Hi,

Question to all dj's out there:

I have a good paying job, have saved some money but am not happy with my life since I have other things I rather be doing. Has anybody on this board ever made a career change where they left a good paying career to follow their passion / dreams? Even though following your passion will probably not pay as well, if at all, at least in the short term.

I have posted a similar message on this board a few years back, even though back then I was not ready to change my path and now I feel it's time to make a change.

I find that the older you get, the harder it is to make the leap. I Am in my mid thirties and am afraid that if I don't make a change now I never will. Have a comfortable life, financially speaking, but I am starting to feel that it doesn't mean much and that even though I make more $ every consecutive year, I am not getting any happier, in fact the opposite is true. Every year I feel as if I am getting closer to 'making it big', but this year I started to question if there is even such a thing as making it big? How much $ does someone need? Is it better to live a humble life and do what you love?

Any advice / comments appreciated.

dollars aside what are the other things you'd like to do ? have a crack...you can always go back to your old job if you have skills in that area. The mind will fill you with fear though so you have to move beyond this. Perhaps start in small stages (work part time in old job etc till you find your feet) but if you dont have a go you'll live with regret and that is worse than all the money in the world.

I've never had a "good paying career". So as it stands I've always followed my passion for animation, (3d, motion graphics, video fx), but I'm in a market where I'm never going to make it "big". I accept that. I've run my own shop a few times and I realized I really enjoy being my own boss, so now I'm working on building a solid foundation for my own design business. I also see that I have some talent for marketing and I enjoy the process of building a business so I'm putting that to use as well, learning how to market and expand existing businesses. I'm doing some consulting for a few friends and I want to expand on that.

Figure out what your passion is, figure out how to make it profitable and start with small steps until it grows. When you see you can jump ship and survive, leave the rest behind. Oh and save up as much money as possible before you jump ship. Good luck.

You are comfortable, and it is human nature to seldom deviate from such a path. Look at how our nation goes after natural resources like oil, as opposed to other more complicated methods for energy. Oil is the easiest, even if it is a death kneel to us all.

While paradoxical, I would say I was lucky to have lost my job and found this new opportunity as part owner of a company. I left my friends, family, and a great gf to take the plunge in life path that offers no safety net what so ever. Paychecks are not guaranteed, work is not guaranteed. For someone with a family, such a choice must be that much more difficult for them to take. Which lifestyle is better? It depends on you. Do you like to take risks or do you like the complacent life with a regular paycheck? There are pros to both life styles.

synergy1: I have taken many risks in my life time, had to take quite a few risks to get to where I am at with this job. I don't think it's about taking a risk but more about deciding to change your lifestyle so that you can do something you like.

I am sure that I will be able to leave off of my new career, but it won't be as lucrative. Furthermore, I am also afraid that the new path might not be as fulfilling once I have taken it: maybe it's 'the grass is always greener' effect.

That's why I am looking for people who have actually jumped ship in their mid-30's to try something else that included a change in lifestyle.

djzulu said:

don't think it's about taking a risk but more about deciding to change your lifestyle so that you can do something you like.

That's why I am looking for people who have actually jumped ship in their mid-30's to try something else that included a change in lifestyle.

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So basically if you quit your job and attempt to pursue something you love, you claim that this is not a risk? I fail to see how. However the semantics are interpreted, something is obviously holding you back. Call it whatever you want.

And yes, I jumped ship and have changed my life in order to pursue something I want. Otherwise, I would have applied to a ton of engineering firms, defense contractors or medical device companies. No, I am not mid 30's, but a life style change is still a life style change. Despite the myriad of challenges, it was way more fulfilling than the 7:30-4:00 Five day per week job which I had last year at this time.

synergy1 said:

And yes, I jumped ship and have changed my life in order to pursue something I want. Otherwise, I would have applied to a ton of engineering firms, defense contractors or medical device companies. No, I am not mid 30's, but a life style change is still a life style change. Despite the myriad of challenges, it was way more fulfilling than the 7:30-4:00 Five day per week job which I had last year at this time.

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Maybe I didn't make myself clear, what I mean is that the career path I want to pursue will probably not lead to huge $, but I know that I will be comfortable, I won't starve.

I am currently self-employed and have taken many risks to be in the current situation. Think about it as a change from a career oriented / $ oriented profession to a profession that I love but just pays well enough to be comfortable at best.

I was wondering how it feels to 'go back' in lifestyle after getting used to eating out / driving nice cars etc.

Read the laws of success. The first law of success is the answer to your question

backbreaker said:

Read the laws of success. The first law of success is the answer to your question

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link?

backbreaker said:

Read the laws of success. The first law of success is the answer to your question

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If you mean the laws of success by Napoleon Hill, then I can relate by saying that I got to where I am now by following some of the methodologies, I still think there is more to my situation than a success formula - am revisiting the book now and will post when done.