around in Ferrari's because that's how they had outsourced all the work to their subordinates.

Sadly that sort of demotivates me.

Also, I am personally much more passionate about things like women, evolutionary biology, living a beautiful life and being a free man than I am interested in fvcking steel and concrete beams.

I do not want to work for some scam artist douchebag my whole life.

Then I see people like Donald trump for example. I know that he works in construction. But he does things much broader than just construction. He's interested in the finer things in life. He also runs hotels and restaurants. That sounds like something I'd like to do as well.

I just would like to know what route I would have to go to acheive a sense of freedom.

I'm 27 now. And I believe I should sketch an image of where I'd like to be 5 years from now.

I believe I'd still like to be single - however with plenty of girls to choose from - with a rolex on my wrist, with a nice car, possibly two cars (of which, 1 convertible for the summer), a big guarddog, a decent collection of clothes, and a handful of rifles, lol.

In order for that to happen I would probably have to move to the USA.

I do believe though, that a Civil Engineer from the Netherlands can make about 80 000 US as a starting salary on average per year in America.

So I do think those goals are all realistically acheivable. I just wonder. This is an aggravating time in my life when I'm about to step into the labor market and I don't know whether I can live the life I want.

Can I get you guys' advice?

I'm not in a position to advise you of what to do, but I can tell you I've been on both sides of this debate, which are as follows.

Position 1: "Quit your job, follow your dreams, and the money will follow!"
This is stupid advice, because 90% of the population will have dreams that can and will never be profitable. If your passion is collecting stamps, it's going to be hard to make $50,000 per year doing that for a few decades. A lot of people, myself included, tried this blindfolded and ended up back in Corporate America for another round. It's also dangerous because people are gullible and buy into this sort vague, empty rah-rah talk that "life coaches" put out in their self-help books.

HOWEVER, understanding this is not an endorsement of the following position.

Position 2: "Be grateful you have a job, show up and pursue your dreams in your spare time!"
This is stupid advice, because over 75% of the population despise their jobs, & the work-life balance in this country is far too tilted towards work. With some it's so bad its causing physical ailments. People don't sleep or eat right, have terrible posture, and have stress and anxiety to the point of panic attacks and depression. Life is WAY too short for this. This is outdated advice normally from out of touch Baby Boomers who don't understand most "real jobs" won't be around in 30 years anyway. And neither will the retirement safety nets they had.

So what is the answer? I don't know exactly. Still trying to find this out. Probably a variation of the two, but with obvious hopes that you can make #1 work in the end. Maybe your dream brings in SOME money but not enough to survive, so you work part time elsewhere to supplement that income. Maybe you work your way into a 9-5 in the field you love, if you are not cut out to start your own company. Despite all the negatives of 9-5 you enjoy the work itself.

I currently work for a Fortune 10 company making a modest base salary, but have the potential to earn an extra 3-4k per month in commissions. Every month. It has great benefits and offers free tuition up to and including a Masters program, which I'm enrolled in for January. On paper, I have it made. But I'm not likely to stay more than another month. I can't stand it. I hate the set schedule, micromangement, office politics, and total lack of work-life balance. My dream is to travel the world and make a living remotely. I'd rather be an entrepreneur, but even if I have to work for a company that allows me to produce just by providing my own internet and phone, then I can do it while I travel. And work and play don't have to work against each other - I work while I play.

Travel is what makes me feel alive, and masculine because I'm living my dream of seeing new cities and cultures and meeting amazing people. The current concept of work-life balance in the USA does not allow me to enjoy this often. It's 50 weeks on, 2 weeks off. PLUS the constant demand for overtime. For what? So I can make $70,000 a year and chase the next new item, but only have 20% of my waking life to enjoy it. F*ck that.

I'm also 27. My goal in 5 years is to have traveled to 3 additional continents and about 20 countries, and most of the USA as well. A Rolex and nice car would be nice and all, but if I'm in good health, have fvcked a dozen foreign girls and managed to escape 9-5 for the long haul, that's damn near good enough for me.

@Tenacity is usually good about this sort of thing. Ask him.

 

[taiyuu_otoko]

Internships are all like that. Low pay. The idea is you get experience and somebody else gets free labor. It won't last for your whole life.

I wouldn't worry about the internship. No matter WHAT career you choose, the first few years are not where the money's at.

As far as after, (e.g. five years from now) how would it feel living in a decent city with a decent income, as a civil engineer, with a couple hours free at night and weekends?

The idea of "follow your passions and the money will follow" is unfortunately NOT TRUE for the vast majority of people, as the vast majority of people have passions that are of little value to others. Many people love painting, but they'd be hard pressed to make a living at it.

If you WERE to make a living from your passions, it would take at least a DECADE before you were earning the same amount of of $$. Evolutionary biologists are usually tenured profs with DECADES of experience.

