I really, really want to avoid being 25 and working a job making 10/hr. I just seem to know way to many people who are at that age and have done nothing or my age and doing nothing. I can't say I am that great even though I do go to school. I haven't worked in a year, I don't need to because I have money but I miss working. I am almost 22 and I really want to get a job making 12/hr, no more then 30 hours a week because of school but I can't seem to find anything really that does not require some type of cert or skill. My last job I made 8.50 an hour and it really felt like I was making nothing at all. I was not making enough to save up or anything and the pay cap was at 14/hr and that was after years of being there.

I still live at home, not that I can't aford to move out. It is just that if I move out I want the money I make to support me and not the money I have to support me.

Also, I just don't feel getting threw school will do it for me. I need more then that. I need something in between a degree and while I am going to school. Not just to go to school everyday and come home do a little homework and **** around. I want my whole day to be used up and not mess with my grades. I like to work and do things, I can even stand to sit around and play wow anymore because it seems like such a waste of time.

I am just so worried because it seems like so many people just end up doing nothing besides working at some bull**** job for the rest of their lifes. I highly doubt that is what most of them want but clearly it happens.

I am even going to start taking ADD meds again to see if that changes things. It is just when I get a bull**** midless job I become depressed after being their for a few months and hate going in more then anything.

What is it to be successful? Lots of money, being Happy, family, waking up and working on something you believe in, making a difference...... I guess what defines success can be different for everyone.

You are right, many people wake up every day, go to work, put in their 8 yours, come home, watch t.v, then go to bed. Finding something you enjoy to do, and make money doing it, that's got to be the definition of professional success. I think the be all and end all is happiness. If you collect aluminium cans for a living and are happy doing this, that's success.:)

what about volunteer work? there is so much fulfilling work to be done in this world for people who cannot afford to pay someone to do it. tutoring, building houses, and so much more that can be really fulfilling and meaningful. i hope you can find what makes you happy:)

Not being scared of failure, that leads to success. It's what you do after you fail that matters. Believe me, everyone fails from time to time. Learning from your mistakes and moving on is the key.

Start by thinking and talking about what you DO want instead of what you don't want.

When you say you don't want to work for $10/hr that leaves open infinite possibilities. If you focus on not getting $10/hr then you'll end up there. Focus on what you want and ask what you can do to get it.

You need to narrow your focus to what you want so there is only one possibility. If you want to work for $25/hr with paid vacations and performance bonuses--then that is what you should think and talk about doing.

When you think and talk about what you DO want it also becomes crystal clear you don't want anything else.

Put simply--you get what you focus on most and everyday ask "What can I do to get closer to my goal of ___________?" Fill in the blank with what you WANT.

I can comiserate. It sucks not knowing where you'll end up. I'm happy I got past that stage. But opportunities of all kinds will arise, and sometimes you make your own opportunities by meeting a friend of a friend, or by moving to a new town. Focus on finishing school and stuff will open up.

And remember, you create your own luck.

Tiak,

Ask yourself what is more important...

Making a 'profuse' amount of 'income'.

Or Happiness.


And then ask yourself:

How am I able to make income *doing* what I am profusely happy *doing*.

The answer will NOT 'materialize' immediately.


But when it does...


Ask your self:

Am I willing to *do* what I WILL to make my self Happy ?



Money and Happiness are not ALWAYS partners.
Some *Time*, they are.


If you choose the correct path.
Within your Heart.

I sort of understand where you're coming from...i have a great need for purpose in my life...i don't like feeling like i'm just drifting and life passes you by without you accomplishing much.
Anyone else feel that there REALLY should be a purpose to their existence?

I'm in this situation now, where I make enough to cover my bills, but I'm not feeling fulfilled.
Right now, I have a position of authority, but some people around me with less education and time, have been allowed to have power (say so) over me.
I don't just do my 8hrs and come home to watch tv, go to bed, and get up to do it all again.
I walk when I get home, I have several forums I'm on, where I (and others like you) share ideas, dreams, and problems, and on occasion I find something I want to see on tv (I have my favs) and watch it.
But I've also bought a book to read, to brush up on my management skills, newest techniques, etc.
My definition of success, is having a job where I can pay my bills, and have money (savings) in the bank.
I don't quite have that yet, despite having a college degree, and 19yrs at the same place (gov't).
In a year or so I will have it, with no problems.
When I do, will I be fulfilled?
I will have money, lots of it.
This is not to say I will NEVER be successful, it just takes time.
And your definition of success is how YOU define it, not your friends, parents, etc.
Those "friends" you mention that have a lot of things, might have more debt than you know.
I knew people back when I was your age, that had the same thing.
Now they are in debt because of their lifestyle and wanting everything.
I on the other hand, only owe on a house and a car, which is the norm.
And, this car is the second new one I've had.
I've paid cash for 12 of the 14 I've owned.
There's a sense of pride in paying something because you have the money.
Like so many have said here, find something that you can make money at, that you kind of enjoy.
That's life, is you can do that.
Find something you enjoy doing that makes you money.
That's a gift IMHO!

