Post: #1

Anyone else ever get this?

I feel like my career options are so wide that I'm actually hindering myself by not narrowing my focus, picking one thing and going at it for long enough to get some traction.

Currently I'm freelancing online. But I'm constantly filled with thoughts of something I could be doing that's better. Totally different crafts, career paths - from being a scientist in the oil sands, teaching english in asia, being a consultant in the capital city, being a computer programmer.

Even in my current field, there's like five different specialties I could go into that are all very different. But I still haven't picked one, and gone for it! As a result I'm getting dribs and drabs of jobs and not earning nearly as much as if I specialized.

I know I'm capable of learning quickly and I'm intelligent, but I think that's a mixed blessing - if you're constantly thinking about what else you could do, you're not actually building skills effectively in the thing you *are* doing. As a result I'm in my late 20's with patchwork experience in a few different things, but no real solid chops in any one thing. I've read and read about all sorts, but I definitely come up short on action.

A guy who started freelancing weeks later than me has already made more money just by narrowly focussing on getting clients and doing the work. He doesn't intend to do it forever, and has bigger plans - but he gets his head down and gets it done. I need more of that.

Anyone else get this?

There's gotta be a balance I think - you want to keep an eye out for better opportunities and avenues, but at the same time, you gotta fully engage with what's in front of you, commit to it, and make things happen.

Post: #2

Well, the first step is to find out what you think you are good at.

Second step, follow the money

Third step- profit.

The 2nd step is arguably the hardest when you have a lot of options. What pays you the most, is most pleasant/easiest to do.

Post: #3

Damn, felt like I was reading something I wrote. Same boat here for the most part. Lots of aptitudes, lots of options, shit loads of interests, no clear calling, and the clocks running. I swear I could live 100 lives and never be bored.

Part of the problem is that I've been chasing the Holy Grail. Something that:

A) I'm really into
B) I have at least some aptitude for
C) Has the ability to be location independent
D) Will pay the bills for a basic lifestyle
E) Is something I can only do/start when I'm still under 30
F) Helps me get laid (exposure, status, access, etc)

The only thing that fits most of that criteria for me is taking a stab at producing and performing music, but doesn't guarantee item D or C. So I get all pumped up to throw myself into music, but then I see all these young guys banking hard in tech (my other background) and I get all hot-to-trot about building a business. So right now I'm telling myself that the window for music is closing as I approach 30, so may as well take my best shot at that since it's not something I can always do later like business.

Also, the internet is the fucking worst for this. It's an endless whirlwind of cool shit other people are doing that you could be doing too. It would probably help to unplug and stay off the net for periods of time. I play around with the idea of going all Thoreau and shuttering myself away in a mountain cabin sometimes.

Post: #4

I've had the same issues before. It's the paradox of choice, ironically life would be simpler if we had limited choices.

I just jump in and decide on a course of action. If it doesn't work that's ok, I don't beat myself up because I can always go back and try something else.

Once I decide on a path, I find that narrowing my focus is key. While I do keep my eyes open, I don't get distracted and start contemplating the what ifs. I try to keep my focus like a laser beam. The alternate options fade...at least for a while.

I think that whatever you pick no matter how exciting over a period of time will start to feel like a job. That doesn't necessarily mean that you lost the passion that got you started, it's just that the 'newness' of it fades.

There's a difference between the outside view and what things are like when you're actually doing the work day in and day out. Because of that I believe the best teacher is your own first hand experience, so the best way to know is to try to work in the field you are interested in for a while. You might find you love it, or you might hate it after just a few days. Either way you're close to narrowing down the choices.

Post: #5

Quote:Damn, felt like I was reading something I wrote.

Me too. Actually just reading it puts me in a bad mood. I can do so much and always want to do more stuff.

I tried freelancing but its so fucking hard to find clients. All the job posts have like 40+ applicants, and how will you compete against a bunch of Indians that charge 50% less?

I don't know how people do it really, and sometimes I feel like I've got nothing else but to give in to the 9-5 which I despise and refuse to...

Post: #6

my old man held several different jobs before pursuing his passion and making a good chunk of change from it. in his early 20's, after his 4th or 5th job, he stumbled onto his passion, which was not in a high-paying industry.

but once in, he told himself, "i'm going to be the best in this industry." he spent the next 30-40 years diving deeper and deeper into it and, in more ways than one, accomplished his goal.

there's no doubt he could have succeeded in many of the related industries, but had he wasted time sitting on the fence and failing to commit 100% to just one, he would not be the man he is today.

if you're not in a field that makes you want to be the best, maybe it's not the right field for you?

Post: #7

Post: #8

When faced with such choices, uppermost in your mind should be "What do I feel most passionate about?" Life with a mission is so much more fulfilling than earning wads of cash doing something that you don't feel passionate about. And it will make you more attractive to women.

Post: #9

I'm passionate about earning moneys and being stable and ready for my 30's. I don't mind what I do, it's not a passion but I've set a goal in my life that I can accomplish by continuing on this career path, I've decided to change career soon so I can earn money quicker to be ready for my 30s. At the moment my view of work is that it is something which will soon enable me to do the things I want to do. I used to have a fear of not having anything to fall back and having to build again from scratch but I'd welcome that challenge if it ever came along now.

Post: #10

(02-11-2013 10:22 PM)FretDancer Wrote:  

Quote:Damn, felt like I was reading something I wrote.

Me too. Actually just reading it puts me in a bad mood. I can do so much and always want to do more stuff.

