At one time, I wanted to be a musician (drummer). I did it for 5 years full time. It was not what I thought it was going to be; lots of traveling, hotels and time away from home and loved ones, and lack of money was always a worry. I went on to be a chiropractor, which I also enjoy. I help people reach their health goals, it allows me the freedom to move my business anywhere, and set my own schedule. I now work my practice 4 half days a week, and play in a blues band. It’s kind of the best of both worlds.
A colleague wants told me, “Bring you happiness to the job. Don’t expect the job to make you happy.”
It’s TRUE! I started playing with a bulb and a battery at age 5. Always wanted to work in electronics. Now I’m 68, working at an incredible place, having fun, getting paid, great benefits and having fun all day playing with electronics. No mandatory retirement age, and if I did, I’d still be playing with electronics, but on my own nickel. YOU CAN DO IT, TOO!!!
Find something you can do that others can’t or don’t want to do. Smile and thank them graciously when they hand you a lot of money. A career is prostitution to pay for the weekends.
Well, that gave me a good laugh. None of those jobs are self-sustaining in the short term, and it’ a very luck and rare person who makes enough to live off it in the long term. Most writers, my profession, make under $2000 a year. Winning a lottery is easier than becoming rich at writing. Those that do, like Stephen King, make most of their money from movie deals, not publishing. Better advice would be to find a day job that’s survivable and write or whatever in your free time. Maybe, one day, you’ll make enough to quit your day job but don’t count on it.
A lovely sentiment, unfortunately for many of us, it totally overlooks things you can not avoid, such as the draft in my day. As soon as you got “greetings from the President…..” you became locked in to a certain path. That provided many with a very short life, which was not in the least enjoyable. So trust me, I fully believe in the sentiment, and I truly encourage every one to follow it, as I have regretted several areas of my life into which I was forced to go. You folks today do not even realize the gift you have, make the most of it.
That’s fine, but while you are choosing to work on your dream you shouldn’t expect someone else to put aside their dream to pay your rent, buy your food and clothes, and take care of you. After all, fair’s fair.
Thanks, Gavin. Choosing a life path / paths is a complex thing - so often there are myriad decisions of - pretty-good jobs that pay well; or wonderful jobs that don’t pay that well, or jobs that you love & pay well but are short term or uncertain in the security department. I have many friends here in the Boulder area who are self employed, and it’s a mixed bag. Then there’s partnering / marrying someone who has a job and/or a career different from yours — to move or not? To have kids or not? Someone stays at home and tries to make it as an artist or entrepreneur — or not? Anyway, I appreciate your broaching such a complex subject in a comic strip. And I love Alan Watts — his talks are inspiring & thought provoking… But it is super hard to make a living as a poet or writer! My dad published four novels but still kept a teaching career for decades… Thank you again for bringing this to the table. We need to keep heart and soul in sight, not just making more $$$. “Those that think money will solve everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.” ~ Ben Franklin. Namaste & Tally Ho!
I told my kids to find at least two things you love doing, then work at turning your second-favorite into a career. Pursue your first passion relentlessly, but for the joy of it alone.
That’s one way of doing it, certainly. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a writer. When I got older, I realized that not only do most FT writers not have a steady income, most don’t have medical insurance either, which I needed. So I have a day job that pays the bills, and write at home. I couldn’t live off my writing money, but I’ve made several professional-level sales and gotten to go to conventions and meet some of my favorite authors. For me, it’s the best of both worlds. It’s ok to have more than one kind of dream.
henshaven Premium Member almost 6 years ago
This is literally true. I learned it the hard way, but it stuck. You can do it, too.
J Short almost 6 years ago
At one time, I wanted to be a musician (drummer). I did it for 5 years full time. It was not what I thought it was going to be; lots of traveling, hotels and time away from home and loved ones, and lack of money was always a worry. I went on to be a chiropractor, which I also enjoy. I help people reach their health goals, it allows me the freedom to move my business anywhere, and set my own schedule. I now work my practice 4 half days a week, and play in a blues band. It’s kind of the best of both worlds.
A colleague wants told me, “Bring you happiness to the job. Don’t expect the job to make you happy.”
Willywise52 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
All well and good.
1MadHat Premium Member almost 6 years ago
It’s TRUE! I started playing with a bulb and a battery at age 5. Always wanted to work in electronics. Now I’m 68, working at an incredible place, having fun, getting paid, great benefits and having fun all day playing with electronics. No mandatory retirement age, and if I did, I’d still be playing with electronics, but on my own nickel. YOU CAN DO IT, TOO!!!
PoodleGroomer almost 6 years ago
Find something you can do that others can’t or don’t want to do. Smile and thank them graciously when they hand you a lot of money. A career is prostitution to pay for the weekends.
marilynnbyerly almost 6 years ago
Well, that gave me a good laugh. None of those jobs are self-sustaining in the short term, and it’ a very luck and rare person who makes enough to live off it in the long term. Most writers, my profession, make under $2000 a year. Winning a lottery is easier than becoming rich at writing. Those that do, like Stephen King, make most of their money from movie deals, not publishing. Better advice would be to find a day job that’s survivable and write or whatever in your free time. Maybe, one day, you’ll make enough to quit your day job but don’t count on it.
cactusjack99 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
A lovely sentiment, unfortunately for many of us, it totally overlooks things you can not avoid, such as the draft in my day. As soon as you got “greetings from the President…..” you became locked in to a certain path. That provided many with a very short life, which was not in the least enjoyable. So trust me, I fully believe in the sentiment, and I truly encourage every one to follow it, as I have regretted several areas of my life into which I was forced to go. You folks today do not even realize the gift you have, make the most of it.
6turtle9 almost 6 years ago
Some are pretty attached to their misery.
Font Lady Premium Member almost 6 years ago
That’s fine, but while you are choosing to work on your dream you shouldn’t expect someone else to put aside their dream to pay your rent, buy your food and clothes, and take care of you. After all, fair’s fair.
Chrystos B Minot Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Thanks, Gavin. Choosing a life path / paths is a complex thing - so often there are myriad decisions of - pretty-good jobs that pay well; or wonderful jobs that don’t pay that well, or jobs that you love & pay well but are short term or uncertain in the security department. I have many friends here in the Boulder area who are self employed, and it’s a mixed bag. Then there’s partnering / marrying someone who has a job and/or a career different from yours — to move or not? To have kids or not? Someone stays at home and tries to make it as an artist or entrepreneur — or not? Anyway, I appreciate your broaching such a complex subject in a comic strip. And I love Alan Watts — his talks are inspiring & thought provoking… But it is super hard to make a living as a poet or writer! My dad published four novels but still kept a teaching career for decades… Thank you again for bringing this to the table. We need to keep heart and soul in sight, not just making more $$$. “Those that think money will solve everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.” ~ Ben Franklin. Namaste & Tally Ho!
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 6 years ago
Pacifica Radio has many hundreds of hours of the late great Alan Watts.
mleugs almost 6 years ago
I told my kids to find at least two things you love doing, then work at turning your second-favorite into a career. Pursue your first passion relentlessly, but for the joy of it alone.
Jayneknox almost 6 years ago
That’s one way of doing it, certainly. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a writer. When I got older, I realized that not only do most FT writers not have a steady income, most don’t have medical insurance either, which I needed. So I have a day job that pays the bills, and write at home. I couldn’t live off my writing money, but I’ve made several professional-level sales and gotten to go to conventions and meet some of my favorite authors. For me, it’s the best of both worlds. It’s ok to have more than one kind of dream.