Work: What would you rather do? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**travelpunk** · 04-30-2007, 01:56 AM

For research...

**kiwichick** · 04-30-2007, 02:35 AM

no offence but that can't be very scientific research.. the wording might be described a lil leading lol

**travelpunk** · 04-30-2007, 02:44 AM

Correct. I am not a scientist and yes, it is very leading in two specific situations

.

**buzzingtalk** · 04-30-2007, 02:58 AM

is it a trick question or blatent sarcasm??

i cant think of any one i know who would chose the bottom

**kiwichick** · 04-30-2007, 03:03 AM

my point exactly!

**travelpunk** · 04-30-2007, 03:05 AM

It is a question asked in every investing seminar, actually. Interested to see how everyone responds here, though I'm pretty sure I know the overwhelming answer.

It is everyones reality too.

An interesting fact though, is that 90% of the population is in one catergory, wishing to be in the other category.

The other 10% is in one catergory and does not wish to change, for obvious reasons.

**raoulduke** · 04-30-2007, 03:15 AM

There's also the percentage though that have tried for the first option but haven't been successful enough to support themselves, and have ended up either broke or back in option two.

**travelpunk** · 04-30-2007, 03:26 AM

Thats a different topic which would come down to vision, plan, strategy, execution, etc...

And all those people that tried it before, obviously wanted that and would still wish they could achieve that somehow.

I'm just curious about the state of mind.

There is no wrong answer here. It is whatever it is for each individual.

**DC_Jessica** · 04-30-2007, 06:46 AM

I'll be honest, I picked the second. I'm inching into that position right now, where I'll probably be working much much more than 60 hours a week, and definitely for "the man." And although I know that my ultimate goal is to be in position #1, I am still really looking forward to paying my dues.

I don't know if that makes me a masochist, but I'm a big believer in street cred. My roommate and I talk about this all the time, and I basically put myself through hell to support my graduate degree, and now, when somebody complains to me about something they think is impossible, I can put my money where my mouth is and be encouraging but stern.

I'd eventually like to be a professor and teach, but I know from my years in school that the professors I really respect and got a lot from are the ones who have seen both (or all) sides of the fence. Even in social situations and academic debates, I have much less respect for someone whose expertise is based on reading and not doing (in my field). So for right now and the next 5-10 years, my answer is definitely #2. It's a little bit different than vision or strategy, because I really have a strong *desire* to be like that for a while. It's not like I'm sacrificing my wants and needs to do this, it's part of my wants and needs.

**Canadian Bacon** · 04-30-2007, 11:34 AM

Its kind of an unreasonable question though... a lot of times, doing "what you love to do" will result in you working crazy hours, under tyrannical bosses for little pay. Certainly that's the case if you work for an NGO, or doing anything that "helps the world" and get paid for it...becuase the supply of labour is so high for such jobs, there's crazy competition for these jobs, and many times you are overqualified.

**TheJake** · 04-30-2007, 11:48 AM

sneaky sneaky.

**omisan** · 04-30-2007, 01:13 PM

I'm already in Category A

**joanofarc** · 04-30-2007, 02:28 PM

Just out of curiosity, what are you doing for the poor and underpriviledged?? I'm thinking about joining Kiva and loaning $300 per year. It's about all I can afford, but at least it's something.

**travelpunk** · 04-30-2007, 02:42 PM

Thanks everyone for your honest answers.

This is not a trick question and definitely not being sneaky

(brotha, Jake).

Let me just preface this by saying that it has been a while since I have been in my 20's, so I don't know what the current atmosphere is like in the job world. But even in my late teens and early 20's, my goals were clear and actually haven't changed.

Perhaps I should have worded that question differently, but I honestly don't know how without straying from the ultimate truth, as I see it?!

Long hard hours of work is not the question.

Warren Buffet coined the phrase "tap dancing to work." Which basically means that if you love what you're doing, it's not really work.

If you don't love what you're doing and find yourself dreaming of doing what you really would love to do or doing the same type of work "your way," then you are most likely in category one.

Jessicas situation is different as the only way to achieve that goal is to follow a specific protocol. So even though it's long hours for for someone else, her goal is to teach and become a professor, as I understand it.

Like having the goal of being a Captain in the Army, or Chief of Police, or President of the US, you have to put in your time in a very specific way.

I have had many jobs in my life and several I've had for 4-5yrs each. I've had always liked what I have done, or liked the the beginning part of the employment, and did many of them for the experience. And even though I liked these jobs and made a good living at them, they had nothing to do with my passion.

I've always wanted to act, direct, produce, travel, spend time helping the poor and less fortunate, spend time with family and friends, and have my own production company. That's the guts of my passions.

Most directors are at the mercy of the studios, unless they're smart and do it their way, like Geore Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and even Robert Rodriguez who created their own production companies and negotiate their deals where they have complete creative control (so their vision for each film remains pure without having to please studio execs by making cuts they don't want to) .

So, my answer is clearly the first option, but have lived all my life in the second option.

Where can I get a job application, Omi

**travelpunk** · 04-30-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joanofarc

Just out of curiosity, what are you doing for the poor and underpriviledged?? I'm thinking about joining Kiva and loaning $300 per year. It's about all I can afford, but at least it's something.

What am I doing for the underpriviledged and poor?

Well, aside from my regular tithes and offerings to my church, my wife and I regularly give to several homeless people in our neighborhood, food and money.

