Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
With the school year underway, I want to address a huge money pitfall countless people make: choosing a college degree or vocation path based on bad logic. Because of the expense, and years it takes, this life-choice needs serious consideration and should not be made quickly.Three pitfalls to avoid…
#1 – Don’t choose a career path based on income potential alone: Motivated at first by dreams of a large income, people begin on a path for a career they don’t even like. One obvious example is an individual who goes into nursing for the supposed income & job stability, but cannot stand the sight of blood – or has no desire to change bedpans. We shake our heads, wondering why anyone would spend the money and time, yet people do this very thing every year – it’s just not always that blatant. Many students go to college without a goal in mind and end up in a line of study that is recommended solely based on income potential. They usually end up hating it and quitting. This can waste an enormous amount of money and time.
#2 – Avoid a career path based entirely on family legacy: It can be very hard to break free from family expectations, but having a path chosen based on what “your family has always done” only works if you, too, have a love for that vocation. If not, at some point focus and drive will be lost, and it’s unlikely the degree will even be used – and that’s if you make it that far at all.
#3 – Ignore the “you’ll fall behind” myth: Students coming out of high school often feel pressured to pick a career or vocational path and start on it immediately. The myth is that if you don’t start right away, you’ll be “behind”. But age and a high school diploma doesn’t automatically make one ready, nor sure of a path. If uncertain, taking a year to work, while checking into a few interests – before moving forward, can be the wisest decision. Conversely, pushing forward, spending thousands, and going into “something” with no purpose or passion, will prove a waste. Even if good lessons are learned, those lessons probably could have been learned while earning money, rather than spending it. I spent five years in the U.S. Navy as a journalist – and enjoyed it but I learned that as a career, I needed something a bit different. Thankfully, my work allows me to use that experience.
Two things to definitely DO…
#1 – Consider a path that is flexible: Get some solid advice on a degree path for you that will prove strong enough to show your skills and competency, but flexible enough to apply to numerous potential careers down the road. Too tight of a niche may keep you boxed in.
#2 – Go with what you LOVE and make PLAY PAY: Don’t get pressured into the pigeon-holes of the “standard careers”. When you love what you do – it will rarely (if ever) feel like work. The saying from Marc Anthony goes,“If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.” People who love what they do make PLAY PAY. They have tapped into their passions and what excites them, and made it into a career. You may need to relive your childhood to unearth a potential path, but doing so is invaluable. Here are just a few career suggestions, based on things you may have loved:
Animals = animal or pet trainer, veterinarian, rescue professional, zoo or sanctuary caregiver, humane society director, conservationist, animal behavior expert, animal biologist, animal habitat specialist, author, speaker, animal handler or wrangler, live show animal trainer, blogger
Athletics = gym owner, personal or group trainer, life coach, rehabilitation or sports injury therapist, community center coordinator, dive specialist, lifeguard, rescue and first responder personnel, coach, professional fisherman, motivational speaker, author, actor, watersports professional, firefighter, aerial artist, acrobat, parkour or professional free runner or coach, stunt person, police officer, rescue personnel, live show cast member, YouTube celebrity
Coloring, drawing, fashion, arts = graphic designer, animation artist, marketing professional, illustrator, art instructor, architect, park and outdoor venue planner, fashion designer, story board creator, author, web designer, app designer, art curator, museum personnel, professional artist
Music = teacher, director, composer/song-writer, score creator, recording studio owner or technician, virtual instructor, copy write professional, producer, tour coordinator, music blogger, podcaster, group manager, background singer, radio program director, music therapist, marketing professional
Video games = web designer, video-game creator, graphics designer, video-game tester, marketing professional, web-based animation creator, FX designer, laser and pyrotechnics professional, server owner, walkthroughs and cheats content creator, computer-controlled environments and events designer, app designer, medical imaging and laser apparatus designer, software engineer, or start your own business!
