[gvsulakerfan]

Obviously, a large majority of the members here are retired or of retirement age so I'm looking to you all for career tips/advice, since I'm getting close to 30 and getting incredibly bored with the day-to-day professional grind.

I have a great professional job, however, like I said, it is boring me to death. No excitement, no change from the norm. I think I'm looking to change careers or do something different.

How did you know when to change careers? What to do? I've always dreamed of owning my own business or working for myself (mostly because I seek the freedom to do what I want), however, I am lacking the one thing that would be necessary... a good idea (I know, minor detail).

Now I know that probably is not the way to go, but regardless, I don't know that what I'm doing is cutting it anymore, so maybe changing fields or something would work.

Now I'm just rambling, but I figure there is plenty of experience on these boards and in The Villages, and a lot of good stories to hear about. No doubt some/most of you found yourselves in the same position at some point... what did you do to change it?

[l2ridehd]

Going into business for yourself is the right answer at your age. However it has little to do with an idea and everything to do with skills. You need to know your market, your required skill sets and have an executable business plan. If your a computer programmer, maybe you can open a web hosting or design service but not an auto body shop. Stick to what you know, not what you think you want.

[pauld315]

I am pretty much in the same position as you. Just hit 30 years working for the same company with a good professional job that pays well but I am really bored and anxious to move on and get into retirement.

Unfortunately, I am only 57 and have a daughter who is a sophomore in college. I also have some problems associated with insurance coverage if I leave my job and just fully retire before I am 60.

I have a plan after I leave which is currently planned for 2013. It is very tough to keep working though when all I want to do is enjoy retirement at TV.

[mak44070]

Here's a link to a video that may give you 'inspiration'.

http://www.lessonsonsuccessmovie.com..._campaign=LOSC

Good luck in your search and hope you find your niche.

[graciegirl]

Would that be getting close to 30 years of age gvsulakerfan?

Not 30 years of work?

If you know how to do something and it is something that a lot of people want or need...like shoes, not pocket watches. Like hamburgers not snail sandwiches. Like tires for a car, not a doll carriage....and you do it or sell it and you do it better and longer each day than others and you do it with warmth and common sense, you will most likely be successful.

However..if you don't do your homework, and find out if there really is a need, (there are only a few dancewear stores and places that sell ski's for instance, even if you use a lot of dancewear and ski stuff, it isn't gonna work)...and if you call in sick, let someone else run it for you, don't get there on time, don't keep it clean and don't stay on top of things....than it won't work. You have to do it when you are sick of doing it and when you wish you could be doing something else.

Success is easy, if you work hard enough. That is if you want to make money. If you want to work for a smaller pay check for a good cause, it is still the same advice.

Help me down from this pulpit.

[Uptown Girl]

Just so I'm clear... are you approaching 30 years of age, or 30 years of being in the workplace?
I suppose it doesn't matter either way, my advice is the same:
( I was an independent contractor for 31 years, and also ran a successful business for the last 15 years. I retired one year ago.)

Major changes in employment should never be made without giving yourself the benefit of thinking and planning ahead. (means don't quit where you are now without something else already in place, or until your new endeavor is up and running.)

Develop a good understanding of all the pros and cons of being independent, and of being responsible for a business. Ask those who have their own business to educate you as to what it's really like.
A good business owner makes it look effortless. I assure you it is never effortless, and will always require your diligent attention.

Think of your future more than your immediate circumstances. (if indeed you ARE under 30 years old.) I was very successful in my endeavors. I made a reputable name for myself in a large city. I was good to my employees and paid my bills on time. In short, I made it work. And if I had a choice to do it over again?
I would get a secure job that was 9 to 5, with benefits, profit sharing, paid vacation, a retirement plan and someone else to worry about how to keep it all together. I'd get along with whomever, enjoy myself tremendously in my off hours, save my dough, retire with a smile and live happily ever after.

[Tom Hannon]

I entered my own business at 26 years old. Although I did okay but when you own the business, the business owns you. Be careful before you give up that job with the guarenteed pension and hospitization plan. Be prepared to be taxed to death (especially if you live in NY) Being self employed sounds impressive but I have many friends who end up having a better retirement package than I ended up with. Look before you leap.

[gvsulakerfan]

I'm close to 30 years old. Thanks for the feedback. I'm not looking exclusively at becoming self-employed, but perhaps just switching careers in general.

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Going into business for yourself is the right answer at your age. However it has little to do with an idea and everything to do with skills. You need to know your market, your required skill sets and have an executable business plan. If your a computer programmer, maybe you can open a web hosting or design service but not an auto body shop. Stick to what you know, not what you think you want.

