I feel like two different people - I have a creative side fighting with a very analytical corporate side of my personality. This becomes a fight because there are very few careers that meld those two things together.
Last week I discussed one of the ways I could express my creativity with a career move. My next option is quite a bit more practical. I am considering being an accountant. I have just finished up my first year in an evening MBA program and the first semester was all about Accounting (financial and managerial.) I really enjoyed the challenge and working with numbers which was a surprise for me. I haven't had this much fun in a math class since AP Calculus in high school. (Yes I was a total nerd in high school - I was also the layout editor of the yearbook and the lighting person in stage crew to round out my nerdiness.)
Pros of accounting: I think the work could be fun and interesting. I would learn more about financial statements, taxes, and how this information effects stock prices. I would be able to see through all the fine print - like an investigator flushing out all the details of a new case. I would clearly be a hit at all the parties. I love the accounting jokes on Parks and Recreation.
Cons: Lose the flexibility I have in my job today. I would have to wake up - get dressed - commute to work at an office and be stuck their until the end of the day, every day. I have been very lucky to work from home since 2009 and I am grateful for the flexibility that comes with a home office.
While I ended my last post with the decision NOT to open an Etsy shop; being an accountant is still on the table for me. What would you do? Would you ever consider a career in Accounting?
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
narrowing the field
When I broached the subject about changing careers with my husband - he said I can do anything I want as long as I don't open an Etsy shop...
What's wrong with an Etsy shop???
He hit a nerve! One of my fantasies is just that - to open an Etsy shop and sell hand knitted items. I have been thinking about this in the back of my mind every since I realized that Etsy is a thing.
I learned to knit from my aunt growing up in Maine and have since gone through phases of constant knitting (months at a time) to years of not touching a needle. It can be really rewarding to finish a project and give it away as a gift - and it can be really tedious to finish a project that you realize at the end doesn't fit right and needs to be completely pulled apart to start all over again.
I have a vision of knitting every night once the kids go to bed and selling the handcrafted items the next day for a profit, smiling the whole time and enjoying every aspect of running my own business. Practically speaking I know this will not be a good second career for me.
Knitting is TIME CONSUMING and choosing the right yarn and patterns that people will be willing to buy is an art. On top of that charging for your labor is a sensitive topic - most people do not want to pay the premium for a handmade product and would choose the cheaper machine made knitted item. (heck - I would too!)
With all that being said - opening an Etsy shop is a nice dream, but not a real option when it comes to making a change. I can see why my husband would ban that as an option. In his mind it is probably worse than laying on the couch all day watching reality TV. At least while watching TV - I wouldn't be spending lot's of money on expensive yarn and supplies.
I guess I will reserve my Etsy dream to just browsing and buying from other artists. What about you - would you ever open an Etsy shop?
What's wrong with an Etsy shop???
He hit a nerve! One of my fantasies is just that - to open an Etsy shop and sell hand knitted items. I have been thinking about this in the back of my mind every since I realized that Etsy is a thing.
I learned to knit from my aunt growing up in Maine and have since gone through phases of constant knitting (months at a time) to years of not touching a needle. It can be really rewarding to finish a project and give it away as a gift - and it can be really tedious to finish a project that you realize at the end doesn't fit right and needs to be completely pulled apart to start all over again.
I have a vision of knitting every night once the kids go to bed and selling the handcrafted items the next day for a profit, smiling the whole time and enjoying every aspect of running my own business. Practically speaking I know this will not be a good second career for me.
Knitting is TIME CONSUMING and choosing the right yarn and patterns that people will be willing to buy is an art. On top of that charging for your labor is a sensitive topic - most people do not want to pay the premium for a handmade product and would choose the cheaper machine made knitted item. (heck - I would too!)
With all that being said - opening an Etsy shop is a nice dream, but not a real option when it comes to making a change. I can see why my husband would ban that as an option. In his mind it is probably worse than laying on the couch all day watching reality TV. At least while watching TV - I wouldn't be spending lot's of money on expensive yarn and supplies.
I guess I will reserve my Etsy dream to just browsing and buying from other artists. What about you - would you ever open an Etsy shop?
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
jump right in
is it bad to write my first blog post while watching Intervention?
First things first - let me introduce myself. I am a learning professional in the financial industry. I have worked for the same company for over 18 years and I am at a crossroad. With 35 years left until retirement - I am taking my time now to decide what do I want to spend the rest of my working years doing?
I am torn between early retirement goals, pursuing advanced degrees, working harder in my current company, exploring a different side of my personality and starting at the ground floor in something completely new.
I feel like a college freshman trying to choose their major in college. That decision seemed like a piece of cake at the time - you would think that with years of life experience behind me, this would be an easier decision today.
I plan to share the details of my research, and make some tough decisions along the way.
First things first - let me introduce myself. I am a learning professional in the financial industry. I have worked for the same company for over 18 years and I am at a crossroad. With 35 years left until retirement - I am taking my time now to decide what do I want to spend the rest of my working years doing?
I am torn between early retirement goals, pursuing advanced degrees, working harder in my current company, exploring a different side of my personality and starting at the ground floor in something completely new.
I feel like a college freshman trying to choose their major in college. That decision seemed like a piece of cake at the time - you would think that with years of life experience behind me, this would be an easier decision today.
I plan to share the details of my research, and make some tough decisions along the way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)