I'd just stick with civil engineering, (unless you can't stand it) and work on your passions during the off hours, with an eye on shifting into your passions (or something passion related) once you have enough saved or maybe think of a couple other ways of earning money. Maybe give yourself a 10 year deadline before you become a developer or something.

Just suck it up and see the year or two as an intern as your entrance fees or something.

ALSO, with Trump pres, (and if even if he weren't) there's going to be a ton spent on "infrastructure' in the U.S. in the next decade (e.g. helicopter money) so you're getting in at a good time.

 

[sodbuster]

Here's the thing, You don't jump up to Trump level, you need to have a stair step at a time up the staircase. The Civil Engineering job is just a way to pay your bills and get you some knowledge. If your job bothers you, ask how not eating feels..... Keep it and look for another one that furthers where you want to go. Take the necessary classes to move to the next level and get there. Then the next.The key is to know where the he11 you want to go. Most never figure that out and sit stuck in the same job for 40 years.... I'm not a great example, because I've got 31 in. BUT, I'll be able to retire in a year if I feel like it....

Trump worked in his dad's construction company as a kid. Went to Wharton College, studied business and took additional classes in his interests in construction. THEN he built a company. Now at age 70, it looks like he's got it made, but he worked his ass off to get there. He CAN get bank loans to do the projects that interest him because he's got the track record to prove he can build. You and I? we'd get bupkis from the Banks

 

[narcissist]

It does not have to be (it is not necessitated). But it should/ought to be, if you plan on living a fulfilling life, simply in light of the fact that you will spend 40 hours per week working for 50 years of your only life.

 

[Alvafe]

problem is you are seeing what people like trump is now, after they hit big and are full of money, just remember his age, plus trump in his case had a nice start up with things of his father did.

so what you need to understand is, check the market your teacher is giving you a good oportunity? that is you to realiza if is or not, if you are top of your class, and you belive he is trustworthy he can just trying to help, I know some people never think about it but consider the character of that person and if you can or not can trust then, also undertands you can trust people with some things you don't to others even though you belive they are trustworthy. after you decide what he is trying to do is good or not for you (if he is offering to you you can bet is good for him so lets ignore this part for now), its common that on where you live? how is the norm and the worse (don't ever consider the best its too rare to happen and if its too good to be true then most it is).

after all that make a plan, if you need money now to later start a thing you want or to pay for a scholarship so you can learn to do what you really want do it, sometimes you need to take the fight for what it is and go head on, try to survive then you can fall back and start to make a better plan, also understand any plan you do will fail if you don't adapt to what you are getting

 

[Bible_Belt]

Trump worked in his dad's construction company as a kid. Went to Wharton College, studied business and took additional classes in his interests in construction. THEN he built a company. Now at age 70, it looks like he's got it made, but he worked his ass off to get there. He CAN get bank loans to do the projects that interest him because he's got the track record to prove he can build. You and I? we'd get bupkis from the Banks

You kinda glossed over the part where Trump's dad handed him countless millions of dollars to get started. There's no upward mobility in that story, just rich people having rich kids. If you're not born into money, the odds are, it's never going to happen.

 

[GoodOne123]

The problem with having your passion as your profession, is that your passions change.

The same way your thoughts change over the years, so do your passions. Do you have the same interests 10 years ago as today? Probably not. So even if you pick your profession as your passion, there's no guarantee that you will stay passionate about it a few years down the line, and you're back to square one.

Also, your passion may not be so enjoyable when put into a working environment. For example, you may enjoy playing guitar when and where you want, and think it's your passion, but as soon as you work for a company you will have to play and rehearse on a set schedule, and do boring recording sessions. Will you still like it then?

I believe the trick is to do something meaningful, to society and to the world. Something significant, like inventing something, building skyscrapers, or selling a useful book. That way, you will feel fulfilled always. The reason why is that you are doing things that benefit the progression of humanity, rather than purely benefit yourself.

You're on the right track in my opinion. You are a civil engineer. You will contribute to the buildings and infrastructure of tomorrow, which will positively effect the lives of many, even after you die.

 

[speed dawg]

I think you should try and pattern your career choice after what your natural talents are, not necessarily your passion. Over time, you'll start to enjoy things you are good at.

I do believe though, that a Civil Engineer from the Netherlands can make about 80 000 US as a starting salary on average per year in America.

Yeaaaaaah, no. 40-45K tops. Consider me in the know.

 

[BlueAlpha1]

It does not have to be (it is not necessitated). But it should/ought to be, if you plan on living a fulfilling life, simply in light of the fact that you will spend 40 hours per week working for 50 years of your only life.

The best summing up of work/life balance I've ever heard. In two sentences. Well done.