[fruit_cake]

It's a common type of phrase that people often ask, do you have a 'career'?

I would like to ask the forum, what motivates you in life, time or money? do you think that work is more important than hobbies or other past-times? do you think life can be fulfilling without a 'career'? do 'careers' even exist anymore with today's flexible working patterns etc.

I have spent quite a long time in my life on the edge of a profession without really ever wanting to do it, it was just a way of making money really I guess. Others seem to be very motivated and love the cut and thrust of a career.

[Marc]

I wish I was, I really wish I was.

[Jake.]

well i work in burger king so obviously 100% yes

[Pyramid*]

Oh.... good question and no doubt, there will be lots of different answers for all different reasons.

I'm motivated by a need to enjoy what I do - in life overall - but as far as work is concerned - my being happy doing what I did over the years workwise made work a 'pleasure', and that in it's own way led to a career developing.

I never was going to be content with doing a job for money only without having motivation behind it - too many hours are spent working every day to not enjoy (imo): the desire to enjoy what I do, to be pleased with results, so know that you are making a difference along with others - that's a feel good factor, and that kicks into life outside work too - that feel good factor follows into social life, interests and hobbies (or perhaps it's vice versa?) - to me, it's all relative.


I think a lot depends also on personal situations and circumstances outwith the 'career/work' side that can impact and / or affect the motivation.

I know some women who were seriously focused on reaching high levels, worked hard and throughly enjoyed the 'cut and thrust' - always reaching for bigger & better, who were career driven: for that to all change when they met/married/became parent etc - and their focus on life changed.

What gave them real pleasure and highs previously from their career or work, no longer had the same motivating factors, with family and children being what gave them the most pleasure when that came along: with work being a means to earning money to enjoying life (family I mean).

Different folks, different strokes, and sometimes it can all change even when the person themselves would not have expected it to.

[joeysteele]

I will be very career focussed once I finish Uni, whichever of the 2 careers I decide to take on,Politics or Law.
However I will set out and aim to strike a good balance between all the people in my life,enjoying life and my career.
Obviously though,my career will be a main priority as to my life.

[Livia]

I worked hard to have a career that pays enough to give me a good work/life balance. It's also giving me the opportunity to be able to change tack and go in a different direction. I enjoy my career, I chose it after all, but it's not who I am, it's just what I do.

[AnnieK]

I fell into my career but love it....I am lucky that after 14 years of long hours and bloody hard work my employers thought enough of me to allow me to reduce my hours after my son came along....I now do the work of 5 days in 3 allowing me the time to have the work/life balance I am lucky enough to enjoy.....although with a hyper 2 year old a new career in sleep sounds good to me.....

[HBB1508]

I work to live rather than live to work - but I have a career that pays enough for me to have a nice life style. The only thing I would have done differently would have been to study harder at school rather than going out to work at 16 and then having to study at night school later in life - but it was worth it in the end.

[Kizzy]

Nice one annie, enjoy your baby
I was never career orientated and worked as a house keeper for years then at 35 I went back into education to follow a career.
I wish I had done it a lot sooner.

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by kizzy

Nice one annie, enjoy your baby
I was never career orientated and worked as a house keeper for years then at 35 I went back into education to follow a career.
I wish I had done it a lot sooner.

Thank you - I really do....I waited a long time and went through a lot to finally have him so love every minute of him

[Niamh.]

I would like to win to lotto so I never have to work, my family and personal life is what I live for, work is just a way of paying the bills for me

[fruit_cake]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

Oh.... good question and no doubt, there will be lots of different answers for all different reasons.

I'm motivated by a need to enjoy what I do - in life overall - but as far as work is concerned - my being happy doing what I did over the years workwise made work a 'pleasure', and that in it's own way led to a career developing.

I never was going to be content with doing a job for money only without having motivation behind it - too many hours are spent working every day to not enjoy (imo): the desire to enjoy what I do, to be pleased with results, so know that you are making a difference along with others - that's a feel good factor, and that kicks into life outside work too - that feel good factor follows into social life, interests and hobbies (or perhaps it's vice versa?) - to me, it's all relative.


I think a lot depends also on personal situations and circumstances outwith the 'career/work' side that can impact and / or affect the motivation.

I know some women who were seriously focused on reaching high levels, worked hard and throughly enjoyed the 'cut and thrust' - always reaching for bigger & better, who were career driven: for that to all change when they met/married/became parent etc - and their focus on life changed.

What gave them real pleasure and highs previously from their career or work, no longer had the same motivating factors, with family and children being what gave them the most pleasure when that came along: with work being a means to earning money to enjoying life (family I mean).

Different folks, different strokes, and sometimes it can all change even when the person themselves would not have expected it to.

interesting reading Pyramid, and welcome back by the way the forum's a much more interesting place with you around.

