The best career advice that I was given

[InvitroCanibal]

When I was in my 20’s.

I had a job that I started over the summer. It was supposed to be temporary, and I was there on contract. I planned to start School in the fall.

My boss offered me a position and a promotion My pay would have gone up to 100,000 USD a year.

It was a dream job for most, but you worked overseas, 2 weeks on 2 weeks off.

My boss told me that

“he was going to offer me a job, but if I took the job, it would define the rest of my life. So that, if I wanted to do anything else, than I could forget it. I would get used to the pay, and become dependent upon it, which would make any other aspiration not possible.**
**School or any other dreams would not happen, so I had to choose, knowing what I would be giving up. “**

It was the hardest choice that I ever made, but I walked away from that job offer.

I was scared about my choice, but looking back, I have never regretted it.

It’s given weight to my choices ever since and it helped me understand how to make smarter choices in the long run.

I don’t take the first offer anymore, and because of it, I am happier and more successful for it.

Most people make the mistake of taking the first oppurtunity that comes their way, even though they know they will not be happy with it.
Every oppurtuniy is an obstacle to any other goals/dreams that you might have had.

When accepting an oppurtunity, you have to acknowledge what it is that you’ll be giving up.

This is why it is so hard to follow your dreams or get what you really want out of life.

Everyone takes the first thing that comes their way, without realizing that it means they’ll be giving up all the others.

In the end I got what I wanted, but it meant waiting. It took almost ten years, but just being on the road to what I really wanted made me happy.

I found that you know a life choice is what you really want when you you feel like you’re always gaining something.

When you don’t see the road to get there as misery, or lost time that you have to give up and the work and effort itself is something that you enjoy.

So far I've given up 3 major oppurtunities like that, to pursue what I really wanted.

When the road is worth pursuing and not just the destination itself, and when you know that you'd give up everything else just to have it, then you will know that is a goal worth pursuing.

Thanks

[Noreaster]

Good advice but for those with ADHD you also need to sometimes step back and not over analyze things. I can basically see the bad in everything but that can sometimes blind you to taking what may be a good opportunity.

[Pilgrim]

Don’t know if this is true and I know the day to day struggles to put food in the fridge, especially this past year.

But I’d like to make an observation. In light of the first post I’ve always found people who chase what they really want are the happiest.

I’ve lived the life of not being able to get out of bed, being foggy and having no energy. Then stimulants came along and everything became more hopeful. If they can help then why not.

I guess in the last 5 years or so. I saw certain people achieve their dreams and to a man it was a hell of a commitment. Maybe the trick is knowing really what you want, timing and a bit of luck. I would disagree with this, it takes clear thinking, desire, being knocked about and getting back up, and being prepared to do anything within yourself in order to make it happen. Just a thought.

[Monox D. I-Fly]

Originally Posted by InvitroCanibal

My boss told me that

“he was going to offer me a job, but if I took the job, it would define the rest of my life. So that, if I wanted to do anything else, than I could forget it. I would get used to the pay, and become dependent upon it, which would make any other aspiration not possible.**

Just out of curiosity, what job is that?

[psychopathetic]

Originally Posted by Monox D. I-Fly

Just out of curiosity, what job is that?

And where do I sign up?!

pay would have gone up to 100,000 USD a year.
[...]
worked overseas, 2 weeks on 2 weeks off.

[InvitroCanibal]

Originally Posted by Monox D. I-Fly

Just out of curiosity, what job is that?

North Slope Logistics for BP. I didn't want to explain it all so I just said over seas, but really you are working near Barrow in the farthest north. You have to get there by plane, and you work two weeks on 12 hours a day and two weeks off. The pay is double during those two weeks. Then you can do whatever you want.

This was back in 2009 though.

Job stability depends on the oil revenue.

[InvitroCanibal]

Originally Posted by psychopathetic

And where do I sign up?!

Alaska....good luck

[psychopathetic]

Originally Posted by InvitroCanibal

You have to get there by plane, and you work two weeks on 12 hours a day

Originally Posted by InvitroCanibal

Alaska....good luck

Plane? Alaska?? 12 HOUR FREAKING DAYS?!?

Is it too late to change my mind?

[InvitroCanibal]

4 Hour days in Anchorage.

But on the North Slope, just near Barrow, Alaska. The Sun will go down for 3 months.