Yes... this is a car forum, but we have some very clever people here from all walks of life...
Can someone help me!!?!??
Im nearly 22... did A-Levels and then started working, have worked for Rolls Royce, managed a catering companies stores and now work in a school
writing web applications and training staff/students...The pay is reasonable.. the job keeps me amused, but Im not sure if thats what I want to do for
the rest of my life
But im stuck and confused... what is the point..... You go to work, come home, eat, sleep... and then repeat.... I get 21 days a year to see the
world... but dont get paid enough to go far...
I am the kind of person who can never stop... I always have to have a few projects on the go to give me some focus... when the focus goes, I start to
loose the plot a bit..
I look at my parents who have both had very succesfull careers, nice house, nice cars etc... but it just seems pointless... you cant take it with you
when you die...
I have so many interests I cant just focus on one as a career.... It would drive me nuts...
I have applied to uni this year, but most of the unis have said NO because I dont have a Maths A-Level.... two of them have said they would take me if
I do a foundation degree first... which does not appeal atall.... might be ok if THAT was what I wanted to do... but as I dont actually know what I
want to do... its a bit tricky..
I am starting to realise that I wont get far in any career with out some formal training and qualifications... hence why I thought about uni... but no
idea where to specialise...
Its sort of tempting to throw in my job and dissapear around the world for a year to try and find the meaning of life, but I dont think I would find
it...
So.... the floor is yours... what IS the point?
[Edited on 3/3/10 by tegwin]
To procreate!
Train to get the skills to start your own business, try it if you fail you gave it a shot. Wait till you are 50 and you have the same view
UGHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Start making a list of what you would like to achieve by what age. Try to make it realistic, then you have goals to achieve and perhaps meaning.
Adrian
42
There is only one point to life... and that is to sustain life and give life. Survival and breeding... that's it!
The question of what you as an intelligent being do with your life is something entirely different!
We are all unique... we all have different hopes, dreams, interests and goals. I'm afraid it's for you, Tegwin the individual, to decide
what would bring you the most satisfaction during your brief time here!
Travel tends to focus the mind, at least it does/did for me. It gets more and more expensive, and difficult to travel nowadays, so you need a decent
job to pay for it.
I found university was the best thing. Go in trying to get whatever you can stand, as fast as possible - don't work during the terms - and it
will give you lots of ideas. No course is ever a waste of time. I always thought they made a mistake letting me into university as a
"mature" student many years ago, and again for my masters programme, so worked pretty hard to make it all happen in my favour. Treat it like
a job and it goes by fast, and you get that nice piece of paper at the end that nobody can ever take from you.
Make a plan, and stick to it. Don't worry, just DO.
ps. the piece of paper isn't worth much the first year or two, but is eventually, believe me.
Damm I forgot 42, Hitch hikers guide to the Galaxy.
I am in a similar position but 6 years ahead of you, I did uni and sacrificed a lot for a job which i at best tolerate and at worst makes me ill with
contempt. I have way too much responsibility for my pay grade and experience and would happily jack it in for a lower paid job i enjoy or
alternatively would love to work for my self. My father and I are seriously exploring property development full time. It already takes up all our
spare time.
I have been through cancer and come out the other side and have learned that if you are not happy, you aren't anything.
[Edited on 3/3/10 by liam.mccaffrey]
The point is to make the most of it...... and that'll mean different things to different people!!!
Rather than asking others - look at what YOU want.... then you'll have your answer.!!
To some it'll be making a million, others to help other people, still more will want to be nothing more than a lying, cheating, scumbag so
they'll become a politician.
Some true words at the end there Liam.
The meaning of life
Life is what you make of it, I have worked in some shitty roles but always made the most of what I did, at 22 you have seen nothing really. University
is not the be all and end all of life nore is it always the start ofe something better. In my life I have met some of the most educated idiots who
have mastered the skill of learning and passing qualifications but struggle with the application of their learning to real life situations. I would
advise you take every opportunity in life and live it to the full make sure you give it 100% nobody can ask any more than that. Done right you will
find progression and something youe enjoy.