It's also interesting you mention that the 'feel good' factor actually improving other areas of your life. That's definitely something I wish I had more of, the possibility of enjoying more of the spare time when one is not working. Quality and not quantity.

[chuff me dizzy]

Full time Mam and wife

[GypsyGoth]

I'm not in a career at the moment, I really don't understand the purpose of some jobs or why people chose to spend their time on this planet doing them.

And I guess out of time & money, I'd much prefer to have days twice as long than be twice as wealthy.

My main creative hobby is writing, I have an ambition to earn a living at it, however that's not why I do it. And as far as fulfilment goes, I couldn't imagine a career giving me the same satisfaction as finishing a story. I suppose it might transform into a career for me one day.

And yes I do think careers still exist, they just seem different, more fluid now, and not always with the same employer.

[Vicky.]

I was more for money than anything else until I got pregnant, then everything changed. I think I'm more for family than my 'career' now. I didnt have a career as such to start with, but I did have a well paid job. Luckily though, me and gav will be inheriting a business quite soon from his father who is wanting to retire. So even without working I will have a steady income, so I can have both cash and a family

[Me. I Am Salman]

Yep, mainly for feeling for achievement.

[Cherie]

Got two part time jobs neither of which I would class as a "career", i work in a local special needs school two days a week which can be very rewarding, plus the hours are great....and school holidays off....took up this job recently now both sons are in high school and I love the extra cash it gives me, other job is working for a publisher which I have done from home for the past 13 years. For me its a perfect life work balance as I get to spend lots of time at home ...I used to work in London before my children were born but would hate to do the commute and grind of a 9 to 5, 5 days a week now. Ive never been particularly career minded, as long as I have a decent lifestyle Im happy.

[Munchkins]

Yes i am very career minded, and driven and will not let anything stop me reaching my end goal
did well in school, now need to stick in at college!

[MTVN]

Well mainly I'd just like to get a job or make a living from something I actually enjoy doing, not really bothered if I would make a "career" out of it or not, I think I'm more likely to look for fulfillment in my life outside of work

[fruit_cake]

I've worked part-time pretty much all my life, drifting through one job or another and recently I have managed to mix that with having to raise a family etc but something is telling me that it's time to join the rat race. I'm thinking about trading in a well paid part-time job for a not so well paid full time job. I'm not sure why that is really, but unless you actually have a career, how do you know that you wouldn't want one I guess.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by fruit_cake

I've worked part-time pretty much all my life, drifting through one job or another and recently I have managed to mix that with having to raise a family etc but something is telling me that it's time to join the rat race. I'm thinking about trading in a well paid part-time job for a not so well paid full time job. I'm not sure why that is really, but unless you actually have a career, how do you know that you wouldn't want one I guess.

Why would you do that? Has the full time job got better prospects for the future or something?

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by fruit_cake

interesting reading Pyramid, and welcome back by the way the forum's a much more interesting place with you around.

It's also interesting you mention that the 'feel good' factor actually improving other areas of your life. That's definitely something I wish I had more of, the possibility of enjoying more of the spare time when one is not working. Quality and not quantity.

Cheers Fruit-cake, that's kind of you and appreciated, thanks.

I think the vast majority of us never really make the most of what we have at the time, whether it's free time or anything else - I mean, look at us all on here - I'm pretty sure we could all be doing something with more quality and value to it - but there's always a need for 'chillout zone time' too.

If the whole world was made up of career driven folk: I'd reckon there would be a hell of a decline in society - we need home makers as much as career makers to balance the whole chibang out.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by fruit_cake

I've worked part-time pretty much all my life, drifting through one job or another and recently I have managed to mix that with having to raise a family etc but something is telling me that it's time to join the rat race. I'm thinking about trading in a well paid part-time job for a not so well paid full time job. I'm not sure why that is really, but unless you actually have a career, how do you know that you wouldn't want one I guess.

Outwith the typical 'career plans' being made and worked to - I often think people fall into their career - I do think of that can come from working at something that brings you pleasure, that you enjoy, that gives a person a sense of fulfillment in whatever way, and from that - things progress and before you know it......you're half way there before you know it. I guess that can be the point where you'd be able to decide whether that was the route you wanted your 'working life' to take.

One thing I'm a believer in is that for many things in life, it's not always too late. It's more a matter of believing in yourself, as well as having the confidence/bravado/ to go give something different a try.

[fruit_cake]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Why would you do that? Has the full time job got better prospects for the future or something?

I don't really know, I just feel like doing something different and frankly I'm not getting any younger.

I dislike doing the job I do, so I spend most of the time wishing I weren't there when I am. There's only so many years of that you can take before you want to see something else I suppose.

and yes Niamh! it does have better prospects and some rather nice fringe benefits too

[chuff me dizzy]

Originally Posted by Munchkins

Yes i am very career minded, and driven and will not let anything stop me reaching my end goal
did well in school, now need to stick in at college!

What do you want to do Munchy?