I agree with this advice. One thing to consider is if you decide you want to start your own business. it might be prudent to do it on a part-time basis until it becomes profitable and you can switch over to it as your main source of income. That is assuming it is something you can do at home like a arts/crafts type business.

For a different job scenario - Evaluate your skill set and see what skills are transferable over to a change of careers. Soul searching will be required.

Best of Luck with your decisions. It' never easy.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by gvsulakerfan

I'm not looking exclusively at becoming self-employed, but perhaps just switching careers in general.

Maybe you have a set of skills that can evolve to something that's related to your current work yet aren't exactly the same thing. Back when dirt was just invented , my first endeavor out of college was in teaching computer "stuff" - programming, operations, etc. I left that after a few years.......got a job as a business systems analyst. That went through further related evolutions (different management levels) through a couple of different types of businesses...........then I got involved in the people management side of a business systems and technology company I was currently with. My day-to-day role was no longer directly involved in the technology but it was within a technology-based company. I really like that twist on things - it worked for me! Talk about hopscotchin' around through various careers! But to me, it all made perfect sense as they were all evolutions of what I was already involved in rather than quantum leaps into something totally different.

But for some, the quantum leap thing might make perfect sense. "Got a hunch - bet a bunch" type of mentality works for a lot of people. You know yourself better than anyone - decide what kind of route you feel would work best for you.

Further to the point already made by others re: properly running your own business (if you head down the self-employment path) - My perspective is that the businesses you see fail were either: a.) underfunded and/or ill-conceived, b.) were targeted to a need or a product that was not in demand (or were improperly marketed), c.) were not fundamentally operated properly, or d.) combinations of any of a.) through c.). Again, you need to be honest with yourself about what path to take. They all have their pluses and minuses.

JMHO

Bill

[rjm1cc]

I would start my business on a part time basis and when I felt it could support me more to full time. The security of having a job while you get the new ventrue going should not be over looked. You might be surprissed when you find out that your new boss wants you to work for little pay and 60 to 80 hours a week.
You also have to deceide if the problem is your profession or the company. If you like your profession and are not going to start a business on the side then start looking for a new position ASAP.

[scrapple]

Originally Posted by gvsulakerfan

I'm close to 30 years old. Thanks for the feedback. I'm not looking exclusively at becoming self-employed, but perhaps just switching careers in general.

It's excellent that you are thinking about your future at 30yo. For me, I was in a career that had a lot of diversity so I was seldom bored. Plus I liked what I did ("If you find a job you like you'll never work another day in your life"). I would recommend, though, that starting now, you sock away as much as you possibly can for retirement in various programs so that if able, you can access some of it in your 50's when it gets REALLY hard to work on a day-to-day basis and have enough to live on until you are in your whateverzies. Go talk to a financial planner. Good luck to you!!!

[Freeda]

I would recommend to you the materials of Robert Kiyosaki; there are many people who are mentors of those who are truly entrepreneurial, who want both time freedom and financial freedom, but I think that he is one of the best. Read his books, such as Rich Dad, Poor Dad, which is the book that changed my entire direction in life; his CD and/or other materials entitled 'The Perfect Business' and others. Also, read Robert Allen's works, such as 'Multiple Streams of Income.'

At age 52 I had been practicing law for over 26 years, and I had been self-employed in a private litigation practice all but the first year, and had a great income, the big house, etc, and thought that I 'had it all'. Then, on top of that (I definitely needed to have my head adjusted) started another business, a tanning and wellness salon, which I thought would be another residual income stream for retirement purposes; but where in fact I ended up babysitting teens (no disrespect to teens), placing orders for tanning lotions at 2 AM (after drafting, beginning at midnight, some legal document that was due that day), and worrying about equipment breakdowns that usually seemed to occur when I was out for dinner on Saturday night and the repair service was closed for the weekend.

It took Kiyosaki and others to show me the difference between being an owner of a small business, which, as others have indicated, is really just like owning a job - and yet with all of the struggle, headaches and responsibility that employees don't have - and moving, instead, into big business, which is defined, as the materials I have suggested will teach, as a business that produces a true residual income; and that's what it took to get me off what I came to see as the plantation, when I compared my quality of life with others in that industry, in how I earned an income. I found out at age 52 that, instead of 'knowing it all' (which we attorneys, unfortunately, sometimes suffer from believing that we do - at least, I had a tad of that in me) I really was, in reality, totally in the dark - clueless - about what would provide the true freedom, and yet security along with it, that I wanted; which was the freedom of owning my time, and yet still having income to be able to enjoy the free time.