At 22 I would be chasing the money to enjoy life, I was working 80 plus hours per week at your age and getting £1.75 an hour like many on here would
have been.
to me the meanin of life is the way you live it and what you are able to put back into it
Lol, its a case of do as i say and not as i do. At the end of the day i'm still working a job i despise
quote:
Originally posted by AdrianH
Some true words at the end there Liam.
I know exactly how you feel...
Here is some bedtime reading which might inspire you. This book is worth a read if you are thinking of starting your own business which it sounds like
you might be.
Think And Grow Rich
Follow your heart or forever live with regret!
keep you chin up son, i felt the same way as you after i was ill for 15 odd months.
been out of work for almost 2 years and was really struggling with career choice and what i wanted to do with myself.
the advise i would suggest is so get as much under your belt as you can, have a good think about what you might want to do, you have plenty of time
and if your willing to work hard the rewards will come later!
get your CV out to as many people as possible, build rapour with work colleague and friends of the family that might be able to help you out in
finding something more interesting that you might like to have a try at!
All the best in your new adventure and let us know where it takes you!
think about the positive not about the negative, open yourself up to others suggestions.........
This sums it up for me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfq_A8nXMsQ
Dance
........Neil
Thanks for your support guys... This last few weeks I have been tearing myself appart inside... what with the uni application fails, failing to get
into the RAF and generally not knowing what I want to do next...
Yes, I could stay in the job I am for another 2 years and then move on up the ladder and potentially do quite well for myself in the IT/education
industry whilst spending the money on toys etc..... But that route for some reason does not appeal to me... perhaps because its too easy.... I
dont want to commit and settle, but I dont know what I want to move on to either...
If I knew that I was going to be staying in my current job I would go out tomorow and buy a TIG welder +mill+lathe and start building a supercar to
rival you all... but I just dont know what im doing in life...
The ONLY reason I am still living where I am, doing the job I am doing is because I was working on the TVR... now thats finished it frees me up to
think about otehr things... perhaps dangerous...
I guess the thing thats bugging me...
Should I stick with my current job and work at it...
Or quit.... go spend all my money traveling the world... and then come back and do "something"...
Or quit and go to uni... on the pretence that I might learn something..
I know its a decision I need to make myself... but its not an easy one to make...not atall!
Yes, stepping out of my comfort zone and going traveling would be amazing, and would make me more confident... but its almost sacrilage to throw away
a decent job...
Tegwin.
Regret the things you do not the things you don't do!
........Neil
When i was 22 i was a self employed contractor working for Plessey in Towcester, after being there for about 2 months i just mentioned to our rep that
i wanted the hell out of this country and as luck had it he put me forward for a new NATO contract and after that i never looked back as i lived off
my expences ,of which i saved half and never touched my salary for 2 years, but that was then in the boom time. That one job took me all over europe
and north America.
I suppose that i was lucky enough to speak to the right person at the right time as it set me up on a life of travel and of being the man with a
suitecase always on the move.
Mike
quote:
Originally posted by Nash
This sums it up for me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfq_A8nXMsQ
Dance
........Neil
quote:
Originally posted by Nash
Tegwin.
Regret the things you do not the things you don't do!
........Neil
Interesting reading guys, i'm 22 and i'll be leaving uni in april! The best time of my life so far was in my year out when i worked and
travelled! What with the current job market its difficult to think i'll get a job where i want, so i'm thinking of taking some time out
after uni with a part time job, take a step back and consider my options! Oh, and i'm really thinking of doing rust to rome this year! anyone
else going?!
All the best tegwin, what ever decisions you make they will be the right ones!!!
sounds like a trip to night school for an a level in maths is in order first
i've got a good job, resonable pay, on shifts so only work 3 days a week, good pension, flexi, share scheme. not really that into the job
anymore, but there's such a blanket around me at the company it's very hard to leave can't see another 30+ years not making me mental
though!
quote:
Originally posted by iscmatt
Interesting reading guys, i'm 22 and i'll be leaving uni in april! The best time of my life so far was in my year out when i worked and travelled! What with the current job market its difficult to think i'll get a job where i want, so i'm thinking of taking some time out after uni with a part time job, take a step back and consider my options! Oh, and i'm really thinking of doing rust to rome this year! anyone else going?!
