TDD-015 – Pursuing Your Passion Revisited

Vinny and Roland talk about major career changes, following your passion, and ignoring your poverty. Read more

BD-028 – What is a Life Coach?

Are you looking for a happier home life? Perhaps you’re still not sure what you want to be when you grow up. Consider talking to a life coach. Read more

Doctor? Lawyer? IT Professional? Starving Artist?

Fascinating conversation going on over at this article. The author questions whether he is a bad parent about the career advice he’s giving his son.

My son is a high school senior with an A-minus average who takes mostly advance placement and honors courses. He loves the challenge of math, and aced a calculus AP exam, scoring a 5, the top grade. Yet, his true passion is composing classical music, and all of the colleges he’s considering offer strong programs in classical music composition.

While many parents steer their kids toward college programs, including those in IT management and computer sciences, that promise relatively steady and lucrative careers, my wife and I have been my son’s biggest champions in his pursuit of his passion, though we know that few people earn a good living composing classical music.

I have to admit, my instinct is to be practical and recommend getting a ‘decent’ paying job with some relative job stability. There’s nothing fun about being a starving artist. Maybe that’s nice for your twenties, but you’ve got to think long term.

Most of us don’t have obscenely wealthy parents. As a single income household with kids and increasing demands, my focus has to be on income/stability, not passion. (In my beat down humble opinion.)

What do you think? Please answer the poll below:

Also, please leave a comment. But please no angry/accusing rants. Just share what your situation is and what you think is realistic. This is an important issue.

Thanks!
-BD

When I Grow Up

Thought I’d share my all-time favorite video with you. Personally I think it’s brilliant. Wish I’d thought of it first. It strikes me deeply because I’ve spent twenty years in the advertising/marketing industry. Enjoy!

Happy Labor Day!

MOM – Job Description

Uh oh. Found some mom-propoganda in my inbox. Plus one of those annoying articles about how a mom/housewife should be paid $120k per year. Yikes! :)

MOM – JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE:
Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, Momma, Ma

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

BD-013 – We’re Lines on a Spreadsheet

While celebrating a collegue’s new job, a beloved collegue loses hers. BD reflects on our roles as disposable assets in the eyes of corporate America.

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The Four-Day Work Week Challenge

I came across a very thoughtful article, The Four-Day Week Challenge, on A List Apart.

It includes a practical list of time management tips and resource links. I encourage you to read it.

What do you think? Please post your comments. Thanks.
-Roland