Here's another question about the theory and life: Has reading S&H changed how you view your career and future work/retirement plans?

I work as an office manager right now, but I used to be a reporter for a local paper. I enjoyed that work (mainly because I liked the sports and music event coverage. politics was interesting, but regular "man on the street" news was not). The career of a reporter is a long, slow climb to the top, assuming you "make it". The payoff is much more often in fame than in actual dollars except for a lucky few.

It wasn't long after reading "The Fourth Turning", and other titles by the dynamic duo of generational theory that I started to look into other avenues of making a living.
I suppose this shift is typical Xer and means I have moved into "crusty old settle down mode".

What are your plans, or what changes have you made already in matters of jobs, retirement, and meeting the basic needs of living?

On 2002-07-02 10:37, Earthshine wrote:
Here's another question about the theory and life: Has reading S&H changed how you view your career and future work/retirement plans?

I work as an office manager right now, but I used to be a reporter for a local paper. I enjoyed that work (mainly because I liked the sports and music event coverage. politics was interesting, but regular "man on the street" news was not). The career of a reporter is a long, slow climb to the top, assuming you "make it". The payoff is much more often in fame than in actual dollars except for a lucky few.

It wasn't long after reading "The Fourth Turning", and other titles by the dynamic duo of generational theory that I started to look into other avenues of making a living.
I suppose this shift is typical Xer and means I have moved into "crusty old settle down mode".

What are your plans, or what changes have you made already in matters of jobs, retirement, and meeting the basic needs of living?

What made you shift? And what kind of an office are you managing?

My job is pretty much the same since reading "Generations" back in 1992. I even have the same boss! :smile:

[quote]
On 2002-07-02 11:17, Jenny Genser wrote:

On 2002-07-02 10:37,
What made you shift? And what kind of an office are you managing?

My job is pretty much the same since reading "Generations" back in 1992. I even have the same boss! :smile:

Er... I tried to explain that, but I guess I goofed. :lol: I saw no real future as a reporter. That is not to say there is no future in it for others, but for me, it didn't look like the way to go.

The company I work for is in manufacturing. Dull, but it pays the bills. I still play some music and write the occasional review for a local magazine, but it is more for recreation than as a job.

You work for the same company in the same type of career, so I take it Gen theory didn't really affect your work view much. :smile:





<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Earthshine on 2002-07-02 12:29 ]</font>

On 2002-07-02 12:25, Earthshine wrote:
You work for the same company in the same type of career, so I take it Gen theory didn't really affect your work view much. :smile:

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Earthshine on 2002-07-02 12:29 ]</font>

That's correct. The only change is I got a grade promotion. I was a GS-12 Analyst for USDA's Food and Nutrition Program (FNS), Office of Analysis, Nutrition, and Evaluation back in 1992 and now I'm a GS-13 Analyst.

Of course, I have had so many personal changes (having a baby, then getting divorced) since then that I've appreciated having the same job, steady income, and interesting work).

However, I'm at a point in my life where although I'd like to stay with FNS, I'd like a new job with a new boss. Maybe instead of analyzing Food Stamp Program policy, I can analyze policy for the WIC Program or for School Lunch and School Breakfast. :smile:

I have been rethinking my job too. 1. It sucks. 2. It pays shit 3. it sucks. 4. It sucks a lot.

We are screwed when the shit hits the fan

On 2002-07-02 10:37, Earthshine wrote:
Here's another question about the theory and life: Has reading S&H changed how you view your career and future work/retirement plans?

I plan to change to Dexter from the very much larger Simmentals. I have set up a plan to add fruit and berry trees inside my shelter belts. I have made room for swine again and may have to add poultry and sheep; although I swore to my late father to have nothing on the land dumber than cattle.


I grow a portion of my seed each year for my small grains and hay lands and use much more manuring and peat. I am trying to increase the odds of having a fertile land for the future with less dependence on commercial sources.


I have been buying machinery and tools for the long run and for self repair. I may rebuild my grandfathers blacksmith shop as well.


It is the same old job but more varied...I have been laying in the classics of literature and thought to ponder on the long quiet nights ahead. HTH



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Virgil K. Saari on 2002-07-02 15:20 ]</font>

On 2002-07-02 10:37, Earthshine wrote:
Here's another question about the theory and life: Has reading S&H changed how you view your career and future work/retirement plans?

Weeelll....I had already changed careers before "Millennials Rising" came across my desk as a "new book." I'm convinced that I'm in the library field to stay, and stay, and stay....Retirement? Social Security? It is to laugh. I'll probably drop dead at 85 reading to the little kiddies.

I'm completely cynical about pension plans, public or private. I look at my quarterly statements and consider that it's probably all funny money anyway.

My job pays the bills. That is all. It is not a career, or a life path, or a passion, or anything else. I work in telemarketing. I deal with irate customers and billing and shipping problems and bullshit all day. I can't stand it. But it's only a paycheck and it has benefits and regular hours and a few decent people who are pretty cool and as frustrated as I am. Once in a while I get a customer who tells me an interesting story or confides a personal matter. Even less often I get a customer who is actually grateful and happy after I service them. Those things make me feel good and make the job seem more meaningful than it is but they are few and far between. I just do the best I can and take things one day at a time. I realize I may never achieve the big dreams of a creative artist and writers' life I had in my twenties. I still have no pension and have made no retirement plans. But things could be a lot worse. I write poetry and stories. I have this board and many friends here. I am getting back into ceramics little by little. I have several cats and two dogs. I have a couple of good friends. I live in a beautiful part of the country. I have a large collection of books that I can't part with, and an almost as large collection of music.
But the most important thing in my life is my kids. When the chips are down and I start feeling sorry for myself and wondering why I have such a crappy job when I know I have the potential to be so much more (and in the 80s actually had a "career" as an associate editor of a medical journal and a book/audio reviewer for Publishers Weekly), I don't have to succumb to feelings of failure or regret. All I need to do is look at my son and daughter that always makes me feel grateful. It makes being a wage slave a hell of a lot easier when I realize I'm really doing it for them.

_________________
Follow the sun.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Heliotrope on 2002-07-02 18:10 ]</font>

On 2002-07-02 17:59, Heliotrope wrote:
My job pays the bills. That is all. It is not a career, or a life path, or a passion, or anything else. I work in telemarketing. I deal with irate customers and billing and shipping problems and bullshit all day. I can't stand it. But it's only a paycheck and it has benefits and regular hours and a few decent people who are pretty cool and as frustrated as I am. Once in a while I get a customer who tells me an interesting story or confides a personal matter. Even less often I get a customer who is actually grateful and happy after I service them. Those things make me feel good and make the job seem more meaningful than it is but they are few and far between. I just do the best I can and take things one day at a time. I realize I may never achieve the big dreams of a creative artist and writers' life I had in my twenties. I still have no pension and have made no retirement plans. But things could be a lot worse. I write poetry and stories. I have this board and many friends here. I am getting back into ceramics little by little. I have several cats and two dogs. I have a couple of good friends. I live in a beautiful part of the country. I have a large collection of books that I can't part with, and an almost as large collection of music.
But the most important thing in my life is my kids. When the chips are down and I start feeling sorry for myself and wondering why I have such a crappy job when I know I have the potential to be so much more (and in the 80s actually had a "career" as an associate editor of a medical journal and a book/audio reviewer for Publishers Weekly), I don't have to succumb to feelings of failure or regret. All I need to do is look at my son and daughter that always makes me feel grateful. It makes being a wage slave a hell of a lot easier when I realize I'm really doing it for them.

You're a good mom.