The network marketing/direct selling industry was what provided that to me; there are in that industry many, many wonderful, respectable, and highly successful companies (such as Warren Buffet's Pampered Chef, as just one example; and Citibank, and many other 'traditional' companies, do a portion of their business through the direct selling business model - I am not associated with either of these examples) that provide high quality services and products are beneficial to mankind, and who attract fascinating, brilliant people; and then, also, some more ordinary, but teachable, people, like me.

I share this because I only wish that that information had been revealed to me in my teens or twenties, as I would have never gone to law school (even though law treated me well and I still hold the highest respect for that profession, so I mean no disrespect to my colleagues), or have considered doing anything else; when done right, it is the finest, purest, most professional, most ethical, and most noble form of free enterprise; where people get as much (or as little) as they truly pursue, deserve, create, and earn; and based on the strength of their self-discipline and their willingness to help others; which is how success should occur. No other business model on earth is as powerful, or as certain, in providing freedom.

I also don't think that work should feel, or be, hard; working smart, to me, is better; and means doing work that you love to do because it is your passion and is personally fulfilling, and that, most importantly, doesn't take alot of what is one of your most priceless commodities, which is your time. Practicing law, though I loved it, and believed in it, and I think I was pretty good at it, was always unmistakably hard and mentally grueling work, at least for me; and it consumed too many of my weekends.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by gvsulakerfan

Obviously, a large majority of the members here are retired or of retirement age so I'm looking to you all for career tips/advice, since I'm getting close to 30 and getting incredibly bored with the day-to-day professional grind.

I have a great professional job, however, like I said, it is boring me to death. No excitement, no change from the norm. I think I'm looking to change careers or do something different.

How did you know when to change careers? What to do? I've always dreamed of owning my own business or working for myself (mostly because I seek the freedom to do what I want), however, I am lacking the one thing that would be necessary... a good idea (I know, minor detail).

Now I know that probably is not the way to go, but regardless, I don't know that what I'm doing is cutting it anymore, so maybe changing fields or something would work.

Now I'm just rambling, but I figure there is plenty of experience on these boards and in The Villages, and a lot of good stories to hear about. No doubt some/most of you found yourselves in the same position at some point... what did you do to change it?

Hi gvsulakerfan,

How smart you are to reach out to people at the end of their career cycle for career advice, people who walked in your shoes and beyond, who made choices and know how they worked out.

After reading all the encouraging and excellent advice you have received, I almost feel bad about adding some words of caution. But I think some caution-- as well as encouragement-- is in order. So forgive me for adding to the already excellent advice you have received a few red flags:

• You mention that you are bored, but not why. Have you put your finger on it? If not, the grass may not be greener on the other side. Abraham Lincoln once said that, "most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be". I think, to some extent, boredom is like that too. Sometimes a conscientious attitude itself can alleviate bordom, an attitude that says, "I'm going to do an exceptional job today. I'm going to learn at least one new thing. I'm going to teach something I've learned to a colleague. I'm going to make a concerted effort to contribute to a positive work environment." Most of the times, proactively doing those things isn't boring. In other words, if your profession doesn't "generate" excitement and enthusiasm, can you make your own? If not, are you confident you can find it where you are going?
• There is no way around the fact right now that the economy and job market are as bad as they have been in my lifetime. With so many people out of work, businesses are failing at an accelerated rate. Being in a great professional job right now is, well, terrific. If you don't start your own business, please don't give it up without having something better and reasonably secure in hand.
• The notion that owning your own business or working for yourself gives you "the freedom to do what I want," often (not always) is more romanticism than reality. On the other hand, as others have said, if you can leverage your skills and expertise to offer a truly needed product or service and do it better than the competition, well, let's just say boredom is off the table and a happy, healthy work life and retirement can be realized.

You are doing the right things. Asking the right questions. Looking before you leap. I think you're going to do great! I'm rooting for you.

[ladylake1]

I moved here from a GREAT job in Pennsylvania. Had to work - too young to retire. Got a job working for county government. HATED it. Worked long enough at a MAJOR pay cut to get to retirement age. Couldn't wait to get out of there!!! Whatever you do, make it what you want to do. If you have the opportunity to try something you WANT to do, just go for it if it is a financial possibility. Stayed with the same occupational genre out of necessity. maybe not the answer to your post but MHO based on a dismal career choice.