Comments on: How to choose a career to get the lifestyle you want http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:26:50 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Oliver Jenks http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-222296 Oliver Jenks Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:34:37 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-222296 I think that most young employees tend to under value balance in their lives. I know that when I was younger I could work 6 day weeks up to 70 hours as a restaurant manager. Now I have a family and there isn't enough money to get me to go back to that lifestyle and it was a lifestyle. I remember when I told my last boss that I couldn't work the hours anymore, and he looked at me like I was crazy! I knew that while I loved the business I couldn't sacrifice my family just for the money. Thank you for allowing this comment, I recognize that its late but your post is as relevant today as it is when it was written. Everyone needs balance. Thank you for your work. Oliver I think that most young employees tend to under value balance in their lives.
I know that when I was younger I could work 6 day weeks up to 70 hours as a restaurant manager.
Now I have a family and there isn't enough money to get me to go back to that lifestyle and it was a lifestyle.
I remember when I told my last boss that I couldn't work the hours anymore, and he looked at me like I was crazy!
I knew that while I loved the business I couldn't sacrifice my family just for the money.

Thank you for allowing this comment, I recognize that its late but your post is as relevant today as it is when it was written. Everyone needs balance.
Thank you for your work.
Oliver

]]> By: No need to turn hobbies into a career « Brian Heys http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-217343 No need to turn hobbies into a career « Brian Heys Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:34:55 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-217343 [...] Penelope Trunk (blog.penelopetrunk.com) One of the most liberating moments in career planning is to realize that you don’t have to get [...] [...] Penelope Trunk (blog.penelopetrunk.com) One of the most liberating moments in career planning is to realize that you don’t have to get [...]

]]> By: No need to turn hobbies into a career (quote) « Brian Heys http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-217342 No need to turn hobbies into a career (quote) « Brian Heys Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:30:25 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-217342 [...] Penelope Trunk (blog.penelopetrunk.com) One of the most liberating moments in career planning is to realize that you don’t have to get [...] [...] Penelope Trunk (blog.penelopetrunk.com) One of the most liberating moments in career planning is to realize that you don’t have to get [...]

]]> By: alicia http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-209803 alicia Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:04:24 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-209803 Your advice that you don't have to get paid for doing your "passion" at work offers a sense of relief for me. I have not heard this kind of perspective anywhere else before and it's refreshing. I agree that forcing yourself to choose a passion that is ALSO your career is extremely frustrating, and probably impossible for some people (or most?). The only thing I worry about is...say you're the kind of person who hasn't "gotten out much" and has very little work experience. Do you have a complete personality type that is just waiting to be tapped into? Or is your personality incomplete because you haven't exposed yourself to what you like to do and what you don't like to do (this is my situation)? I've taken these kinds of career tests before, and then when I review the results for my "ideal careers", I am unsure about whether or not they actually reflect my strengths and interests. Mostly because I don't even know what they are. For example...you could say that you love fixing things in a career test. Then when you actually get a job in PC repair, you realize that you hate it. Would you change your answers the next time you took that same career test? Your advice that you don't have to get paid for doing your "passion" at work offers a sense of relief for me. I have not heard this kind of perspective anywhere else before and it's refreshing. I agree that forcing yourself to choose a passion that is ALSO your career is extremely frustrating, and probably impossible for some people (or most?).

The only thing I worry about is…say you're the kind of person who hasn't "gotten out much" and has very little work experience. Do you have a complete personality type that is just waiting to be tapped into? Or is your personality incomplete because you haven't exposed yourself to what you like to do and what you don't like to do (this is my situation)? I've taken these kinds of career tests before, and then when I review the results for my "ideal careers", I am unsure about whether or not they actually reflect my strengths and interests. Mostly because I don't even know what they are.

For example…you could say that you love fixing things in a career test. Then when you actually get a job in PC repair, you realize that you hate it. Would you change your answers the next time you took that same career test?

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-918 Penelope Trunk Sun, 20 Aug 2006 14:37:14 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-918 AJ, I love your comment. It makes me think there are two trends about to happen (happening already?): 1. People will move out of big cities because big cities limit people to career paths that pay well enough for expensive-city housing. 2. An entrepreneurial boom in small cities where people will need to create their own dream jobs in order to get out of the big city and still have fulfilling work. AJ, I love your comment. It makes me think there are two trends about to happen (happening already?):

1. People will move out of big cities because big cities limit people to career paths that pay well enough for expensive-city housing.

