How much of a paycut would you take to "follow your dreams"?

[linwood]

I wouldn`t take any pay cut.

 

Dreams don`t pay the mortgage.

 

Why can you work in insurance and write on your own?

[linwood]

The problem is, I might be looking back to say,

 

"I wish I could afford my medication. I had a great career, but threw it all away to pursue a childish dream, and now I'm old, broke, and alone."

 

Boll*cks.....No-one looks back and says that !!!!

 

Actually yes, yes they do, a great many of them do indeed.

 

The path to misery is paved with dreams.

 

That`s a fact.

[Thorgs]

Why not become a math teacher? That way you get summers off and you can write. All you would have to do is night classes for a Masters right? Teaching is an awesome job but the pay is no where near being an actuary.

 

Or, you could spice up your life outside of work so that way you have something to look forward to when you're sitting at work waiting to leave

[cavedweller]

spookie,

 

I think you should keep your full time job and start writing part-time..

 

my 2 cents

[spookie]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

 

Admittedly, there's no way I'd be able to live on 30K. I know other people do it, but I am not going to quit my job for a much-lesser-paying writing one.

 

The truth is, right now, I should be focusing on studying for my LAST ACTUARIAL EXAM (for a while), which is coming up in 2 weeks, after which, provided I pass and complete a couple other requirements, I will be FREE. Free in the evenings and on weekends to do whatever the f I want. Which WILL be focusing on my writing, as I had planned all along.

 

I am just really frustrated that I have to learn this s!ht that I don't give two hoots about. But I should focus on why I'm learning it. It's just something I need to get out of the way.

 

I am actually SO lucky. Maybe life insurance isn't the most exciting of professions, but my job can be pretty sweet. The other day I was in a meeting, dictating system requirements to a room full of people, and as I looked around, I realized I was (by far) the youngest person in the room, and everyone was listening to me. It's easy to bitch, but I actually derive a decent amount of satisfaction from that kind of attention/ power. I like feeling in charge, respected, and knowledgeable, and this career offers a lot of opportunities for me to get those kinds of kicks.

[shadowplay]

I'd have to give up so much in order to do so Green.

 

My dad has always told me if I ever wanted to go back to school for my MA or PhD, that he would pay my tab and support me (I actually wanted to be a Doctor like him growing up). But, I make good money now, and I like my lifestyle. I made a choice at a particular time in my life and I now feel like I have to make the best of it. I am pretty happy with my professional life- It's not my ideal career choice, but I am good at it, and it challenges me.

 

I guess I want Spooks to know that she is at the point where she she should follow her dream given her stage in life. There may come a time where there is no turning back.

 

Do it, D-Lish! You're so bright. I'm often astounded by your insight. I think it'd be a shame to let that go, and you're still young.

[Green]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

 

Admittedly, there's no way I'd be able to live on 30K. I know other people do it, but I am not going to quit my job for a much-lesser-paying writing one.

 

The truth is, right now, I should be focusing on studying for my LAST ACTUARIAL EXAM (for a while), which is coming up in 2 weeks, after which, provided I pass and complete a couple other requirements, I will be FREE. Free in the evenings and on weekends to do whatever the f I want. Which WILL be focusing on my writing, as I had planned all along.

 

I am just really frustrated that I have to learn this s!ht that I don't give two hoots about. But I should focus on why I'm learning it. It's just something I need to get out of the way.

 

I am actually SO lucky. Maybe life insurance isn't the most exciting of professions, but my job can be pretty sweet. The other day I was in a meeting, dictating system requirements to a room full of people, and as I looked around, I realized I was (by far) the youngest person in the room, and everyone was listening to me. It's easy to bitch, but I actually derive a decent amount of satisfaction from that kind of attention/ power. I like feeling in charge, respected, and knowledgeable, and this career offers a lot of opportunities for me to get those kinds of kicks.

 

All jobs can kinda suck even the good ones like famouse book writer or what ever. I think you should try to write while you work your job. I also have to take time consuming stressful exams for my career but I don't let it consume me. All you have to do is study one or two hours max a day and you will do fine. I realize the exam is on your mind a lot and that sux but it gets easier.

 

but don't give up on your dream WRITE

 

Do it, D-Lish! You're so bright. I'm often astounded by your insight. I think it'd be a shame to let that go, and you're still young.

 

Personaly I think D-Lish could continue working and earn the degree she needs to be a prof or what ever her dream is.

 

I have dreams and I never give up on them.

