Comments on: The Best Career Advice: Do Stuff

By: jake

jake — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:34:47 +0000

Change has a bad negative tone associated with it.

In a social sense, it represents, unreliable, indecisive, untrustworthy etc.

Someone who changes all the time, is frequently label as unstable, lost, untrustworthy.

Yet we keep saying that they should find what they love to do, but frown when they take too long or make to many choices.

I am with the mindset that make as many changes as it takes you to figure out what you would like to do. Listen to the critics, but dont let them stop you from at lease trying.

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:17:13 +0000

Your career advice sounds like the story of my life. But by always following my interests in life, I’m always starting at the bottom over and over again. I often feel more like a failure than a success.

I would rather be learning something new than being bored at something I mastered long ago. And I don’t want to be a manager, so it’s always off to the next new thing.

I can’t say I’ll ever be rich or have a wealthy retirement, but life has been interesting. At least I’m resourceful and flexible.

By: almost there

almost there — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:07:49 +0000

It is good to have a plan “B” for life. I hope to expire before my spouse but if I don’t I have a plan to get rid of all the baggage/stuff that comes with marriage and downsize big time. I would even move to a different climate. I would get back to the basics of food, clothing, and shelter with very little else. Life is experiences and not the trappings one latches on to along the way.

By: John DeFlumeri Jr

John DeFlumeri Jr — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:42 +0000

I like it that you’re encouraging people to “get involved” and just try some things, not wait for something to happen.

john DeFlumeri Jr

By: Leah

Leah — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:49:45 +0000

How would you sell these differences to employers? I’m not set into one career path, and I have experience in different fields, but I struggle with how to translate this in my resume and cover letter. I’ve done a wide variety of jobs in my 12 years of work history (starting at 15, so I’m still quite young), and I’m a quick learner. But that’s not exactly something you write in the application, is it?

By: michelle

michelle — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:34:58 +0000

truth! trying to “do stuff” was the major turning point in my life, and I am so much happier now.

By: spaces

spaces — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:52:42 +0000

Heh, I’ve followed similar advice, and have an unusual career path. Highlights include beginning working at age 12 as a performing musician, working as a musician throughout my teens and well into my 20s, to being in the legal department of a crooked-vowel company back when we truly believed we were the smartest guys and gals in the room, to representing indigent clients. Big fun all over! And that’s what it’s about for me — Find a fun and interesting way to pay my rent. Bonus points if its intellectually challenging or brings me into contact with interesting people regularly.

By: KS

KS — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:13:55 +0000

Timely advice. I’m a college prof who is being denied tenure and while I’m fighting it, I am keeping my eyes and options open. I do love my career – which I see as teaching and research and writing – but not my job! That said, I’ve learned a lot of skills over the years that translate well beyond the university, and during that learning, expanded m network.

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:20:40 +0000

Being proactive can get you a lot in more aspects of life than just work. Do other things outside of work, enjoy life and just live.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:42:15 +0000

One thing I learned from becoming disabled and not being able to work is that people should never define themselves by their career. What do you have if it’s taken away?

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:33:39 +0000

Great post Trent. Really resonated with me these days…

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:29:27 +0000

Sometimes a “career” is not about making money. I’ve always told people my career was raising my kids. My job was just how I made money. I work for a non profit and have held many positions but it’s just been work not my life. I have many hobbies and things that I enjoy doing. The job was just the means to do those things.

By: Little House

Little House — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:55:28 +0000

Great advice. I think people sometimes get caught up in their fear of change and don’t dare try something new. My husband has been my main inspiration for trying new ideas, he always has some creative business idea. Even when they don’t work out as planned, we never see them as complete failures. We learn something from them and move on with more knowledge.