Thursday, January 25, 2007

Help wanted...



I've been feeling quite overwhelmed lately. For the first time in my life, I have to make a decision. Career wise. At age 30, I finally get to answer that simple question : "What would you like to do when you grow up ? ". And the scariest thing is : I have no idea.

See, I was never asked, growing up, what I would like to do. They all assumed I would follow the same path the vast majority of the women in the family did : I would attend the conservatory of music and become a musician. And I did just that. I willingly played their game. But they had a vision for me : I would become a serene and discreet harpsichord player. I became instead a quirky and sometimes unruly trumpet player.

Their game ; My rules.

The music industry can be a harsh place and making ends meet is sometimes (ahem... most of the time) rather difficult so I've always had a day job as well while playing at night and over the weekends. I am still very positive about the music part. It is the day gig that's been bothering me for a while. I've been lucky so far. No matter where I lived, I've always found jobs in colleges or universities : jobs that pay very well but require little from my brain. Some people might find those jobs overwhelming and stressful but I've always been a lightning fast learner and not much will make me loose my sleep...

My point is ? I'm getting bored. To tears. It is definitely time for me to find a more permanent "day" career. Something that'll challenge my brains and something I'll be proud of. But what ? I resolutely need to work with people, work in a creative field and accomplish things. Anything.

I've taken many personality tests lately (no, not the ones on the Internet, thank-you-very-much but the serious ones. With real live people...) and seen a career counsellor. The results ? I am an artist that strives for challenges and may get bored easily. Duh ... Really ? Noting new came up and I am feeling quite lost. I am positive about the fact that I cannot go back to school (unless I finally find that multi-billionaire 92 years old man on his deathbed, wanting noting more than give me millions of dollars just for smiling...) I am also positive about the fact that I cannot work 9 to 5 in a cube any longer.

Any idea ? Please ??

4 comments:

utenzi said...

Michele sent me, JATP.

Why not focus on your music full time for a while? If you've been working for nearly 10 years at good paying jobs then you must have enough saved up to allow you to follow your muse in this fashion. There'll always be a cube waiting for you if you need to go back.

NetChick said...

Follow what makes you happy, and alive. If that means, exploring your options while schooling, do that, or, perhaps talking to people in the industry that may promote the passion within you to do great things... Go talk!

I found my calling by following my own lead at home. I loved everything marketing and design related, so I self-taught. For years. And then, I made my career happen.

If you ever need an ear off-blog, drop me a line! I love inspiring people to do what they were meant to.

Anonymous said...

Here from Micheles, you should do what makes you happy & what you need will come to you!

Jen said...

OMG I know exactly what you mean about the what do I want to be when I grow up thing. Is it something about the whole 3-0 that brings this on? :-D
And yes, day jobs especially for the creative artsy folk are MIND NUMBING. I gave up and started working retail because at least that way I never knew what customer I'd be dealing with next.
Good luck on your search girl. May you find something stimulating and of course lucrative!