Hhmmm…
I’ve been reading Danny Gregory’s journal off and on and in no particular order. I was reading his entry ‘Why do I do it?/My story’, written on April 16, 2004 and found this line: “Architects students worked notoriously long hours. Fools, again. At best, I’d heard, they’d make $30 grand a year.”
Ehem…
I was one of that fool and still am a fool, I guess. Am I really enjoying what I do? I don’t know. I think I did enjoy the study, despite the long hours. But now I can’t say I really like what I do. Long hours, (usually) minimal pay with unpaid overhours – sorry to dissapoint you Danny, feeling extremely tired all the time. It’s amazing to think that I still have about 32-35 years to go before I am elligible to retire. Can I really do this that long? I don’t know, seems like an awfully long time to do something that I don’t really enjoy doing afterall.
The end of Danny’s entry is an inspiration to me for a carreer change. I’ve been thinking of this off and on too for the past couple of years. Until now, I always find it difficult, too complex, too much stress. I am so afraid of rejections, always thinking that I would not be able to do it because I might not have the correct education, etc. etc. blah blah… Just too much to think about that I decided to stick to what I do now. Hopefully I can change that…sometimes in the future. But first I REALLY do have to figure out: what do I enjoy doing? What is important in my life?
To Danny: thanks for your story.
I have a friend who was a graphic designer. 15years worth of graphic designing. Ended up doing corperate stuff. Good pay but dreary. She quit. Works at a pet store now making minimum wage!
Its tough being in a field that requires creativity. There is always someone better than you – tough competition. And if you just say “screw it, im going to do what makes me happy”, you go broke.
Ya know, ive seen my friends stuff, her work.. and i see yours.
I think yours is better!!! shhhhh!
How about making cards or postcards. Just for the heck of it.
I see them all around coffee shops and touristy places.
I really do like your work and from what ive seen, the stlye on this blog.. i think it would work.
~good luck!
Aaron,
Thank you for your comment and sharing the story about your friend. I will think about the possibilities of a small side job like you mentioned above. Or something in the same direction. Cheers.
This is some heavy stuff you’re thinking about. Important stuff. I have been a graphic designer since I was sixteen years old. (I started freelancing at that age.)I am now 44. I have had ups and downs with my career, but I am pretty happy with what I do now and I make a pretty good living.
However, if I had the knowlege I have now when I was 18 and gowing to art school, I would have chosen to stick to painting. Not only that, but I would have found a successful mentor and sucked everything I could out of his brain on how to not only be a good artist, but how to make a good living at it too. No matter what you do, you still have to thrive and grow, trying to prepare for that retirement day.
My point being, if you really don’t like the architecture game, give yourself an appropriate amount of time to figure out what it is you want to do. Then find out who can teach you how to do it well. But make the move while you are young and your lifestyle more flexible.
Thanks, Chuck!