Poll of the Day > Assuming you did, how did you find out what you wanted to do for a living?

(+) Yeah! (+)

If not, then how do you live without knowing what it is that you want to do?

I must have these answers.
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I don't know, but if you do something for long enough, you get good at it and people like being good at things.

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I started writing one day, and then shared some of my early works, as bad as they were, with people. Now if only I had the time AND the energy both to write, because I have so many quality stories to tell.

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I wanted to do something that can be widely applied, so I studied physics and math. The CS program at my undergrad sucked or I likely wouldve done physics and CS.

I decided I wanted money (because that can be widely applied) and to be in academic science and code cool algorithms (because science and mentoring rock). My current career gave me a high chance, so I did grad school for it. I really wanted to be a research scientist for Disney, but people love Disney so much theyll work for free and makes these positions rather difficult. So before even trying I decided against it.

Turns out, my field isnt what I thought it was. I did well but struggled with wanting to leave from a lack of enjoyment. I continued and graduated (#1 in class in both grad and high school but did average in college).

Then after getting basically offered a Very high salary to basically be a PhD student who has some clinical responsibility and would very likely get a faculty position after... I decided Id rather just have additional money and not be faculty, but still practice in an academic environment. I mean I can still mentor students and publish papers, so why do a PhD and be out money? An academic position isnt very different from a non academic position in my field. Especially good for me to not pursue one because I dont love clinical science and think almost all of the research getting published in my field is bad, pointless, or unoriginal.

Soon Ill decide I just want even more money and location and focus more on those two things and lose the academic environment, but COVID is holding my career back a bit. Maybe become a manager. No long term loss though.

And after about a decade in my current career field Ill want to just do temp jobs, like 3-4 months a year. Because Ill have more than enough money and just want freedom at that point.

And yeah, thats how it came to be. I wish I had entered a career with either a higher salary ceiling (like over 500k) or chose something where I could choose my location a bit easier and be a bit more connected to data modeling, but you just play the hand you currently have and dont mull over regrets.

I did many jobs.

Expert paint tinter/retailer
Harley Davidson tow trunk driver/bike detailer/maintenance guy
Cell culture technician
Target price change department
Microbiologist
Environmental monitoring tech
Central services lead for the production of Merck APIs
Pill formulation technician
Antibody salesman
Bartender/bar cook
Highly skilled breakfast short order cook
Brewery chef

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I always liked helping other students learn while I was a student, from when I was in elementary school right up until high school. Then I did tutoring for other students while in university. I just kind of slid into becoming a teacher.

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I was like 6 or 7, and my parents had an Atari 800XL, and a book of BASIC games. I was into games and didn't have an issue spending and hour or two copying the game code from the book into the computer. Once the game was in and I played it for a bit, I found I had more fun manipulating the code and seeing what it did to the game afterwords then actually playing it.

It basically snowballed from there.

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I did a lot of programming as a kid and teen, so I had a huge head start learning it. (though that was both good and bad).

programming is so much fun I don't know why everyone isn't a programmer.

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ive been cooking for 13 years, i just love the industry

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im 27 and im just barely starting to figure it out

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Sahuagin posted...

I don't know why everyone isn't a programmer.

because most people are lazy and stupid

source: i am lazy and stupid

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i'm still trying to figure that out myself, but one thing i've learned relatively recently is that sometimes a job can just be a job. it doesn't always have to be your lifelong passion or something you're married to, it can just be the thing you do to bring home money and you spend the rest of your time on things you enjoy

a lot of people (myself included) get stuck in the trap of "if i don't find a job i love i'll be a failure" and it might lead us to be a lot unhappier

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Cobalt_Wasps posted...

ive been cooking for 13 years, i just love the industry

My mother has always thought I should have been a chef. She told me such at 16 but I didn't think I'd like cooking for the general public. Now, I only want to be my neighborhood's personal chef and I actually doing it.

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SunWuKung420 posted...

My mother has always thought I should have been a chef. She told me such at 16 but I didn't think I'd like cooking for the general public. Now, I only want to be my neighborhood's personal chef and I actually doing it.

thats awesome. i got super lucky and am able to do that right now, its a good life =)

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Cobalt_Wasps posted...

thats awesome. i got super lucky and am able to do that right now, its a good life =)

I actually cook in front of my customers.

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SunWuKung420 posted...

I actually cook in front of my customers.

ive worked a couple open kitchens, this one was set up like a stage with big lights
fun times

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Cobalt_Wasps posted...

ive worked a couple open kitchens, this one was set up like a stage with big lights
fun times

Nothing that fancy but I've formed many personal relationships with the people that pay me to feed them.

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DirtBasedSoap posted...

because most people are lazy and stupid

source: i am lazy and stupid

sounds like youd fit in! Knowing programming is a great way to do less crap and find solutions with having less analytical knowledge.

my parents decided i wanted to be an actor, my days on, hearts afire, went by fast, ok?

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i did a report in grade school that I had to choose a career to research and I picked biologist and just rolled with it ever since

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What really sucks is when you find a job you really like but there are one or two details that make you not want that job.

For me - it is mostly travel. Loved what I did the last 20+ years - but I'm not willing to travel anymore. Most of the world is a shithole and I have a great appreciation for where I live. I'd be happy never traveling further than 1-2 hours from my home for the rest of my life.

kukukupo posted...

I'd be happy never traveling further than 1-2 hours from my home for the rest of my life.

I've traveled for work and while I got to go to places like Honolulu and Amsterdam, it does have many negatives. I'll still travel to nice places though while I work within a short drive distance.

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I was disillusioned after graduating business school. My grandmother got sick with cancer and passed away after a year; I had been her caretaker and filled the space she left behind by volunteering at my local senior center. I applied myself and built relationships, eventually applied for an assistant position and now I am the operations coordinator on staff. I never knew I would find myself in human services until I took a chance helping out and was able to make a difference in others' lives as I had in the final months of my grandmother's.

Veermok09 posted...

I was disillusioned after graduating business school. My grandmother got sick with cancer and passed away after a year; I had been her caretaker and filled the space she left behind by volunteering at my local senior center. I applied myself and built relationships, eventually applied for an assistant position and now I am the operations coordinator on staff. I never knew I would find myself in human services until I took a chance helping out and was able to make a difference in others' lives as I had in the final months of my grandmother's.

That's very admirable and honorable. Helping people is rewarding.

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