All the best tegwin, what ever decisions you make they will be the right ones!!!
I've had a similar dilemma, except that I went to uni, it was a fantastic 3 years but it told me that I didnt want to do anything too geology (my
course) related.
I decided it's more who you are around, and what else you can do along side that are more important. I used to be too career focused, I dont
mean that from an effort point of view, because that hasnt changed, but the fact that I hadnt been promoted/had a pay rise etc. used to really bother
me, but no one in the company had and it'll come eventually.
My plan if you like was/is to spend more time doing things that I really enjoy; I took up rowing, which is four evenings a week and the morning at
weekends sorted and there's a cracking group of people at the club. When the markets are right I'll buy a fixer-upper house, and in the
mean time I'll concentrate on trying to get the Locost on the road...
I think you need to get as much experiance as you can when your are that age, I had the chance to go work in the far east when i was 24 but stupidly decided not to i also had the chance to go to New Zealand i even had a job lined up but decided not to go. I regret not going however i wouldn't be where i am today if i had gone who knows if i would be in a better position that i am now. Life is what you make of it, if you want happiness you have to go get it as it wont come to you. Most of the guys i went to school with are still on the dole (we left in1988) they never get a holiday can only dream of doing the things i have done and still doing their life revolves around bookies and pub. Work hard now and you will reap the rewards in later life.
if i had the choice i would go back to uni forever not for the study but for the lifestyle. i did uni just before it got silly silly expensive.
haven't done bad since leaving, had quite a few ups and downs but in general there isn't much i would change if i had to do it all again.
one of the things i make sure i stick to is doing things i like to do when i want to do them. yes we all need to work but when im not, i spend nearly
all my time on things i love.
if you cant get the work/home balance right then you will never be happy
Tegwin,
I know exactly where you are.
Let me put it this way;
Im 30 years old, and have worked since i left school as a labourer, electricians mate, and ended up a qualified electrician.
I got into building services and worked my way through to a reasonably well paid senior management job where i am now. Working all hours, always on
call, always willing to go that extra mile. Basically, a blue collar background in a white collar job. Then every time i get my feet under the table
and settled, the contract will come to an end or some accountant somewhere will decide that they want to restructure and lay people off - happened to
me twice one year.
Im now at a stage where yes, i earn well, live well and work flexibly, but guess what? - the contract has just come to an end. So i either need to
follow the crowds and transfer to the new company (not a technical company), or go and find my own destiny and start that business ive always wanted
to start.
What im trying to say, is Look after number 1. Do what YOU want to do. Have kids - the best thing in the world - but not too early, so that you can
do the things you need to do. Experience is the best teacher, so if youve got the opportunity, go see different places.
Its all very well having a bit of money for nice cars, house, etc. but it does come at a price. Ive often thought about going back onto the tools,
but once you crack a certain salary bracket, its hard to let go of it again. You ALWAYS spend what you earn, unless you earn more than you can
spend.
Good luck with your decision. For me, the meaning of life is enjoyment. Work isnt it, but a necessary evil, so i need to enjoy that as well, and
from the sounds of it, so do you.
All I could think about at 22 was sex and beer, have you tried that?
The meaning of life - what a question - basically for males it was to be so successful that you attracted lots of females to procreate with.
Unfortunately civilisation has put an end to that one, so now it is to be so successful that you can attract one mate, not have children, not have
powered toys, not eat too much or acquire too much, all because it is environmentally harmful.
So the modern meaning of life is to start an organic farm with your sterile wife and your sterile self and go to market with your produce in a
handcart.
[Edited on 4/3/10 by Ivan]
At 49 and being relatively successful (everything is relative) with wife, 11 year son, 5 bed house, large amounts of debt (!) & a income in well
in excess of the national average (but nowhere near my mate Paul who makes million £ bonuses). I work in IT as a security consultant and run my own
company.
The things I try and live by are...
The isn't a dress rehearsal, this is your only shot at life, use it wisely and don't put up with things or situations/jobs just to make up
the numbers.
Be true to yourself, always do the 'right' thing regardless of the consequences.
The memory of experiences lasts longer than physically possessions. The pursuit of money is fine as long as you are doing it for a reason, money for
monies sake is pointless.