Well I know what life style I want and clearly I need a job that pays enough to support that life style. Not only that America is becoming where there is only rich and poor and I don't plan on being poor. Right now, I am not that concerned with making a ton of money but I just need a decent job to pay off my car while I go to school. My last job I only made like 8k a year and that was not really enough to pay off my car. I had enough to pay my bills and go see a movie on the weekend. My goals require at the moment I make 10 an hour or more, 12-15hr would be great.

well, it's hard for me to relate if your goals are limited to dollars per hour. If you find a thing that sparks your passion, that would be the thing to do. But it looks to me like all you're interested in is what it pays; you will most likely need to go to some sort of school, since you don't have an inner genius spark driving you to do... whatever. And it looks like it doesn't matter what, because you don't seem to convey any particular interest in anything, so just find a thing that pays well and learn to do it. Reality bites sometimes; unless you win the lottery or stumble into some celebrity who takes a liking to you and makes you part of her entourage, you gots to pay some dues. I don't mean to seem harsh, because I've been through the lost feeling you're describing. And the only way out is to dig in and do some hard work.

What are you taking in school Tiako? When you graduate, do you plan on looking for work that relates to your degree?

I do understand how you feel... I've gone through a few periods where I was lost, confused, worrying about money, feeling like I was taking one wrong turn after the other.

You are so young at 22 my dear. I didn't even start post-secondary until I was 23, I'm 28 now and I'm still there, and will be there for a while yet. I'm a researcher. And I LOVE it. I would hope that you love what you're studying in school too.

If I can give you any advice, it would be to focus on your education, and try to get the most out of your college experience (and not just academically). Enjoy it! Have fun with it. There'll be plenty of time for working. ;)

IMHO, a max. of 30 hours a week is far too many hours to be putting into a part time job while going to school. Perhaps if only taking 2 classes a semester then maybe one can pull that off, but it takes a long time to earn a degree that way. I work about 15-20 hours a week and it's too much. But I need the money. I'm paying for my education on my own.

Have you thought about waitressing part time? It's great for students because shifts are often short and fast paced, and if you're good at what you do, you can make OK money in a short amount of time. Sure, base wage is minimum, but gratuities sure are nice!

Another option is Co-operative education if your school offers such a program. Great way to get experience in your field of interest. When you graduate it will give you an edge to already have some work experience in a particular area.

I hope you find something that works for you. Other posters above have offered some good advice. Think about what you like to do, if it pays well, then fantastic! Good luck to you.

I suppose 30 years after I left school I'm finally having enough of a glimmer of selfawareness to realise its not what you do but who your with that makes the difference.

I'm also learning alot more about my strengths and weaknesses...and trying to play to my strengths. It's also important to realise that you can take time deciding where to go... just rushing into university at age 18 isn't always the best thing....I did that, enjoyed the course....but found the "professional" jobs waaaay to constraining and ran smack into all my ADD weaknesses.....!

Now I have a portfolio of skills and successes, my life had been filled with intense experiences.....not many of them highly paid, not all of them pleasant.

When I tried to be "logical" about career progression.....wooooow then I came unstuck bigstyle, depression, relationship problems the works....and looking back....the more I earned the more of a prat I was.....(fairly universal I now believe though as with all rules there are exceptions that prove it....lol.)

If you have ADD like issues like me then I would think the last thing you want to be doing is thinking that the decisions you make now re training and career are the ones you have to live with for the rest of your life.

For me now....I need a stimulating short term project with defined goals and delivery date. I need a work partner I trust and respect to advise me and do some of the admin and people stuff....(think smart streetwise PA). I also need to be workng for the good of others, and by that I don't mean the good of a bunch of fatcat corporates.

Then you have to measure success...if you've mixed up close with the wealthy, successful and beyond.....you'll know that many of them are unhappy or unpleasant and many of the very wealthy are plain sociopathic, so money is not a measure of success.

Success......enjoying most of your time on this earth, not all...because one needs a bit of contrast! Being respected for who you are and what you do by people who's judgement you, in turn, respect.


PS Nelson Mandela earned way less then 10 bucks an hour for most of his life!

