Where's the exit
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Having just replied to Fabio about the freedom he has in his youth to experiment with careers before the responsiblities of family life limits his freedom, I hope he reads the view from your side of the street as it's quite educational. You have a couple of things working against you. First, you have a standard of living to maintain and people who depend on you for that, so you can't just go live in an old VW bus while you find a new career, nor can you work flipping burgers and live on Ramen noodles while you build that new career. Additionally, this standard of living comes from being one of the old dogs. You've worked your way up, increased your value and thus your income, and now doubtless have a lifestyle that is dependant upon it. A new career means rebooting your salary since, regardless of your age, you're no longer one of the valued old dogs. You're a pup, you're new at the game, and you'll be compensated as such. Something you might contemplate is multiple streams of revenue. What sorts of things could you make partial money at in your spare time while keeping your current job? Could any of these build up part time to a point where they would be sufficient to sustain you, allowing you to hum the chorus of that timeless classic, "Take this job and shove it," and then move into a new full time career? Alternatively, what if you had several small things going on as side pursuits? Though each, in and of themselves, would not be enough to sustain you even after growth, the combined income might. You've probably spent most of your life working full time for one endeavor, so that's where your default thinking is going to be. Since it's unrealistic to jump in as The New Guy in a different field and make what you're earning now as a seasoned veteran, you're going to have to broaden your strategic thinking to non traditional scenarios. The down side of this is that no matter what new career(s) you choose, your family will pay for it in the time you must spend building a new chapter of your life. However, if you can get them on board and have their support in the adventure, the benefits to them are also tangible. A person burnt out on career or life issues is not capable of giving his best to those he loves, no matter how much he wants to. When you do find the exit (and you will, if you're serious about doing the work it takes), you're going to have more energy, optimism and happiness to share with others than you can possibly imagine. That's a great long term payoff for everyone.
A very wise and thoughtful post, Christopher. Very appreciated ! best, Bill
"Many : not conversant with mathematical studies, imagine that because it [the Analytical Engine] is to give results in numerical notation, its processes must consequently be arithmetical, numerical, rather than algebraical and analytical. This is an error. The engine can arrange and combine numerical quantities as if they were letters or any other general symbols; and it fact it might bring out its results in algebraical notation, were provisions made accordingly." Ada, Countess Lovelace, 1844
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I was really banking on the swine flu outbreak to thin the ranks of the elderly inheritance holders - just my luck that it's cured with 7up and chicken soup.
The sad thing is...your kids might be thinking the same thing :doh:
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That's not hard... I'm only 28, and those under-25-year-olds ARE children.
The younger you are the bigger the age difference between you and other people appears. This phenomenon begins to wane as you approach thirty. Close to forty, the only age differences are statutory. :suss:
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Yeah, that's what they told me a couple of years ago when I wanted to get a teaching credential in California. It might be different in other states, I don't know. The lady told me that CS is not an acceptable major and that I would need something like English or math, and then my minor could be CS which would then allow me to teach CS. I joked with the lady and said that since I was from England, I could probably teach English pretty easily. She just kinda looked at me and said "I don't think the language department would appreciate that". :laugh: You might want to check into it in more detail just to be sure, but that meeting pretty much ruled out teaching for me too. No way I'm going back to school for 2 years now.
The StartPage Randomizer - The Windows Cheerleader - Twitter
Miszou wrote:
"I don't think the language department would appreciate that".
Them don't got no smarts.
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
you'd make more than $30K : CS Teachers Association[^]
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Jupitersoft wrote:
Any ideas?
Open a sandwich shop. Everyone loves sandwiches. Make the sandwiches as salty as you can get away with. Sell over-priced iced tea. Eh, that's all i got.
Shhhhh... That's my secret retirement plan. It worked for Arthur Dent until he took a ride on a Perfectly Normal Beast, and I expect it will work out for me. But not if you spread it around too much; I don't need the competition!
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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Duncan Edwards Jones wrote:
Then can you wait until they're weaned independent...?
Does that ever happen? Even after collage?
My parents haven't helped me financially since I was 26 during the last recession. How long do you have to wait? :D
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
Try University.
You have the thought that modern physics just relay on assumptions, that somehow depends on a smile of a cat, which isn’t there.( Albert Einstein)
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My parents haven't helped me financially since I was 26 during the last recession. How long do you have to wait? :D
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Ten years at least :((
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Duncan Edwards Jones wrote:
Then can you wait until they're weaned independent...?
Does that ever happen? Even after collage?
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The younger you are the bigger the age difference between you and other people appears. This phenomenon begins to wane as you approach thirty. Close to forty, the only age differences are statutory. :suss:
I've noticed. Now I'm in my mid thirties I find I have friends aged from early twenties through 60s.
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
Teach at the college level. It pays very well.
Todd Smith
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I've noticed. Now I'm in my mid thirties I find I have friends aged from early twenties through 60s.
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over 30?! time for a mid life crisis. ;P
----------------------------------------------------------- HACK: To program a computer in a clever, virtuosic, and wizardly manner. Ordinary computer jockeys merely write programs; hacking is the domain of digital poets. Hacking is a subtle and arguably mystical art, equal parts wit and technical ability, that is rarely appreciated by non-hackers.
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Jupitersoft wrote:
Any ideas?
Open a sandwich shop. Everyone loves sandwiches. Make the sandwiches as salty as you can get away with. Sell over-priced iced tea. Eh, that's all i got.
That doesn't work all that well out here... except for Subway. For some reason people keep trying to run a sandwich shop beside the Subway, 0 for 2 so far.
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That doesn't work all that well out here... except for Subway. For some reason people keep trying to run a sandwich shop beside the Subway, 0 for 2 so far.
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
Go back to school and become a Lawyer, they are always in demand, I hear ambulances often... :) How about making a decent video teaching course and selling it? Anything really good is usually so expensive..
Rocky <>< Recent Blog Post: Playing with Kubuntu Linux.. Thinking about Silverlight? www.SilverlightCity.com