Education is fine but is only worth anything until you replace it with experience.
Enjoy it
[Edited on 4/3/10 by jeffw]
If I had my life over I would have done a trade in something that interested me with a smallish company, made sure to be the best apprentice they had,
studied their and their competition's business models to find all the faults and at around 30 bought into their business or if they wouldn't
have me opened in opposition.
As a side line whilst apprenticed do a few business management courses.
That is the most direct way I can see of getting a business of your own which is where true wealth and the freedom to do the things in life that you
love comes from.
Don't for a minute believe that the 20's and 30's are or should be the best time of your life, 40+ is where it all comes together for
a great life.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do Tegwin.
I think you need the locost whiteboard (double glazing painted white on one side). Give yourself some time to think things through, don't rush
yourself. Put down the pros and cons, Imagine where oyu'd like to be and work out a route and timescales to get there.
Like AshG I went thorugh uni when it was cheap. I'd only do it now if I knew what I wanted to do at the end of it and the course would get me
there. The debt isn't worth it.
I've never wanted to do the travelling thing but that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile. I've not met anyone who regretted doing
it! However, for some people it didn't change things like they though it would - they still came back to the same boring old job (working with
me!).
If the degree will get you where you want to go, is that maths A-level worth the pain?
Lets get the simple bit over quickly, if the university require you to have a maths A level then that's because the course requires A level or
university level maths to pass it. So don't feel too hard about the universities as they don't want you to go, decide it you can't do
the work at the level required and pull out.
As for the rest it's a bit difficult to answer for someone else (as you'll have got the impression from all the different answers above).
I'd start by approaching what I wanted to do, then move on to how to pay for it. But always be prepared to change tack if you decide it's
not working out or you change priorities.
This is quite an outpouring of discontent me feels 
Turned 36 last week and have less idea what to do now then when I was 22 and fresh out of Uni - which I'll admit I went to because it sounded
better than getting a job.
With hindsight I wish I'd got a job and bought a house 5-7 years earlier in life - the mortgage pain would be soooo much less by now it's
almost criminal.
As to the meaning of life....as Scootz and others have said....to breed and die - SIMPLES 
In the real world there's society and emotions and taxes and family etc to deal with. I'm not sure even LCB can guide you through all that
though.
On a career note: the people I see around me as successful are those that work for themselves. I've asked my MD in the past what keeps him going
(30 years running a small company that specialise in custom keyboards and input devices). His response..."it's not what we do it's the
fact we're doing it well + the satisfaction of keeping 50+ people in employment and paying their mortgages etc"
A few years back I worked for a company in London - started off great, but got crappy in the last year I was there. Got really grumpy and didn't
know why - then finally realised that I was totally stressed out.
I was in the fortunate position of being able to take time out - I was off work for 12 months (voluntarily!) until I realised that I needed to work
again, before I dented my savings too much.
Now I work for a more sensible company - less money, but a better life. A little less commuting too. I also did an OU Masters course - tough, when
you're working for a living at the same time, but it did help me to find a job... and I started that with no A-levels and no degree! (I was
allowed on the course because of my industry experience and quite a few technical qualifications).
So, the point of this ramble is - if you're pee'd off and stressed, get off your backside and find something better and more rewarding
(maybe not financially rewarding).
[Edited on 4/3/10 by David Jenkins]
quote:
Originally posted by Ivan
The meaning of life - what a question - basically for males it was to be so successful that you attracted lots of females to procreate with. Unfortunately civilisation has put an end to that one, so now it is to be so successful that you can attract one mate, not have children, not have powered toys, not eat too much or acquire too much, all because it is environmentally harmful.
So the modern meaning of life is to start an organic farm with your sterile wife and your sterile self and go to market with your produce in a handcart.
[Edited on 4/3/10 by Ivan]
There's some old saying about if you find a job you love, you'll never work another day in your life. Well I'm not sure that's
entirely true, I love my job but I have crappy days just like anyone else. The money that goes with a good job is a nice perk but if you really enjoy
your job the money becomes less important.
For me personally it took a good 5 - 7 years of earning crap money and running around like an idiot to get where I wanted to be, but the hard work and
dedication overrode the fact that I only have 6 GCSE's to my name.
