A New Life At What Cost?
It's tempting isn't it? Dump that low paying job, get a job or career you really love that'll pay you what you're worth and get out of debt in the process. We've all heard that if we follow our bliss and do what we love our lives will somehow magically turn around and the money will follow.The reality is much less glamourous. Don't quit your job to go find your fortune just yet. There are few things to do before you get to that point . The romantic notion that all will be right with the world if we just find our true calling to the job or career we were meant for comes with a pretty hefty price tag. You have to be willing to pay before you set off to find your bliss. In the real world you still have bills to pay, you need to keep a roof over your head(and your children'd heads) as well as food, medical, and education costs. All of these things can get in the way of"Finding Yourself." If you quit your job tomorrow how will life go on as usual? It won't. Your bills and debts will grow larger and you'll be in an even bigger mess than when you started! Be an optimist yes, but a clear-eyed optimist. You have to have a plan and not just any plan you have to have a financial plan. Start with what you really want to do. Do you need further training or edcuation in you r chosen field? Or are you starting over in another career and need certification or education in that field? How much will it cost? How long must you train or go to school for? Are financial aid packages available? Can you and your family come up with a schedule to accomodate your training and career switch? More importantly are you and your family willing to commit to it? If you're unsure about the answers the timing might not be right. Do you need to put it off? Don't be persuaded to take on more debt than you can handle for your new career no matter how easy it seems to pay it off. If things are tenuous at home your spouse may not be excited about your plan for a new vocation.. Especially if you announce you're quitting your current job to persue it!
I've been trying to get a freelance writing career off the ground. I'm still working my day job, taking classes(eclasses) and trying to get a website up. I've had a little success but it' not enough to pay the bills just yet. I'm still looking for freelance gigs in my spare time, taking care of the house, gardening and parenting a teenage son. I don't know how other people do this. I'm exhausted. My bliss (or new career) hasn't generated enough money yet to afford me the luxury of only having one job. My writing. The search for a regular gig that brings in a good steady paycheck continues. We still live paycheck to paycheck. What I mean by this is that while we're a two income household and we manage to put a little in savings(very little) most of the money goes to checking each month for expenses. Much as I would like to quit work and pursue a full time writing career, it wouldn't be financially responsible. What little money I've made has gone back toward eclasses in writing, that way I'm not spending more on classes than I've earned. Slowly but surely I'm building a portfolio. I expect that it will be most helpful in getting jobs going forward. I felt like a piece of my soul was missing when I wasn't writing. I've always known it's what I've wanted to do. That's how you know you've found your purpose.
Following your bliss is a great idea in theory but there is a price. Lost sleep, lack of energy, less socializing and private time. You'll even have to listen to people telling you not do it or you're too old to fulfill your dream,or you'll fail. Can you handle it? Financially and emotionally? Have you really thought it through? Are you prepared to stick with it no matter how long it takes? The reward could be more than just making money doing what you love, you could be making yourself a brighter debt free future.
