Professional success story? At what age did you make it?

[treanir]

I'm only 21 years old and still in college, so I may not be the right person to answer your question, but I would say that 25 is not too late. Not at all. In fact, I don't think many people your age are able to financially support an entire family. Most entry-level jobs just don't pay enough for that. Only a select few will earn enough money straight out of college to support themselves and two other persons.

I would look at it this way: your current job is there to keep you alive i.e. fed, watered, clothed and housed and to some extent happy. But it's not what you envision yourself doing in twenty years. There's nothing stopping you from going after the job you do want to do until your retirement. This is not just a financial decision, but also an emotional one: in what job will I be happy for the next twenty years?


You're still young. There's plenty of time to get where you want to be.

 

[Swellegant]

Haven't yet! I don't suppose I will ever be successful by the world's terms (fame, money, acclaim, etc.) but that's not really what I want. I don't even really know what I want. And fortunately, it doesn't really matter.

As a single man, you have the luxury of waiting for your dream job (though I hope you're looking for it, not just sitting home by the phone... that never works!) Those guys who have to support a family at your age? How many of them do you suppose are doing what they really want to do, and how many of them took the highest-paying job they could find, the one with the best medical benefits, so they could afford that house in the suburbs and the kids' college funds and little Susie's recurring strep throat? Not a rosy picture, if you ask me.

My friend Caroline and I were talking about his last night... how so many people younger than ourselves seem to have the world wired down, dreamy-sounding jobs and their own homes and all that jazz. And I pointed out to her that, if she had chosen a better major, and didn't dream of being an actress, she probably would have ended up with a higher-paying job; and if I had buckled down and gone to college right after high school, then entered the workforce right away, I'd probably be making a lot more by now, too.

Further, if she and I had gotten married, and we had saved up our money instead of spending it on clothes and jewelry, we could have made a down-payment on a pretty nice house a long time ago. But then we'd be married to each other and wouldn't have any clothes or jewelry. And what kind of fun would that be?

You have the luxury of choices right now. Success is measured in how happy you are, not in how many homes you own and how much money you make (though those are certainly nice).

Not quite on topic, but my two cents for what they're worth. And to answer your question, "too late" is when you're dead. Before that, you always have opportunities.

 

[winterknight]

I'm 27 and not even earning enough to be able to support myself if my parents didn't let me live here on a peppercorn rent.

But then, I'm still not really sure what I actually *want* to do - sigh.

 

[antdak]

^^^ I agree with Robert-Marlene. Success is differnt things to differnt people. I heard that the average person, will change careers, sereveral times in their lifetime.
As young as you are, you have a good 40 years before retirment, plenty of time to take some chances, with what you'd like to do. At 45, I just recently changed careers again. But I now have my dream job, and will retire with this job. Good luck to you!!

 

[JustBoys05]

I think you should have a "professional" job by the age of 30. I got a degree in engineering, unfortunately I did not get an engineering job after I graduated. But I got a technician job at an engineering company. I applied every engineering jobs that are posted. And did not get it for first several time...I got so discouraged.

So I said, if I'm still doing what was I was doing at age 30, then I will give up the engineering job (my dream job), and panic at the same time, because I absolutely don't know what to do with my life.

Luckly I got hired for an engineering job, about 2months after I what I said in the 2nd paragraph. So Thanks God.

 

[JayHew]

Once through the professional training, didn't see any major success until about 28, then things started to move and by 30 was able to own a home and had money in the bank, all debt paid off and could do what I really wanted. Then got married and it all went out the window. Now divorced, have a few good assets, paying off debt and saving money again. So it can come and go depending on what the circumstances are.

I can remember well the days of having a low paying job and renting just enough to get by on. Basically didn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of, but those were the best of days in having a lot of fun.

It is what Robert-Marlene says, success is not measured by how many homes you have, cars you drive, etc. It is how you live life, engage with life, love and care with life. Instead of concentrating on material things, become engaged with living and loving. You can plan on material success and work your plan, but it is not really what it is all about. Having enough to be comfortable yet having the time to enjoy is a better way.

 

[FREDDIE187]

I think you should make a bold move towards your dream.

You are ONLY 25 and single. Don't be afraid to follow your dream.

Whatever you do don't settle in a comfort zone at this young age.