I'm not entirely convinced University is always a great option unless you "need" a specific degree for your chosen career like doctors,
vets, lawyers etc. Of all my close friends that went to Uni all got reasonable grades and only one of five is in his chosen career and the others are
in jobs which I imagine require no qualifications at all, and are struggling to pay back their loans never mind earn a decent crust. I think
experience speaks for a lot over a fresh faced Uni student.
Happiness is the most important thing, health & wealth will help you acheive it, but it is something different for all of us. I see so many people
earning a fortune, but working all the hours god sends & having no time to enjoy themselves with the money. Wealth is pointless unless you also
have the time to enjoy it. We only get one crack at life, you can always earn better money if you put your mind & effort into it - you can't
buy more time!
I would say find what you enjoy, what motivates you & work toward that end - if it means taking a foundation degree (which is still 3 or 4 years
if you "top up" to a full degree) then go ahead & do it.
One thing I would say is that there can be enormous satisfaction in running your own business, it can also be scary, lonely frustrating & not well
paid - always a good idea if you can try it in spare time first - helps to establish a custimer base too - & go for it if it looks like working
out!
Good luck & remember DON'T PANIC!!!
the point of life is to go to a school that still bases it's subject priority on the industrial revolution which quashes creativity and produces
students geared towards subjects that build a stronger (and yet fake and pointless) economy, then get a job that doens't inspire you creatively,
aim for a job for the most money in the hope that more money = more great top of the line fun stuff which will make you happier, become stressed,
support the massively inefficient meat industry by eating meat everyday instead of once or twice a week or not at all, get a mortgage because everyone
else does, do plently of other irrational things because everyone else does, stop at service stations and pay £1.50 for a bottle of water, get
heartburn, question very little, quote slogans from TV adverts so they win every time you repeat them, be under the illusion that when you have
children life ends and that you must have them later in life, compain at the TV listings like they owe you, complain at everything like it owes you
and the world spins around you, spend money on things you don't need, worry about money, row with loved ones about nothing, complain but
don't actually do anything, buy a new car for 20k when the old £500 car works, get indigestion, lots of little things like that.
HTH XD
Looking at the diversity of age at which some people just 'go' wether fit or not, I would say don't worry about it. Just live for the
moment, if you had a good day today, reflect on it. If you have a bad day tommorrow, so what, as long as you are still breathing then it's a
Billy Bonus
I think our problem nowadays is we are too much of a materialistic race. If we haven't got it we want it, if we have got it, we want the newer or
better version.
A friend of mine once said:
"God, give me the grace to change well the things I can, and accept the things that I cannot"
Works for me 
quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
the point of life is to go to a school that still bases it's subject priority on the industrial revolution which quashes creativity and produces students geared towards subjects that build a stronger (and yet fake and pointless) economy, then get a job that doens't inspire you creatively, aim for a job for the most money in the hope that more money = more great top of the line fun stuff which will make you happier, become stressed, support the massively inefficient meat industry by eating meat everyday instead of once or twice a week or not at all, get a mortgage because everyone else does, do plently of other irrational things because everyone else does, stop at service stations and pay £1.50 for a bottle of water, get heartburn, question very little, quote slogans from TV adverts so they win every time you repeat them, be under the illusion that when you have children life ends and that you must have them later in life, compain at the TV listings like they owe you, complain at everything like it owes you and the world spins around you, spend money on things you don't need, worry about money, row with loved ones about nothing, complain but don't actually do anything, buy a new car for 20k when the old £500 car works, get indigestion, lots of little things like that.
HTH XD
I havn't read all the posts because life's too short!!
My advice based on my limited experience, is go and live somewhere nice and you'll feel better. Keep a close circle of good friends and
don't worry about material things. It's easy to say and not hard to do if you want to do it.
At 22, the world is your lobster. Make a detailed plan and then ignore it. Just have a few trips to find somehwere nice and move there! I like the
seaside so that's where I live. I used to be very passionate about my job but it has changed a lot over the past few years and now I just suffer
it to pay the bills. If I was utterly sick of it, I'd throw the towel in and find something different.
