At What Stage In Life......

[jd_1984]

Did you feel that (professionally speaking) you had "made it".
Was there a point when you were content with the progression made in whatever field you worked in? Or did you always strive to improve, be promoted and better yourself?

Had this debate with a couple of friends earlier, we are all mid 30's. Friend 1 earns a good wage, with a pension and is totally content, no desire to change jobs or move up the ladder. Friend 2 is on his 10th job in as many years, mostly part time contracts, and he is totally content with this.

Me, I feel like I want to keep striving for better. I don't feel anywhere near satisfied and want to achieve more.

[woofgang]

I think this so varies from person to person. I enjoyed my job and its challenges but was in no way wedded to the job or constantly striving for promotion and neither was my husband....Just remember that no one ever, on their deathbed, said "I really wish I had spent more time at work"

[jd_1984]

Totally agree its about balance

[steg]

My daughter has her own business and financially doing well, so I can take time off working for as long as I like and spend it with her and my grandkids, as I can get by with what I have.... So I guess I've "made it"

[Sqad]

To this very day, I have never felt that "I had made it."
If you get to that stage, then there is only one way...deterioration.
You should wake up each day and face another challenge.

[woofgang]

I agree Sqad but that challenge may not be in your trade or profession.

[bednobs]

i think you can only tell after it's happened

[jourdain2]

It has to vary. I made Head of Dept in both English and Art (long story), but the family costs were too much and I am best face-to-face with children, so I voluntarily relinquished monetary returns and, to start with, went on 'Supply' teaching. Turned out that I was very good at that so I did it for a while. One of my schools then employed me more-or-less permanently as general subjects teacher for over 10 years and the work/life balance sorted itself out (pension is practically non-existent, however :( ).

[jourdain2]

^^ In other words, 'I made it' by relinquishing what others thought meant that I had 'made it'. Hope that makes sense.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

I think its when you weigh your money instead of counting it :-)

[stuey]

And then there's the old chestnut: "Life is what happens to you when you're busy planning something else."

[Baldric]

I went for whatever I could achieve in The RM's ending up as CSgt.
Back in Civvy Street I inherited property, married a Woman who had inherited Property and had a career with the NHS.
With combined assets we put together the Rental Portfolio we have today and it was probably about age 55 or thereabouts thought 'Yep, we're there'
OH still works because she enjoys what she does, I look after the Rentals.
Life is good(ish)

[Psybbo]

Balders, I do wish you had said you married the love of your life!

[Baldric]

But Sibs, property IS the love of my Life!!!!!!
















After my Wife, of course!

[Sammy48]

I thought I had made it when I danced with a famous dance troupe back in the 70's on Top of the Pops.

I also thought I had made it when I married my second husband who is an American Lawyer and I lived a great life in LA.

Now I think I have made it by just being happy and relatively healthy with three happy and healthy children.

[The Builder]

I think it was Eleanor Rooseveldt who said "every day, do one thing that scares you".

Life isn't an exact science, jd. The moment we reach our comfort zone, it's time to break out of it.

To answer your question; I think I'll reach that stage of life when I stop breathing. Even then, I won't have made "it", but I'll have made something ;o)

[Mamyalynne]

The Builder that is very like a card I keep in my purse 'Fight the fear and do it anyway'-a good way to look at life really.

As a couple, we had a way to go before achieving all we wanted to but illness then the inevitable intervened ,but we had a damn good time trying with all the ups and downs.

No regrets.

[Tilly2]

I've had lots of 'made it ' moments in my life, so far. There was always something to work towards and achieve, professionally, personally and financially.

I hope to have many more 'made it ' moments in the future, too.

[woofgang]

good point Tilly, I too have found the "made it" feeling fleeting...always another mountain, even if the mountain is only installing 72 x 50 litre tubs in my garden, and filling and planting all of them myself with no help.

[Tilly2]

That's a lot of compost, woof! How many plants??????

[Prudie]

As you asked specifically about professional life then no I've never felt that I'd made it or reached a pinnacle, I'm still trying to progress and will till the day I retire I'm sure, probably partly because I work in a very 'grade' orientated profession.