How I Changed My Career and Life To Make Me Happy
Have you ever felt stuck in a job just because you have to
pay the bills? I have. Have you ever realized how debt influences
your life and career choices? I
have. Have you ever thought that you
would do a different job if you didn’t have to worry about your student loan
payments? I have.
After a few years, I got sick and tired of having these
thoughts so I decided to make some huge changes in my life in order to take
control of my career. This month begins
a new chapter in my career. But first,
here is the back-story:
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| Photo courtesy of iStockphoto |
We paid off $80,000 of Debt in 18 Months.
Seven years ago when my husband and I got married, we decided the best thing to do was take on lots of debt to keep up with the Jones’. We continued to make large purchasing decisions such as buying brand new cars, traveling abroad and refusing to really think about our financial future.
Three years ago I happened to be
reading another blog that was about getting out of debt. The writer said
she followed the advice from Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money
Makeover and
got out of debt. So I checked it out. When you have lots of debt,
thinking about getting out of it is very overwhelming! What I liked about
this book is he put it all into baby steps, which just made it so easy!
With the advice in this book, my husband and I were able to pile away our
income, do as much as possible to decrease our expenses and pay off $80,000 of
student loan, credit card and car loan debt in 18 months. (And yes, we
did celebrate when we finished). We still can’t believe it and are so
happy that we made the choice to work our butts off early in our lives instead
of just putting it off until later.
I am writing this today hoping
that I can inspire just one other reader to take a different path for their
financial future just like the other blogger who helped me change my life.
So what does that have to do with my career?
Everything. Without debt
controlling your life, you can make life and career decisions that really make
you happy. You have nothing hanging over your head nor do you have
student loan, credit card and car loan bills piling up to pay. You have
savings available for emergencies and you aren’t living paycheck-to-paycheck
wondering if you will ever have the life and career you dreamed of. Not
having to worry about debt allows your mind to open up so that you can really
think about what makes you happy and what you really want to do with your
life. That is exactly what happened to me.
My husband and I got out of debt
in April-12. For the last few months, I have been able to really think
about what I want to do for work. I have been able to think about what
makes me happy and what type of work fits best for my interests, values and
mission in life. I have been able to explore creative work assignments
and new career opportunities that I never could have thought about with debt
hanging over my head.
So, I decided to take a 50% pay cut.
Yep, that’s right. Last
month, I made the bold move of starting a part-time arrangement at work.
But, I don’t see this as stepping down. Instead, this arrangement
is giving me the opportunity to open up my creative side and apply myself in
other places. Since going part-time a few days ago, I have already
received another job offer and a teaching opportunity at a University.
These things would never have opened if I hadn’t taken the time to
evaluate my future career and myself.
I un-trapped myself and other
options came flooding in for the other “part-time” of my life.
After this experience, I truly
believe that your financial decisions and priorities directly affect your
career. If you need to pay bills and students loans, you may continue
working at a job that you may not enjoy just because you have to pay those
bills. Which is fine! But, set a goal to pay off your debt in the next
year or two and then move on to something that makes you happier! Get yourself
out of the debt that is clouding your professional future and instead find
areas that you will succeed at even more because you are passionate about
them. There are so many things you can do if you aren’t worried about
paying off your debt. You could travel, start a business, or take a 50%
pay cut to explore and evaluate your professional future like I did.
You aren’t trapped. Plan your work around
your life, not your life around your work. Are you trapped? How can you start
taking steps to untrap yourself?
P.S. If you want to know how I was able to go part-time,
it’s really simple. I just asked. That’s it and they said yes. So what are you scared of asking for at
work? A raise? A promotion? Just ask.
What’s the worse that can happen?
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