Good luck and be happy!!
quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
the point of life is to go to a school that still bases it's subject priority on the industrial revolution which quashes creativity and produces students geared towards subjects that build a stronger (and yet fake and pointless) economy, then get a job that doens't inspire you creatively, aim for a job for the most money in the hope that more money = more great top of the line fun stuff which will make you happier, become stressed, support the massively inefficient meat industry by eating meat everyday instead of once or twice a week or not at all, get a mortgage because everyone else does, do plently of other irrational things because everyone else does, stop at service stations and pay £1.50 for a bottle of water, get heartburn, question very little, quote slogans from TV adverts so they win every time you repeat them, be under the illusion that when you have children life ends and that you must have them later in life, compain at the TV listings like they owe you, complain at everything like it owes you and the world spins around you, spend money on things you don't need, worry about money, row with loved ones about nothing, complain but don't actually do anything, buy a new car for 20k when the old £500 car works, get indigestion, lots of little things like that.
HTH XD
I think that there has been a huge range of responses here and the overwhelming feeling is that life isn't necessarily easy even if you have what
you want, so the key is to be happy first then do what you need to do.
Couple of things that I think are worth pointing out.
Firstly, don't second guess your decisions after you have made them. You can evaluate your current situation based on the fact that you have
experienced everything between the decision and now. You cannot do that with the choice you "could have made" ... this is why the grass is
always greener on the other side. You are not making a fair comparison. Ultimately you could have made that other choice and been run over the very
next day on your way to that other job. So don't stress about what you "might" have done and where you "might" be now .... if
could have been worse!
Secondly, University is not all about getting grades. You are able to get a taster for other things in life without having to commit to it too
directly. For example, if you want to start your own business then there is lots of advice and support around to do it and depending on your course,
you might even be able to put the ground work in while you are at uni. If you wanted to try something new then there is a good chance that you can do
this at uni too (and probably much cheaper too).
Ultimately though I think too many people come to university now as the must do thing after school and just drink their way through a course they
don't particularly care about and leave to end up doing something they don't like.
But there are those that really do achieve what they want to by coming through uni, I guess this is down to you and only you will know whether this is
a worth while route.
Just my thoughts on it.
If you want to talk about university then U2U me, I have been at uni for 10 years progressing from undergraduate right through to doctorate and many
other things. I look after students now too, so I might be able to give you a different perspective on this based on experience and inside
knowledge.
But ultimately, as others have said, make yourself happy first. Life is too short and you only have one to achieve what you would like to ...... but
also bear in mind that short term discomfort (i.e. a Maths course) is probably worth long term happiness (if you can find it)
quote:
Originally posted by iank
quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
the point of life is to go to a school that still bases it's subject priority on the industrial revolution which quashes creativity and produces students geared towards subjects that build a stronger (and yet fake and pointless) economy, then get a job that doens't inspire you creatively, aim for a job for the most money in the hope that more money = more great top of the line fun stuff which will make you happier, become stressed, support the massively inefficient meat industry by eating meat everyday instead of once or twice a week or not at all, get a mortgage because everyone else does, do plently of other irrational things because everyone else does, stop at service stations and pay £1.50 for a bottle of water, get heartburn, question very little, quote slogans from TV adverts so they win every time you repeat them, be under the illusion that when you have children life ends and that you must have them later in life, compain at the TV listings like they owe you, complain at everything like it owes you and the world spins around you, spend money on things you don't need, worry about money, row with loved ones about nothing, complain but don't actually do anything, buy a new car for 20k when the old £500 car works, get indigestion, lots of little things like that.
HTH XD
Ouch, too close to the truth for comfort.
quote:
Originally posted by gazza285
All I could think about at 22 was sex and beer, have you tried that?
quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
Good call on living somewhere you love... Think I need to learn French/German and move to the Alps.... Biking, skiing, paragliding... NICE!
) (didn't change the pay I got though) and I'm still here 7 years later Good call with NZ... would love to go there....
How does it work with jobs though, I presume being a non native makes things tricky?
If I could find a job like the one I currently do out there for reasonable money... that might make me happy! lol
quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
Good call with NZ... would love to go there....
