To Jump or Play It Safe?
I realize that I have always been very fortunate with some aspects of my life. It could be considered a blessing or a curse, but I usually start off rather spoiled, then go down hill from there.
A prime example is work. For years now I've longed for my dream career, the one in which I operate my own lollipop cart, like Fong (played by Shengyi Huang) in Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle. Currently, it's like I work in a candy store. Among the plethora of candy available to sell, there are lollipops. However, the lollipops are shipped in from lollipop contractors. There enlies my problem. I don't want to merely have the cart where I sell lollipops out on the street corner, I want to make my own lollipops. I thought I would learn this craft at the candy store. I found out I was sorely mistaken.
The next thing I know, years have gone by and I'm still at the candy store. It's not a rocket science type of job. The people there are such a joy to work with. Some not so much, but hey those are at every job for the most part. Luckily this is like the FAO Swartz of candy stores, so it's a big place, and thankfully those people are not in my group. My group rocks. Also, since it's a big company, I have great benefits and retirement program. I really have a great thing going for me.
However, it's not challenging me in the way I want to be challenged. A part of me still longs for my lollipop business.
A couple of months back, I realized I was getting closer to being "vested" with the candy store. So I decided to seriously look into what I want to do with my career life. Should I stay with the candy store? Should I go to school and learn to make lollipops, since I'm obviously not getting on-the-job training? Or look into working at a lollipop factory? I started to pray on the matter. I even went to temple for the first time in Lord knows when.
A couple of days after meditation and prayer, I'm out doing an errand for the candy store, and who do I meet? A sensay of lollipop makers. She reminded me of the lollipop man in Sing-yuen Chung's Bet to Basic when the smitten Lloyd (Jordan Chan) takes Peggy (Rain Li) to some old man who hand-made Peggy's favorite hard-to-find lollipops right before their eyes. I met my lollipop man. At this meeting, I was told that I was bright and intelligent. The lollipop sensay saw promise in me as a future lollipop maker, and was willing to have me join her small shop. It's not a factory. The business consists of the lady, her lollipop business partner, and their store manager. They were starting to grow as a company and looking for their first real employee.
Initially, excitement took over. There were some scheduling delays, but over a couple of months we finally had a couple of interviews, and they made me an offer. This is where my dilemma and realization of just how spoiled I am set in.
The money they offered me is slightly more than what I make now. However, the benefits and retirement are practically non-existent. So really it's like a pay cut to join them. That's when I realized my spoiledness, and the true question of "Am I a risk taker or do I play it safe?" came to mind. Do I jump at my opportunity that could possibly move me in the direction of my dream career, or stay at the candy store until they finally have the resources to make lollipops in-shop again?
Like I said before, I like the people at my job, it's not stressful, and the benefits are outstanding. I pay $25 a month for health insurance, and I get the Mayo Clinic in my health plan. To say the least, the small lollipop shop can't compare, which I expected. I was just hoping for more money to balance the lack of benefits so the move could feel more lateral. But it has the potential to be a step in the direction of my dream career. And I met the person right at a time when I was asking for a sign.
If the lollipop makers will have me, I would love that private apprenticeship option to work with them. I realize the financial sacrifice associated to it. Since I am young enough with no family, now would be the time, if any, to take it. So the question is really a matter of when to begin work with them.
Moral of the random thought: I've learned that I'm actually more of a risk taker than I originally thought.
Recurring conclusion: The Universe is just so witty at times. It gives me the good stuff first, so I know what it's like to lose the little fluffy cushions to accomplish the bigger goals and dreams... Yep, that sense of humor always seems to keep me on my toes.
Good luck to all of you, whether you are the type to jump or play it safe. May you be able to laugh with Universe, or at least find a way to laugh back at it.
I realize that I have always been very fortunate with some aspects of my life. It could be considered a blessing or a curse, but I usually start off rather spoiled, then go down hill from there.