Honestly, one thing I really really wanted to do is own my on business in Auto Detailing. It is really big in FL but it does have a really high fail rate. Not only that businesses don't even start to make money for quite sometime. I made business cards but I think the name I picked would get me sued due to copyright. Something like this is so hard to get off the groud especially for someone like. Most people just think I am some punk college kid with soap and bucket of water and want to charge them to move it around on there car then rinse it off. That is not the case at all true auto detailing is an art you can make a 10 year old car look new. It is so much more then just soap and water.

Look at my car, it is 7 years old. Can you not post pics, just links?


http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m315/EliteLamer/Picture0435.jpg

If that's what you want to do then you don't have to jump into business ownership immediately. Why not get a job at a successful autodetailer and learn everything you possibly can about that industry? Do it for a few years and when you feel you know the ins-and-outs, find an investor you can convince to back you and with a few smart, loyal, and trustworthy people you can do it yourself and succeed. Consider taking some business/marketing classes while you're in school, as well as other classes that might be relative, such as graphic arts/design, etc. If that's what you really want to do...

Well most auto detailers don't have hired help. The companies that have hired help are not really auto detailers. They are but they sucked, usually they run the car threw a machine then have kids dry it off with a rag and spray some tired shine on. You are trained to do it as fast as possible. The work is not quailty. What I would want to do is work for a true auto detailer but usually they don't hire people because they don't want people to steal their secrects and take off on them.

If you want to do it.......do it and as metamonkey says......let someone else take the financial burn to train you up......and do a few in your backyard in the evenings and weekends...... Do that for a year at least then see if you still want to spend every waking hour thinking autodetailing.......above all work out WHY it has a really high fail rate...once you've got that sussed in detail you'll be ready to start.

By the way as you become successful you won't be doing the work, you'll be telling others what to do...and some of them will head off to set up themselves. You'd be making a classic mistake trying to start in a business with lots of startup competition without having done time at the coalface.

what is autodetailing anyway???

shoot, that sounds like a terrific business, if you like that sort of work. But the reality is that you'll need to slog along for a while not making much money, until you build a reputation for yourself, and word of mouth spreads, if you're good. But I can't help feeling like you expect it all to come easily; maybe I'm reading you wrong, but that's what I'm getting off your posts. If I'm wrong about that, please forgive me, I don't mean to be overly Mom-ish, here. But I've needed a long time to learn for myself what my own success requires, and it was needing more than I was putting into it, until about fifteen years ago. And learning that at the age of 30 is better than learning it at 40, but not as good as getting it at 20, and I wish I'd caught onto it sooner.

If this will make you money, then do it.
But as some have said (I might have said it in my post as well), make sure you have alternate income.
In Memphis, usually that's dope/drugs.
You certainly don't want anything to do with that scene!
You could keep the job you have now, and try this business on the side at first.
That way, you have money coming in to eat with, and money to invest with.
Then build your hobby into a business, if that's what you want to do.
Age is important.
When I was in my 20's, I got into a hobby that I will do for the rest of my life.
I wish I could have turned my hobby (Streetrodding) into a business, but I didn't have the money, or the complete skills to do so.
I've been detailing since 1985, mostly on my own cars, and my families cars.
It's very rewarding, and if you can make money at it, good for you.
It's easy to go to a job that you enjoy.
*If you don't know, Streetrodding is the hobby of taking a pre 1949 car/truck, and putting a modern engine, wiring system, etc in to it.
You can leave the original engine in it if you want to, if you can get parts for it. But it's about modern equipment, to make the car safer.
Mine is a 1929 Essex 2 door, 5 passenger car.
327 v-8, 325 hp, in a car that weighs 2800 pounds.
It's very fast!

I have been reading a ton and it looks like no matter what I do I should get as much education as possible. I should really aim for a Masters in something. When I am older I would like to be upper middle class. Not just because of the money but studies show that upper middle class just in general are more happy because of the amound of freedom they have.

What is it to be successful? Lots of money, being Happy, family, waking up and working on something you believe in, making a difference...... I guess what defines success can be different for everyone.

