Wednesday, May 23, 2007

On Career Changes

For the past month, I've been having a debate with myself over my career path. As I wrote in this post ages ago here, I have been questioning my choice to become an accountant. I knew I was seriously becoming bored everyday at work - not with the company, but with the job itself. I have lost all motivation to continue studying for the professional accounting exams. I knew I didn't relish the thought of working as an accountant for the rest of my life. I knew I just drifted into the profession because it was such a "safe" bet, afterall there would always be jobs for accountants with the relevant qualifications and experience. But now I have to face it: I am definitely in the wrong job. Everyday I wake up and I feel like I am wasting my time. Why am I going to work in an office doing a job I don't like when I could be finding fulfilment doing something else? Added to this, is the fact that I detest the restrictive structure of the average workplace: You must be in by 9, you have an hour for lunch, and you are out by 5pm if you are lucky. That's eight hours dedicated to the company everyday. Plus 2 hours of commuting and before you know it, you've spent 50 hours of your week either working, getting to work or coming back from work. That's 200 hours a month! And to get no fulfilment out of such an important chunk of my life is essentially depressing.
Something else that I thought about was that I knew I had learnt the skills to become an accountant in school, but there was a part of me that was inactive - my creative talents. I haven't been using them and there lies the danger: I am not realising my potential in my current career. I have the ability to do much more, but I am wasting time in the wrong profession. And the longer I stay in my job the harder it will be to eventually leave.
Last month, hubby asked me if I would consider giving up my full-time job and do something else from home. I initially thought it was a crazy idea. Why would I leave my job and my social life in the city? What would I be doing at home? I don't have any kids to look after yet, so I would get bored quickly. And I absolutely hate being bored. I had experienced the "sitting-at-home-doing-nothing" period when I had just graduated and was job-hunting. And I didn't want to experience that again.
But when I thought about it, I realised that the only thing stopping me was fear! Fear of quiting my job, fear of losing some income, fear of failure in a new career, fear of the unknown basically. If realised that if I left my restrictive 9 - 5 job, I would actually have time to do the things that I really want to do! Like learning that language, writing that book and getting the publishing deal, going for that course and learning a new skill, travelling to that place I want to discover, etc. I realised that I didn't have to stay at home and do nothing, I could still be very productive in a career outside of the rat-race. So now what do I do? Take the plunge.
I'll admit I'm really scared because I've never done something like this before. It's taking a lot of my thought right now. I'm going to have to quit my job. I'm going to have to start from scratch. I've been praying about it because it is not a decision to take lightly. I also need hubby's support and he's agreed to support me 100% and I'm so grateful! While I'm finding my feet, it's going to be confusing for a while. So it's alright to be scared and worried, I think. But I can't continue to deny myself the opprtunity. At least they say "it's better to try and fail than not to try at all". And now's the time to do it before I have kids and continue procrastinating and then it becomes too late. So here goes..... I'll be keeping you updated.


10 comments:

  1. sup sisi mi atata, ah ....l know where you are coming from. Abeg, don't quit your full time job yet o and start the other one. Relax first, God is in control. Maybe, after ur wedding with hubby and one or two kids. You can do that thing wey ur mind de tell you make you do. Cos, it's going to be a lot of financial strain on hubby. Also, you know an independent woman for this yankee is very important. No body gives a dollar. Girl, hang in there, pray about it. God knows best. Best of luck.

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  2. i am guessing yankeenaijachik doesnt know u will be celebratinf your second year WEDDING anniversary soon.lol.
    anyway hunie,pray to your Papa in heaven he will surely lead the way.He has blessed you with a good 'head' who is supportive,so go for your dreams babe!

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  3. I think you should do whatever is in your heart. However, you would need a lot of support...

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  4. Hmm, you are right..wat impedes us from being fufilled is fear and staying in our comfort zone. Sometimes we need to take a leap of faith.
    Personally, I think you are very courageous. Keep it up! Like you are already doing, continue to commit your ways into God's hands and he will direct ur path. He is ordering your steps so whatever happens God's got ur back and everything is working out for your good. Do a lot of research in the other areas you want to explore. Knowledge is power.
    All the best in whatever you finally decide to do :)

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  5. welcome to the "fear"" and "no job fulfilment" club. been there and i'm still there. the difference is u know what u would love to do, still finding that hard to figure out. i hope i do soon

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  6. Hi Favoured gal, da trick is in knowing wat you're talented in and gettin da best out of it!

    I used to work 9-5 but took a decison late last year and quit. Started my own outfit wit lil capital from Dad and today am a freelance web applications manager, web designer, graghics specialist, etc. And it brings in more money in a month that i ever earned in about 6 months in my previous job.

    Moreover, i dont answer to anybody and its fun and very engaging. No dull moment whatsoever.

    Like some peeps in here said. Know exactly wat yu're talented in. Talk it over with those that matters, esp. Ya hubby and then take da plunge.

    G.O.O.D.L.U.C.K!!!

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  7. God has planted inside of us the seeds of potential just waiting to bloom into something wonderful…And it is not until we remove the weeds (fear), we will not be able to know how high the potentials can grow…
    I know what fear can do but we have to fight it and just trust God…a lot of people who are great now only became great because they were able to take that leap…
    Just pray and trust God to help you through every decision...

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  8. Good, you are starting now when you don't have kids . I think the earlier the better, so go ahead and do what you want to do.

    Funny enough, I'm at this stage of my life and me and my S.O have been talking it out.I'm glad we are making this decision b4 tying the knot. Its gonna be tough at first but we'll smile in the end...Best Wishes.

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  9. its all in God's hands!!!

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  10. @ Yankeenaijachic: Thanks girl! I am already married and I have the full support of hubby to go ahead with my dreams. I also think it's better to take risks now than when I have kids.

    @ Mimi: Thanks for the encouragement girl! I appreciate ;)

    @ Simply Gorgeous: Thanks girl, and you are right.

    @Aloted: I don't feel very courageous at all! Thanks for the kind encouragement! I'll most def keep up with the research and prayers!

    @An Ibo Dude: It's taken me a long time to figure it out as well! Look for what you are really good at, or your natural abilities and follow those. I hope you do find out really soon!

    @Ugo Daniels: Wow, it sounds like you have this stuff figured out! That's an encouragement to me, thanks for sharing your story. Makes me feel like I can do it too!

    @9jaOpeke: You are absolutley right girl, we all have immense potential within us. And most great people conquered their fear to get to where they are today. Thanks girl. I'll keep praying as well!

    @Lee: It's all in God's hands my dear. Although I'm realising some of it is down to me as well. Hope it works out perfectly for you and your man too!

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