I tried freelancing but its so fucking hard to find clients. All the job posts have like 40+ applicants, and how will you compete against a bunch of Indians that charge 50% less?

I don't know how people do it really, and sometimes I feel like I've got nothing else but to give in to the 9-5 which I despise and refuse to...

I'm a still new to freelancing online (~7-8 months), but I have learned a ton from my previous experiences that when I go full force into the business I'm starting I'm going to do things somewhat differently than before. Here are some of those things.

1) I'm keeping my day job until the income is sustainable. This may be a no-brainer to some, but I made this mistake 5 years ago. I quit a stable job to start a business, and for me it didn't work. I was constantly worried about money that it was fucking me up. I racked up a lot of debt, and had little in terms of a safety net. I would have done better if I had savings. This time, I'm working a 9-5 while working on the business on the side. For me there's no downside because I'm motivated to come home and keep working, and I can see if the business is going to be viable or not.

2) Networking. I see freelancing sites like online dating with the clients being the girls. Just like chicks online the prospects are getting bombarded with offers, which do they pick? Again it's too many choices and they get paralyzed.

So a solution to that is not to give up with the online sites, but also to network face to face. In the age of technology this is a lost art. In the US, we have networking groups, chamber of commerce events, etc. If those don't exist start one. Start a networking group with 8-10 people each an expert in their field. The key to this is having only one expert for each field and finding like minded people. The last thing you want is a bunch of guys who are 'too protective of their clients.' and all they like to do is take and not give. That's why you need to choose carefully. Networking probably won't bring an immediate result, but eventually it'll be a gold mine.

You can network ANYWHERE. EVERYONE is an opportunity. I've recruited a bunch of people to our BJJ school, they were just people I talked to at the bar or the gym.

3) Referrals, something that a lot of people ignore. Let's say you did a great job for a client. Here's just a sample conversation I'm just making up:

You: How did the new sales page do after the tests?
Client: It was great we went from 1.3% to 5.2%, thank you so much!
You: That's awesome, I'm happy that we were able to work together and I was able to increase your sales!
Client: Yes you did a great job
You: Now that you see the value of what I can do, do you know of anyone else who can benefit from my services?

Some people like to volunteer people and others don't. The thing is go for referrals every time, then shoot the guy an email or give him a call.

"Hi (Referral's name),

This is Neo and I recently did some work with Joe Marketer and I wanted to reach out to you. Your name came up when we were thinking of other people that would benefit from my services. Here's my website and portfolio. Looking forward to working with you."

You can even take it a step further and give the guy a finders fee. Let's say the new project is going to be $500 give him 10% or $50 for the referral. The way I see it if he didn't refer you you'd be getting 0.

I know some industries forbid it or claim it's unethical so it's up to you guys to look into the specifics and legality. I find nothing wrong with it because that's how a lot of business is done.

Post: #11

(02-11-2013 07:18 PM)RichieP Wrote:  Anyone else ever get this?

I feel like my career options are so wide that I'm actually hindering myself by not narrowing my focus, picking one thing and going at it for long enough to get some traction.

Currently I'm freelancing online. But I'm constantly filled with thoughts of something I could be doing that's better. Totally different crafts, career paths - from being a scientist in the oil sands, teaching english in asia, being a consultant in the capital city, being a computer programmer.

Even in my current field, there's like five different specialties I could go into that are all very different. But I still haven't picked one, and gone for it! As a result I'm getting dribs and drabs of jobs and not earning nearly as much as if I specialized.

I know I'm capable of learning quickly and I'm intelligent, but I think that's a mixed blessing - if you're constantly thinking about what else you could do, you're not actually building skills effectively in the thing you *are* doing. As a result I'm in my late 20's with patchwork experience in a few different things, but no real solid chops in any one thing. I've read and read about all sorts, but I definitely come up short on action.

A guy who started freelancing weeks later than me has already made more money just by narrowly focussing on getting clients and doing the work. He doesn't intend to do it forever, and has bigger plans - but he gets his head down and gets it done. I need more of that.

Anyone else get this?

There's gotta be a balance I think - you want to keep an eye out for better opportunities and avenues, but at the same time, you gotta fully engage with what's in front of you, commit to it, and make things happen.

I think, and this is awkward advice, but it's of benefit to try something completely out of your sphere of expertise.

I have a lot of talents and skills, and I had a fairly promising education plan, but I like you, was completely overwhelmed with which thing I should pick and focus on.

So I became a construction worker.

I did this for about a year and a half, and I can tell you that it was one of the best choices I ever made. The practice of learning a trade in general was awesome, and even though I never once in my life thought I would be doing this shit, I miss it sometimes as I am up late at night working on an essay and wonder what my construction boys are up to. The discipline gained from doing construction and being apart of a overly-rugged and masculine crew was exactly the motivation I needed to think things through about my life and settle on an actual option and work on it.

The route un-taken might be what you need to figure out which route TO take. In my case I think becoming a construction worker matured me enough to finally focus on what route to travel down.

Post: #12

Too much freedom can be suffocating for people, especially young people.

In the words of Don Draper: Everyone wants to be told what to do.

There is a lot of comfort in structure. Freedom is only compatible with responsibility.

When you have responsible adults, you have a free society. Why do you think most of the international players here are in their mid 30s or older? Because they have become responsible enough to live the lifestyle they want. Set it as your goal but you cannot walk through a mirror and become who you want to be. You have to work at it.

Post: #13

We had a similar thread some time ago..anybody know which one was it? That same video posted by boiboi was also posted on that thread.

Post: #14

Don't you make most of your money from adsense?