You are right, many people wake up every day, go to work, put in their 8 yours, come home, watch t.v, then go to bed. Finding something you enjoy to do, and make money doing it, that's got to be the definition of professional success. I think the be all and end all is happiness. If you collect aluminium cans for a living and are happy doing this, that's success.:)
I have to agree with nzkiwi.... I work 10 hours a day 5 days a week and love my job, I work at a metal finishing plant making a little less then $11.00 hr.

i was just posting to see if this was possible: since the good detailers don't want to hire usually, maybe you can try to fluff up a detailer whose work you admire and offer to work for free, thus creating your own internship of sorts. then in the meantime, take business classes at the JC and do a job that'll pay the bills. maybe you might get a job out of it :)

If this will make you money, then do it.
But as some have said (I might have said it in my post as well), make sure you have alternate income.
In Memphis, usually that's dope/drugs.
You certainly don't want anything to do with that scene!
You could keep the job you have now, and try this business on the side at first.
That way, you have money coming in to eat with, and money to invest with.
Then build your hobby into a business, if that's what you want to do.
Age is important.
When I was in my 20's, I got into a hobby that I will do for the rest of my life.
I wish I could have turned my hobby (Streetrodding) into a business, but I didn't have the money, or the complete skills to do so.
I've been detailing since 1985, mostly on my own cars, and my families cars.
It's very rewarding, and if you can make money at it, good for you.
It's easy to go to a job that you enjoy.
*If you don't know, Streetrodding is the hobby of taking a pre 1949 car/truck, and putting a modern engine, wiring system, etc in to it.
You can leave the original engine in it if you want to, if you can get parts for it. But it's about modern equipment, to make the car safer.
Mine is a 1929 Essex 2 door, 5 passenger car.
327 v-8, 325 hp, in a car that weighs 2800 pounds.
It's very fast!
That's awesome. I often dream about retiring and then going to motorcycle mechanics' school and just fixing bikes in a dealership for the next 15 years. What could be more fun, especially if you've already made the money you need!

Yeah, that whole money thing is a problem.
I'm finding that out working in gov't! :rolleyes:
I MAY be retired by the time I get the money to finish my car.
It needs a total repaint, interior, and some mechanical things.
I estimate $10000 total, but that's money I don't have right now.

I would say that I love my life the way it is right now. As a kid I never would of thought in a million years that I would as sucessful as I am today. Even though I don't make a million a year I still make enough that I can afford my own house on my own, work and excell at my job being ta the same place for 10 years. What more can I ask for.

I don't know if I can say that money does not make me happy. Money is a must in this day and age and without money I can't be happy, beuase I can't pay my bills, I can't be happy becuase I can't eat and if I can't eat I will lose my health if I lose my health I won't be happy. But in another presepective if you think in terms of money can by me things so thats what will make me happy then thats just the wrong way to go about it. I live life one day at a time, and I'm happy then sad then angry then mad, to me does not matter as long as I love my life and its in the right direction. The fact that I have ADHD only makes me a happier person becuase I deal with the everyday symptoms of ADHD and still manage to live a good happy life. Which is more then I can say for most people in this world who don't have ADHD.

I think it is great that you are at the age you are to question these things. Yet, there is the difference between thinking and acting on it. It is not realistic to think you can get paid higher wages with beginner's age, knowledge, experience or skills. It is not comparing yourself to others versus what are you willing to do to get from point A to point B.

You have the advantage of living at home and not having to worry about all the things that so many others do in putting themselves through school. And thus, actually have a lot of avenues open to you. Why not apply for student employment on campus, maybe in the student employment office so you can see the kind of jobs out there for you. In looking at your field of study, why not look at business' that can hire you as an undergraduate. Of course, initially you won't be paid the wages you want, but you will be getting the experience in your professional field. You will be adding the experiences that your resume needs when you finally graduate and go out there seeking employment.

Please note, pretty much everyone has to start at the beginning level and it is through continued professional and academic growth that you build your promotion-ability. Life and maturity is in constant change. What or who you want to be today, is not necessarily who or what you want to be tomorrow.

I am just so worried because it seems like so many people just end up doing nothing besides working at some bull**** job for the rest of their lifes. I highly doubt that is what most of them want but clearly it happens.

That's true. At the same time, there are a lot of them that don't mind it. Like I have relatives that work low paying jobs and are content, atleast more content than others who are making more.

I'd say think about what makes the people doing low to middle end jobs content, compared to people who make a lot more that are not.

For me, I believe a person's attitude on life, which transcends from their personal life and often to their professional lives, has a lot to do with happiness in their job..... even jobs that that seem meaningless.

Now figuring out how to look at life with a good attitude, well, that's a new topic.

If you collect aluminium cans for a living and are happy doing this, that's success.:)
I want to put that as my siggy. It puts things into perspective.

You know what else? If your parents are OK with you living with them for a little longer, you're in a better position than most to pursue your goals. If you have a strong desire to do something that will take time to establish, better now than when you have rent/mortgage, utilities, loan payments, and all those other obiligations! There's a book called "Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow". I forget the author, but it's a wonderful read.