Comments on: Career paths vs happiness: which road are you on?

By: ET

ET — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:26:11 +0000

“All through high-school I was convinced I would pursue a career in IT. I practiced up on my skills at home, bought books, read magazines etc.”

I’ve been doing the exact thing for the past 4 years, preparing myself (for a certain subject for university), but migrating to Australia has changed all my ‘dreams’ into disappointments, when I start to realise that ‘quest for happiness’ will not end even if I achieved my career goals.

I guess it’s about being ready to ‘expect the unexpected’ in life, if we want to be happy. If not, we will be living a life full of questions, regrets and fear of all the changes that are about to come. because nothing is constant but change.. how sad.

By: Ross

Ross — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:17:57 +0000

@Brian – one of the most unique comments I’ve read for some time! Thanks for making me smile

By: brian

brian — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:38:53 +0000

the girl with the blue eyes is pretty, i cant think of asnything else intellegent to say, hi bloggers. I hope your honest opinions make the internet less of a validation to the global society’s self destruction or whatever

By: world time zones | Intel.com

world time zones | Intel.com — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:05:43 +0000

[...] Career paths vs happiness: which road are you on? ” It’s well known that we spend a massive portion of our lives working. It makes sense to be happy, it makes sense to spend all that time doing something we like rather than resent, yet many people continue to stay within their comfort zones rather than pursuing a career that would bring more enjoyment … [...]

By: Ross

Ross — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:01:40 +0000

@Viriya – Hi, thanks for taking the time to comment. I like your attitude on regret – there’s nothing we can do to change time, we might as well move on and learn from past choices! You also make a great point by saying “Just step out of the road and do not regret”. Sometimes the easier choice is to ride things out, often causing more problems. Have a great week.

By: Viriya

Viriya — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:32:23 +0000

Ross,

Wow, your article is like what I thought and ten times better writing skill! And thank you for the lovely video. I’ll check out the positivity blog later.

Am I happy with where I am at?

No, I’m not but I hate the feeling; “regret”. I think it’s worse than any feeling possible. Because we always know that we could not change our past. I decide to look at my job from a different side. I made new friends and I have been improving. I believe in the economic idea of “sunk cost”; whatever cost occurred in the past, it’s gone and irrelevant. Your next step is the only thing that counts.

are we chasing a mythical pile of gold at the end of a rainbow?

Sometimes, we knew that our road is not leading there but we could not let it go. We are too afraid of other paths out of our road, our comfort zone. I think that if we know we’re in the wrong road, don’t hope for the next turn or curve. Just step out of the road and do not regret.

Viriya’s last blog post..Summary: Your Career Choice

By: Ross

Ross — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:39:26 +0000

@Vincent – The lure of financial reward is very real! Thanks for commenting.

@Steve C – I’m pleased it’s such a timely post for you! I have noticed a bit more of a sarcastic swing coming into your last few posts (I must mention that they’ve been quite entertaining though!!) What do you think is the answer for people who are doing what they love but not making enough money? Change careers? Or look for other ways to make money?

@Jacqueline Johns – Hi, thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it! Hindsight – it’s interesting you mention this, I may write a post on it… A lot of times in my life it’s not been until I’ve looked back that I’ve realised that things happened for a reason. Likewise, as you mention, things that you learn or experience come back into your life in some form or other. And let me just add that I’m LOVING your tag line: “Happiness comes from following your bliss, listening to the nudges, and trusting in your Inner Weirdo.” Priceless!

@Carla – Howdy, hope you’re well.. I’m really pleased to hear of your experience, because you are someone who identified that you weren’t happy, and made the difficult choice of branching out and changing your situation. This is something I’d love to do myself (when timing is right), and like you I have an underlying fear that things may not work out – what to do in that situation? I’m pleased you mention that “it’s better than not trying at all” – this is what I suspect, the nagging “I wish I’d given things a go” is way worse than trying and failing sometimes.

By: Carla

Carla — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:25:21 +0000

Very interesting and thought provoking questions! I spend the past eleven years in jobs that I felt a range of emotions from so/so to totally hating it. Not only was I not trilled at my choice in "career" (if you can call it that), but it was highly unstable and I can be replaced in a heartbeat - and I was time and again due to cut backs and lay offs. I never had that "comfort zone" thats regularly talked about. I stayed because that was all that I knew (or so I thought). It wasn't until last year that I decided that its really up to me to change my situation. I have fear that what I'm trying to do wont work out, but its better than not trying at all. Carla’s last blog post..Holiday Gift Ideas | Not Buying it

By: Jacqueline Johns

Jacqueline Johns — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:02:44 +0000

Hey Ross, Pleasure to meet you, and congratulations for having the wisdom (and guts!) to follow the nudge you were given ten years ago. Hindsight is a wonderful thing! Can you see now that your interest in computers and your need for interaction with peeps have melded into your current life? I am continually amazed how things I learned years ago, seemingly unrelated to each other or any grand plan for my life, are being utilized as I move forward to the 'me' I am becoming. You have this pleasure to look forward to, as well. Happiness comes from following your bliss, listening to the nudges, and trusting in your Inner Weirdo. Ain't life grand? Jacqueline Johns’s last blog post..Happy Quotes

By: Steve C @ MyWifeQuitHerJob.com

Steve C @ MyWifeQuitHerJob.com — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:41:39 +0000

Hey Ross, Your post is very timely since I've been thinking a lot lately about what makes me happy (and my posts have reflected that as well). I wish money wasn't a factor in our decision making process but unfortunately there's no escaping it. I guess we all have to figure out the minimum amount of money that we need to get by and then concentrate on what we'd rather be doing. Another excellent and thought provoking post! Steve C @ MyWifeQuitHerJob.com’s last blog post..How Our Online Business Brought My Wife And I Closer Together