A prime example is work. For years now I've longed for my dream career, the one in which I operate my own lollipop cart, like Fong (played by Shengyi Huang) in Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle. Currently, it's like I work in a candy store. Among the plethora of candy available to sell, there are lollipops. However, the lollipops are shipped in from lollipop contractors. There enlies my problem. I don't want to merely have the cart where I sell lollipops out on the street corner, I want to make my own lollipops. I thought I would learn this craft at the candy store. I found out I was sorely mistaken.
The next thing I know, years have gone by and I'm still at the candy store. It's not a rocket science type of job. The people there are such a joy to work with. Some not so much, but hey those are at every job for the most part. Luckily this is like the FAO Swartz of candy stores, so it's a big place, and thankfully those people are not in my group. My group rocks. Also, since it's a big company, I have great benefits and retirement program. I really have a great thing going for me.
However, it's not challenging me in the way I want to be challenged. A part of me still longs for my lollipop business.
A couple of months back, I realized I was getting closer to being "vested" with the candy store. So I decided to seriously look into what I want to do with my career life. Should I stay with the candy store? Should I go to school and learn to make lollipops, since I'm obviously not getting on-the-job training? Or look into working at a lollipop factory? I started to pray on the matter. I even went to temple for the first time in Lord knows when.
A couple of days after meditation and prayer, I'm out doing an errand for the candy store, and who do I meet? A sensay of lollipop makers. She reminded me of the lollipop man in Sing-yuen Chung's Bet to Basic when the smitten Lloyd (Jordan Chan) takes Peggy (Rain Li) to some old man who hand-made Peggy's favorite hard-to-find lollipops right before their eyes. I met my lollipop man. At this meeting, I was told that I was bright and intelligent. The lollipop sensay saw promise in me as a future lollipop maker, and was willing to have me join her small shop. It's not a factory. The business consists of the lady, her lollipop business partner, and their store manager. They were starting to grow as a company and looking for their first real employee.
Initially, excitement took over. There were some scheduling delays, but over a couple of months we finally had a couple of interviews, and they made me an offer. This is where my dilemma and realization of just how spoiled I am set in.
The money they offered me is slightly more than what I make now. However, the benefits and retirement are practically non-existent. So really it's like a pay cut to join them. That's when I realized my spoiledness, and the true question of "Am I a risk taker or do I play it safe?" came to mind. Do I jump at my opportunity that could possibly move me in the direction of my dream career, or stay at the candy store until they finally have the resources to make lollipops in-shop again?
Like I said before, I like the people at my job, it's not stressful, and the benefits are outstanding. I pay $25 a month for health insurance, and I get the Mayo Clinic in my health plan. To say the least, the small lollipop shop can't compare, which I expected. I was just hoping for more money to balance the lack of benefits so the move could feel more lateral. But it has the potential to be a step in the direction of my dream career. And I met the person right at a time when I was asking for a sign.
If the lollipop makers will have me, I would love that private apprenticeship option to work with them. I realize the financial sacrifice associated to it. Since I am young enough with no family, now would be the time, if any, to take it. So the question is really a matter of when to begin work with them.
Moral of the random thought: I've learned that I'm actually more of a risk taker than I originally thought.
Recurring conclusion: The Universe is just so witty at times. It gives me the good stuff first, so I know what it's like to lose the little fluffy cushions to accomplish the bigger goals and dreams... Yep, that sense of humor always seems to keep me on my toes.
Good luck to all of you, whether you are the type to jump or play it safe. May you be able to laugh with Universe, or at least find a way to laugh back at it.
posted by wonderer @ 9:40 PM
1 Comments:
At 2:08 PM,
a woman under the influence said…
As someone with insurmountable debt, a negative balance in her bank account, no upcoming paycheck in sight, and an entirely enjoyable writing schedule, I suggest that you learn to make lollipops.
The "lateral move" is neither something to be avoided or striven for. All job changes are lateral moves. Greater pay comes at greater stress and responsibility. A fancier title comes at the cost of alienating a greater percentage of your coworkers.
If you want to make candy, then damnit go make some candy. Nothing is worse than working at a candy shop, selling other people's candy.
When you open a shop of your own, you let me know. I'll buy a lollipop.
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