How does it work with jobs though, I presume being a non native makes things tricky?
If I could find a job like the one I currently do out there for reasonable money... that might make me happy! lol
Edukashunal Growth & Learning Link
Every sperm is sacred
[Edited on 4/3/10 by bmseven]
quote:
Originally posted by jeffw
At 49 and being relatively successful (everything is relative) with wife, 11 year son, 5 bed house, large amounts of debt (!) & a income in well in excess of the national average (but nowhere near my mate Paul who makes million £ bonuses). I work in IT as a security consultant and run my own company.
The things I try and live by are...
The isn't a dress rehearsal, this is your only shot at life, use it wisely and don't put up with things or situations/jobs just to make up the numbers.
Be true to yourself, always do the 'right' thing regardless of the consequences.
The memory of experiences lasts longer than physically possessions. The pursuit of money is fine as long as you are doing it for a reason, money for monies sake is pointless.
Education is fine but is only worth anything until you replace it with experience.
Enjoy it
[Edited on 4/3/10 by jeffw]
I'm 52 and still don't know what I want to do when I grow up.
I've been married and divorced, had money and lost it, (the two were connected)
I am just changing jobs to get the work/life balance right as I've decided that is more important to me than money.
Main thing is to be happy.
Neil
Well there is a film called "The Meaning of Life"
Watch that and I'm sure it will cheer you up.
My favoured carreer path when I was 15 was the same as everyone else round here, an apprentiship and lifetime down the pit just like me dad, grandad
and greatgrandad before.
But, then Thatcher, hell bent on revenge put paid to that, destroying our community, taking work away from the area, its still going on today with
Brown and I'm sure Cameroon will keep it up.
So, I didn't get any nice qualifications or a full apprentiship (just the first half) and have dabbled a bit with driving, first buses, now
trucks, bit of automtive engineering in the middle.
Problem is now there is no such thing as a "career" you can train for a good job and end up moving from pillar to post chasing satisfaction,
money, stability etc.
There are some 'fairly' safe bets, all government run, ie public money and I suggest you may be well off staying working for the school,
developing your IT skills, and using the lenghty holidays for your projects.
Watch the film first, you may be well impressed.
I'm at the same career desicion fork in the road now, as I was 30 years ago. Just now I can't be bothered to go to college, or train or
anything so its truck driving for now.
Just to put this into prespective, my brother is very clever. he went to grammer school, has loads of A levels and did an apprentiship with the
council. Once he'd built his pension fund up he left and went to uni. 8 years studying he now has DR. in front of and some other letters behind
his name. However, he cant use a hammer, screwdriver or spanners.
He works part time as a school lab assistant.
Steve
If I was you I would just go travelling mate. Save up enough money to get a one way ticket to OZ or NZ and travel. Bungee, skydive, white water raft
etc. When you skint, do some work, then go travelling again. When your visa runs out or your bored, get another ticket to another country and do the
same. Nz, OZ Fiji, Cook islands, Thailand, Mayalasia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bali, China, Japan, South Korea. There all on the backpackers trail. When
your fed up of the sun, fly to a ski resort, work a ski season being a Chalet man and learn to ski like a genius. Meet as many people as you can, and
meet as many girls as you can.
I only did this in a small way but it changed my life. A friend of mine did it hugely and ended up riding from Lincoln(UK) to queenstown in NZ on a
600cc yamaha. He stopped travelling after six years on the road. He did six ski seasons and can ski like the wind blows.
The world is open to you. Go out and see it. Don't be put off by the limitations and closed minded attitudes of other people. The most
difficult thing about travelling alone is booking the first ticket.
Given enough hard work anybody can achieve almost anything.
Wow its taken about 3/4 of an hour to read these posts. Very inspiring.
My thoughts:
Life is long, so dont rush it. People re train and learn all of the time. Just plan slightly for the future but mainly enjoy the moment.
Be happy with what you have got. Dont be envious if you can help it, its insulting to the people that have less than you.
You have alot in your hand. Your young, intelligent and have the luxury of school holidays so be greatful.
my school of thought is to be routed and stable. I can enjoy whims and risks more then. I never wanted to go travelling. I always thought that I have
21 days a year to go travelling and see the world. That over 30 years of working is better than any 6 month travelling stint because you value the
location and times your having.
