I just finished reading this article on Careershifters.org, and felt this site and FreestyleSuccess can help and guide me.  As I reflect, I can only wonder how I got myself where I am today?  My wife tells me I am quite creative and way too smart to be doing my current job/career and my potential is above it.  Of course, she is going to support my dreams and passion, but what is it exactly?  That’s why I just need to put my thoughts down in writing and discover it step by step.

I am definitely creative and have a knack for art and talent-wise I am raw without any formal training.  I am smart enough to understand things generally, from computing (hardware to software), telecommunications networking (hardwire/wireless/LAN/WAN) are a couple examples but I cannot seem to focus; which is a lack of skill.  Perhaps all these years of multi-tasking and actually being a jack of all trades has hurt me now.

I definitely want to move torwards a career that rewards creativity and recognizes and allows for dynamic changes.  I’ve always wanted to do something with the web, the internet, to use it as a method, channel, or medium to share my thoughts, ideas, outlooks on the prospective future and reference to the past.  I like the title of a Creative Services Director.  Or can I be a professional blogger/writer doing this full time?  Another one would be a food connoisseur either writing reviews, video or perhaps a job like Adam from the Travel Channel’s Man versus Food.  Seriously, what a dream job he has, travel the states for pig-out spots.  I always have crazy weird dreams that are so vivid that I remember vast details and I write it down because to me, it felt like a movie.  Perhaps a script writer?  This leads to an inspirational speech from Elizabeth Gilbert describing thinking about the idea of genius in a different light.  The video can be seen at here.  If true, I feel the element of genius around me all the time and have not taken advantage of it.  There are even some instances of it that can relate to my work but its hardly recognized.

Regardless, I think I will keep at it, jotting down any ideas and sharing with the world and keeping it as sort of a time capsule here on my blog.  To be quite honest, writing a deservedly read article and having the confidence to share with the world like many other things of written for this blog is a full time job and a passionate hobby of mine as well.

What are your thoughts on feeling stagnant and dull and looking for change in pace?  Perhaps I am chicken to take a risk all the way.  My obligations tie me down.  My education and upbringing discourages it.  What would you do?

I guess people really don’t know much about schemes but honestly, can you trust a company that will basically send you an envelope for you to put your jewelry in and then pay you on what they determine the value of the items?  I guess most logical thinking would be that if you had anything of value, you would already know and probably take it to a real jeweler to get it appraised.  Unless you are super lazy to even do that.  Then it is just your own damn fault.  However, I still just can’t stand how a company like Cash4Gold can continue to operate.

How much money is Cash4Gold making?  Must be quite a buck for them to afford some advertisement time during the Super Bowl.  Let’s not fall victim to stupid ads like this, and if your going to do something meaningful, go donate to charity.  Why let this company profit???

1. I expected some of these careers/jobs to be paid more.
2. I’ve personally hit this mark myself as well, but I thought I would be better off financially or more comfortable.

Although the article reads generically and offers a mean hourly wage for the career and most likely a median salary as well, it got me thinking.  In a certain sense, I felt proud that I hit this point in my career, basically doubling my salary since graduating college; but I also felt disappointed and a bit let down.

Perhaps I need to be better at financing or realize I can do more with less and control my spending.  However, I don’t believe I am a big spender or impulse buyer.  Heck, both my cars are paid off in full.  Perhaps, groceries and eating out is costing much more than I think.  I completely cut out my night life routines so there is no spending at clubs, bars, etc.  In honesty, I thought I would be much more comfortable such as having more in savings, being able to afford a vacation out of States like go on a cruise or to some tropical destination.  I would think I could afford to lease or buy a nice automobile like a BMW or Lexus.  Even to have some cash to invest in a stock portfolio as well.

Sure there are some things missing from my life but then again, the same can be said of others as well.  I also watch others and see their career progress, whether I know them or not.  I find it strikingly hard to believe the type of cars some drive and homes they rent and living lavishly.  I wonder how much credit card debt or just overall debt period do they owe.  Another one is exactly how much expenses do they have?  I am fairly certain we share similar expenses and income. Unless we all secretly have a second job to help pay such luxuries I witness from them or they are extraordinarily lucky to have rich relatives that help support them as well.

Perhaps life is credit; or so it seems.  Every business operates on credit and good faith that they will eventually generate enough revenue to pay back what they owe and profit a little.  So I guess it should be alright to owe $40,000 to drive a BMW because I need to project a particular type of image in order to operate my business, right?  Whether my business is a real estate agent, a wannabe actor, an aspiring musican artist, etc.  Perhaps…

In the end, I will choose the path to control my expenses with a clear budget and set financial goals one step at a time.  Whether it be for retirement, for a vacation or just for a rainy day.  I rather not owe or generate a debt just so I can project a lifestyle I really cannot afford.  So what if I make $30 or more an hour; I still can’t afford that BMW or Lexus!

What is your income and do you feel comfortable?  How do you control your expenses and do you keep track with a budget?  Share your opinions with me.  Thanks.