[shadowplay]

Personaly I think D-Lish could continue working and earn the degree she needs to be a prof or what ever her dream is.

 

I have dreams and I never give up on them.

 

Yeah, if she can manage both I think that'd be ideal. Maybe night school or something.

[jerbear]

I say go for it before you're 35 and have to many strings, mortgage, spouse, roots, kids, etc...

 

I still think you should continue doing what you do now and pass all the tests. Moonlight as a writer. There are organizations out there, blogging included, that would be an in for you. You might not get paid but as time goes on, you'll get paid for the articles.

 

For me I have taken 20% pay cuts, 25% pay cuts, including promotion potentials to focus on what I wanted to get, an MS from a top school, and I did. Now that I've gotten the degree I did get a small boost in pay but lost the momentum. Can you deal with the career momentum loss? I think you can.

 

Fear is a driver and I suggest that you throw fear under the bus and just moonlight then go all in. If you are not all in then you are not that in to it.

[shadowplay]

This thread reminds me of something my male friend recently said. He's 27 and has a well-paying job in a field for which he has no passion, but his real dream is to be a writer. He said that the problem is he's so comfortable right now that it's hard to just let go and pursue his dreams. He said he's being "smothered pillows" and to not "underestimate the power of being too comfortable."

[D-Lish]

 

Personaly I think D-Lish could continue working and earn the degree she needs to be a prof or what ever her dream is.

 

I have dreams and I never give up on them.

 

Thanks Green, I often consider it.

 

Meh, I have 2 Degrees and 2 Diplomas as it stands now. They are completely unrelated to the field I am in now, but I think that having that education makes me more well rounded and without those degrees, it would have been harder to have the position I have now.

 

 

Yeah, if she can manage both I think that'd be ideal. Maybe night school or something.

 

Probably someday I will go back again! And thanks for your kind words Shadow. I had a long stressful day at work, and reading the other post you wrote gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling- so thank you:love:

 

My only advice to Spookie is, not to put her dreams aside for too long; Because at some point you will wake up one day with regrets.

 

I would get your "day job" exams out of the way, then put a concerted effort into writing.

[NancyBotwin]

I wouldn't look at the actual percentage cut. I would look at my ability to pay my bills and buy lipstick with what I could realistically earn by writing. Look at what you will have to give up to write. If you can live with the loss, then go for it!

[Resigned]

Hi!

 

I've only read a few of the responses so I apologize if what I say has already been said.

 

Happiness is very important! Would you be OK with not only switching jobs but also your current lifestyle? If so, then do it!

 

Right now I'm married and living in the suburbs in a nice house w/ dogs (no kids). But looks like I'll be moving out because he's not the person I thought he was. (won't get into that here)

 

I decided I wouldn't mind living in another area of the country (lower cost of living) in a small apartment, and not eating out. My stress level however I expect to go down dramactically.

 

After figuring out a budget and looking at apartments in my price range (or what WILL be my price range) I've decided to do it after I get my biz up on its feet a bit more. If I can't get it to where I need it, then I'll work at a grocery store! Life is too short.

 

Good luck!

[denise_xo]

I've always chosen fulfillment over money, career wise. As one example, a bit over a year ago I took a close to 50% pay cut and moved from a 'good' job in an international organisation that lots of people envied me, to pursue something I had dreamt of doing for a decade.

 

One of the consequences is that I have to take part time work in addition to my full time job. Another consequence is that I don't own anything (house, car, etc.), it would be hard for me to get a mortgage, and I don't have any savings. I have no regrets, though, to me it has been worth it, and my lifestyle is (according to my own standards) still decent.

 

I agree with Nancy, the important thing isn't the pay cut percentage but whether you can sustain yourself in terms of covering basic expenses. I've been through brief periods where I couldn't and don't want to put myself there again. Then after that comes the lifestyle consideration, which is all about a personal choice - are you willing to give up x, y, z (whatever you appreciate with your current lifestyle that you know you would lose) for a writing career?

[spookie]

So, as a general update, I have thought about this long and hard, and the truth is, I'm not willing to give ANYTHING up.

 

Things are also going better at work - the project I thought was going to bore me to death has actually become pretty exciting. And my LAST FCVKING TEST is on Thursday - hopefully I pass so I don't have to take it again.

 

The exams are the main cause of my burnout. Once I'm done with the exams, it should be easy sailing. I will have time to "follow my dreams" in addition to having a career that pays the bills.