I went through a brief period where I was convinced I wanted to be a carpenter, specifically making furniture. I've also worked as a builders mate and roofer in the past both of which I enjoyed and all of which settle my desire to create something. It seemed better to be building something that actually existed in the real world, not just on the internet.
These days though I'm just trying to make enough money in the next few years that I'll never have to sit at a desk again, and given my current skill set and the general nature of the internet I think being a developer is the best way to do it ;)
I hear this very often - I am working at a job which I dont want to do till I achieve a financial goal. For folks who know what they are passionate about, I wonder if it is worth it in the long term to postpone following their dream. Especially in a country like US or Uk, where standards of living are pretty reasonable for most professions.
I for the most of my life did not even know what I really like - by the time I figured out I was already 33. And it becomes very tough.
I know very few people who are convinced about what they want to do in life. Such conviction almost seems like a privilege which comes with a duty to follow your dream. Best of luck with your plans.
Possibly a little deep for this thread (just considering its not my thread), but my dream isn't a career change, its slightly higher - freedom from money. If money no longer plays a factor in my life, then I don't have to choose one thing to do, I can do whatever I want when I want.
For me that's travel, adventure and photography (landscape, wildlife, culture). There's two ways I can achieve my goal, make enough so that I don't have to work again (I make it about £1.2m~), or failing that live cheaply enough that money no longer plays a major factor in my life, i.e. I don't spend most of my adult life paying off a mortgage. The plan for that would be to buy a nice old, cheap yacht and live as frugally as I can whilst exploring the world.
So either way hopefully within the next couple of years I'll be living my dream.. id rather be "financially responsible" and do it, but I'm prepared to make sacrifices if that's not possible within my given time frame. :)
I totally agree. Being frugal and financially responsible is the right way to live life anyways for so many reasons.
Just think you might find this useful (I have a feeling already that you are a value investor but still feel compelled to add this)
I would add intelligent investing also to your plan and I feel you will reach your goals sooner. I have benefited a lot from Benjamin Graham's formalization of value investing - he wrote the classic "Intelligent Investor".
I think this is the best advice -- work in something where you can create. To me, that's the core of my interest in software dev -- creating, working, making something. Carpentry sounds like it could be very rewarding.
These days though I'm just trying to make enough money in the next few years that I'll never have to sit at a desk again, and given my current skill set and the general nature of the internet I think being a developer is the best way to do it ;)