 

[numerobis]

You are not alone, I also was born in 1980(and yes, when I got to be 25 I had a crisis breakdown, It was like my youth was over) and in the last 3 years I have been asking myself the same questions, and I was in a stage were I go to sleep every night questioning what was I doing with my life.

Although I had the opportunity to obtain a "dream job" within my major right after I graduated from the University (one of my professors hired me to work with him in his Well-known firm), I been feeling that this is not the way that I would like to be living my life, but when you need that paycheck to pay your bills what was suppose to be a job for a couple of months ends in a routine of 5 years of working, giving your best years to someone else benefit without obtaining no so much for your own professional career.

And with that you have to add all the other pressures that are putted on you, I don’t know your case, but I am not out yet, and family and society start questioning when you are going to settle down, start a family, start thinking of financing a place of your own, etc.

So that is why one day I woke up and began to plan what would be the life that I wanted to pursuit and how this could be possible, I even put down some scholarships to continue study certain areas within my major, because I didn’t feel that it would lead me where I wanted to be. That is why I quit my so “perfect” job (I end it at the end of this year). And whit the money I have been saving, I will pursue the life I would like to have, far away from home, where I could be more honest with myself, been open about my condition and trying to start a professional practice of my own. I really don’t know if I would be successful, but at least I would not end my life questioning what if I had followed my dreams. Probably I would not be able to afford the life that I have now, but at least I would be trying to do something that I enjoy doing, and maybe I also could find someone to spend my life with.

What I am saying is that you are still young and have the opportunities to make changes in your life, sit down and think what life would you like (and one that could be possible) to have; prepare yourself and go for it. At least you would be trying to get it. There is nothing to loose if you are already not happy with the course that your future is taking and you do not have responsibilities with others like a wife and kids. So you are on your own to do the journey that you would like to be immerse in.

Cheer up man! You still have your whole life ahead of you.

 

[ichbinhornig]

I think you should have a "professional" job by the age of 30. I got a degree in engineering, unfortunately I did not get an engineering job after I graduated...

im in automotive engineering myself. very tough spot these days. i kinda fell into the auto industry, and can say from day 1 ive been looking to get out of it but i am one of the few who can confidently say ive got a job for life simply because what i do is very speciallized. i cant say that ive made it although i make good money, but work long hours for it. if i thought id made it id prolly stop trying. still looking for a career change, but to what is currently unknown.
got an opportunity to attend harvard bus. school, but im not sure giving up a year and half of income, and a 125k post grad salary is worth the 100k price tag. thats the kind of commitment im not sure im ready to take just yet.

 

[Ramindra]

I am 26 and don't even have a real job yet! I am laying the groundwork for a professional career - still have about 12 months to go before finishing my doctorate. That gets me to 27. Hopefully, I would have started to make my mark by the time I am 30. It would be nice to think that I shall be successful, but I know that success will be measured by my assessment of my achievements.

 

[just_mills]

I was successful the day I was born

 

[littlemonster]

I finally reached my "professional" hot spot at age 35. This is when I finally realized that my job is not my life, but only supports my ability to have one.

I still don't know what I do when I grow up, but I'm lucky enough to have a great job with people I love to work with, a good salary that pays the bills and the flexibiliy to do what I want to do during my non-work hours.

I regularly tell my boss during performance reviews that I'm not out to climb any ladder, that I don't want a promotion or a raise, that I'm happy with where I am in my career. He just looks at me funny, says "How's this girl" (and he's straight!) while giving me the highest marks, huge raises, bonuses and promotions.

It's all in the attitude. Don't waste your time climbing to the top - you'll wonder where your life went once you got there. Get a job that pays enough, but doesn't demand too much and explore what you love from life rather than wasting your time trying to get to some point where you will finally be 'happy'. A career doesn't make you happy - living life does. I don't know of anyone that has ever said on their death bed - "I wish I would have worked harder!" They say shit like "why didn't I sky dive?" or why didn't I pursue my interest in motorcycles or acting or running or theatre or cooking or racing or (insert your passion here).

Live your life. Love. Don't say "next week". Never work more than 40 hours/week. Take your vacation. Sleep in. Jump out of a plane. Move across the country. Live.

Just my thoughts.