Get a hobby and enjoy it. I have always wanted cars and wanted to build one. I am getting one very soon which I feel I have worked my whole life for
(im only 27!) but I still have to wait before I can build one. It will come to me, I know it will!
Enjoy friends and family, they can always put a smile on your face.
Good luck and keep in touch
Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve and from which he cannot escape,
Fromm,
At 43, most of my career progression has just sort of happened without much of a game plan. I have a decent enough job and a comfortable salary but
some days I get up, go to work, go home go to bed etc and other days I have an absolute blast.
It's just one big seesaw really.
My thoughts, having just endured a (very) messy breakup (betrayals a bitch aint it?)
1: Mates. If you've got good ones, keep them at all costs. Otherwise let em slide, they weren't mates to begin with.
2: Relationships. Don't bet on it, enjoy 'em while they last. As Pirates of the Carribean says "take what you can, give nothing
back" (warning this may be warped by afore mentioned breakup)
3: Jobs - as long as you enjoy it, it doesn't matter if you're splitting the atom or shovelling sh... err... poo!
4: Education - Some of my heros (Bert Munro for example) had little in the way of formal education but still achieved good results. It helps but is
not necessarilly essential!
Nothing lasts for ever. This is a truism and brings both great hope and despair. It means the greatest of relationships will eventually end, but so
will the most unjust of dictatorships.
To end coming back to the point, have fun, live in the moment and try to keep a core of trustworthy folk around you. With that you can deal with most
things life throws at ya, even if it hurts.
Haven't read much of the other repsonses.
Here are my thoughts.
1) 42 - obviously.
2) Be thankfull for what you have.
3) Don't fret over what you don't have - it won't magically enhance your life.
4) Learn to be satisfied with a bit less. More isn't better.
5) Help others as much as you can.
6) Appreciate family and friends.
7)The only reality is the one happening right now.
8) If you can, take your time on the road. If you can do this whilst everyone else that want to can go past, the roads magically become quiet.
They're all magically driving away from you.
9) Listen to good music.
My Mother died at 62 years of age, 6 months later mt Father died at 67 years of age.
I think I would have been 34 when that happened - I'm not good with dates.
It taught me that your time on this rock is precious, so get f**ing on with it and do whatever makes you happy and doesn't affect others
negatively.
If you can do your thing and know that your presence has had a positive effect on the life of others, you're more likely to sleep better at
night. Sleeping well at night is a good thing.
That's about my take on it.
[Edited on 6/3/10 by zilspeed]
Somebody should write a book on all these responses ..... very good reading.
quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
Yes... this is a car forum, but we have some very clever people here from all walks of life...
Can someone help me!!?!??
Im nearly 22... did A-Levels and then started working, have worked for Rolls Royce, managed a catering companies stores and now work in a school writing web applications and training staff/students...The pay is reasonable.. the job keeps me amused, but Im not sure if thats what I want to do for the rest of my life
But im stuck and confused... what is the point..... You go to work, come home, eat, sleep... and then repeat.... I get 21 days a year to see the world... but dont get paid enough to go far...
I am the kind of person who can never stop... I always have to have a few projects on the go to give me some focus... when the focus goes, I start to loose the plot a bit..
I look at my parents who have both had very succesfull careers, nice house, nice cars etc... but it just seems pointless... you cant take it with you when you die...
I have so many interests I cant just focus on one as a career.... It would drive me nuts...
I have applied to uni this year, but most of the unis have said NO because I dont have a Maths A-Level.... two of them have said they would take me if I do a foundation degree first... which does not appeal atall.... might be ok if THAT was what I wanted to do... but as I dont actually know what I want to do... its a bit tricky..
I am starting to realise that I wont get far in any career with out some formal training and qualifications... hence why I thought about uni... but no idea where to specialise...
Its sort of tempting to throw in my job and dissapear around the world for a year to try and find the meaning of life, but I dont think I would find it...
So.... the floor is yours... what IS the point?
[Edited on 3/3/10 by tegwin]
quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
Somebody should write a book on all these responses ..... very good reading.