2. An entrepreneurial boom in small cities where people will need to create their own dream jobs in order to get out of the big city and still have fulfilling work.

]]> By: AJ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-917 AJ Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:51:54 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-917 Dave, can I just say, Amen Brother! I bought the book "I Don't Know What I want to Do, But I Know It's Not This," which is filled with sort of "get to know yourself" tests. And once, my employer had a workshop where all of us managers did the very famous personality test psychologists use so we could know how to be more effective. All I have to say is, Big Whoop. Knowing yourself and knowing what kind of job makes you happy is great if you live in NYC or L.A. where there are tons of employers to choose from. But for those of us who don't live in a city, particularly small towns with few employers, options are very limited unless you want to open your own business. So I think Penelope is right in her subsequent post, it's more about figuring out which things to sacrafice, and which are most important. Dave, can I just say, Amen Brother!

I bought the book "I Don't Know What I want to Do, But I Know It's Not This," which is filled with sort of "get to know yourself" tests. And once, my employer had a workshop where all of us managers did the very famous personality test psychologists use so we could know how to be more effective.

All I have to say is, Big Whoop.

Knowing yourself and knowing what kind of job makes you happy is great if you live in NYC or L.A. where there are tons of employers to choose from. But for those of us who don't live in a city, particularly small towns with few employers, options are very limited unless you want to open your own business.

So I think Penelope is right in her subsequent post, it's more about figuring out which things to sacrafice, and which are most important.

]]> By: Jasmine http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-916 Jasmine Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:09:54 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-916 It was very good summary from you Penelope. Just want to add that while it's very important for us to realize that no one and no job can meet all our needs, I reckon we should at the same time remind to ouselves that this applies to each of us as well - meaning probably as a partner and/or employee we also have rooms to improve.... It was very good summary from you Penelope. Just want to add that while it's very important for us to realize that no one and no job can meet all our needs, I reckon we should at the same time remind to ouselves that this applies to each of us as well – meaning probably as a partner and/or employee we also have rooms to improve….

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-915 Penelope Trunk Thu, 17 Aug 2006 04:25:57 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-915 What great comments these are! I sense a theme: A job is like a boyfriend/girlfriend in that it is always disappointing. I mean, no one can meet all our needs, and no job can meet all our needs. I think one of the reasons that being married and finding the right job are two of the hardest parts of adult life is that they are both inherently disappointing. They both require us to give up some stuff that we wanted. The trick, in doing both tasks successfully, I think, is knowing yourself well enough to know what you can give up. What great comments these are! I sense a theme: A job is like a boyfriend/girlfriend in that it is always disappointing. I mean, no one can meet all our needs, and no job can meet all our needs. I think one of the reasons that being married and finding the right job are two of the hardest parts of adult life is that they are both inherently disappointing. They both require us to give up some stuff that we wanted. The trick, in doing both tasks successfully, I think, is knowing yourself well enough to know what you can give up.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-914 Dave Wed, 16 Aug 2006 16:02:16 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-914 Sorry to double post, but I could not resist after following that link to the personality test. Personality tests are useless. I have known that I am an INTJ all my life and while it is entertaining to read about what a great type that is, it doesn't really do anything to help me figure out what to do with my life, how to get out of the job I hate and still provide for my family. Sorry to double post, but I could not resist after following that link to the personality test. Personality tests are useless. I have known that I am an INTJ all my life and while it is entertaining to read about what a great type that is, it doesn't really do anything to help me figure out what to do with my life, how to get out of the job I hate and still provide for my family.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/comment-page-1/#comment-913 Dave Wed, 16 Aug 2006 15:55:06 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/08/16/how-to-choose-a-career-to-get-the-lifestyle-you-want/#comment-913 Sounds like a great idea...and I don't mean that in an entirely cynical way...but it is hard enough to find rewarding work, let alone have it be flexible to allow you to have a life, AND have it pay enough money to afford to live in the Boston suburbs and raise a family. When you reach a six-figure income and are breakeven month-to-month, it makes flexibility a real challenge. Sounds like a great idea…and I don't mean that in an entirely cynical way…but it is hard enough to find rewarding work, let alone have it be flexible to allow you to have a life, AND have it pay enough money to afford to live in the Boston suburbs and raise a family. When you reach a six-figure income and are breakeven month-to-month, it makes flexibility a real challenge.

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