We sponsor a child every month from Guatemala through an outreach called Food for the Hungry.
Her name is Elena Raymundo (I'll try and post the only photo I have of her when I get a chance).
I would highly recommend that all of you do the same. For $28 a month, these children will get school supplies, food, clothes, clean water, education, as well as help the mission with program and administration costs.
This is the second child I've sponsored on a monthly basis, the first from Compassion International.

And for the past 5 years, I have self funded and spent countless thousands of hours building a place that provides education, resources, and a positive support system to help encourage and prepare students and budget travelers for life altering journeys.

Where my heart is at also and what I will be supporting when I get more financial resources and time to do so, are the following (this list will surely get bigger as I grow personally)-

The Smile Train Provide free cleft surgery for underpriviledged children.

Habitat for Humanity Outreach that builds homes for the poor.

Watoto Ministries Mission in Uganda that helps kids, many many parentless and with HIV, to have better lives and help educate them both spiritually and academically.

Mercy Ministries Provides free shelter for young girls and women to help them heal spiritually, emotionally, and phyically, from many abuses that they've suffered from.

Kiva looks like an excellent program. I have a book by Mohammed Yunus, who won a nobel peace prize last year.

His company Unitus has pioneered the Micro lending phenomom, in Bangalore I believe. A brilliant idea to help poor women (at the time) start business with such small amount like $50, $100, etc...

They had to pay it back, to hold themselves accountable and to build business skills, and many have gone on to building bigger profitable businesses and employing others.

I hope you do it!

**Canadian Bacon** · 04-30-2007, 04:39 PM

While I do think it is important to be generous to the needy and help those less fortunate... I don't think your job should always reflect that goal.

Your job should reflect your interests, but also the practical matter of money. If you can't take care of yourself, you could one day even put more strain on society.

I think everyday is whatever we do, we can make a difference and do the right thing... we don't have to be grand, and help to build a village in a developing country, but simple things. When you see injustice in your daily life, speak out against it. Donate to local shelters and things like that. Pay attention to politics, and vote.

The simple truth is that on the large scale there's very little one can do to help those in developing countries, because their condition is largely the result of the prevailing political/economic order. When it comes down to it, change starts at home, and then you can help others.

**omisan** · 04-30-2007, 08:43 PM

Kiva is awesome. I'm putting money aside so I can do some small loans and help someone out as much as I can in the near future.

Personally, I like to work on a local level as well. In some of the San Francisco threads, I've detailed some of the crime and shadiness in my fair city. A lot of it is simply the result of huge economic disparity between the rich who can afford to live here, and the highly marginalized poor. So a small chunk of my party/socializing time is actually spent at fundraisers and benefits, or parties that wind up becoming such because of the good people that put them on.

For instance, last weekend we had a clambake and my friends putting it on got some local businesses in as sponsors to match the donations attendees would put in. For every dollar donated, the sponsors matched an additional $8 to give to the San Francisco Food Bank. So between the sponsors and the 40+ people who attended, we raised $9000 for the food bank. Not bad!

Or this coming weekend, some other friends are putting on a barbecue/sloshball tournament, with $20 as a donation to go toward breast cancer research, and a goal of raising $4k.

Like CB said, you don't have to make helping people your career - Noble if you do, but it can't be a reality for everyone. But you can go out and do fun things and make 'em count for something, a little bit at a time.

**omisan** · 04-30-2007, 08:48 PM

Ooh, another organization that specializes in doing fun things for charity is OneBrick.org.

Right now they're only in San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, and DC, but it's pretty cool. Not only are their efforts charitable, but it's also good social networking and you meet people with similar ideals, but not so idealistic that they're slavishly devoted to activism, etc. (One of the problems I've run into with volunteering in the past...)

Oh, and if you're more athletically inclined and want to help people, check out Team in Training. They'll not only whip you into shape for marathons, century rides, and triathlons, but also help with cancer research. Basically, in exchange for fundraising, you get professional athletic training. Not a bad deal at all!

**TheJake** · 04-30-2007, 09:55 PM

T - Last year i was trying super hard to get a job with Food for the Hungry. They are based here in Phoenix and they are an amazing ministry. Good on ya for hookin up with them!

I would love to go into business for myself someday. Preferably the cruising business or the adventure travel business of some sort. For me though that is currently a pipe dream. For now I am content working for others and having a ton of fun doing it. I of course never work desk jobs and all my jobs are outdoors in a fun-type of environment so I have it a little easier than most.

**travelpunk** · 04-30-2007, 11:08 PM

Jake, I'm glad to hear that FH is a solid company. That's definitely the impression that I got. Sorry that you didn't get the job!

I am also in agreement with you guys on helping out locally, for sure. It has certainly never been my goal to save the world, that's why the donating thing works for me....right now anyways. Whether it goes to research to cure cancer, food for the hungry, educational programs, etc...

I would, however, like to do some hands on work with Habitat for Humanity. Get my hands dirty, learn some carpentry or whatever, and all in the name of a great cause.

My goals have already been posted on the film stuff. Still trying to finish editing the first one we shot. It just don't pay da bills, so we took a long break to get our feet back on the ground (which all goes back to my original question).

The clambake and barbecue things are awesome, Omi. Now those look like fun local things that I would like to get involved with.

At the end of the day, we must all follow our hearts. If it tells you to do something small or gigantic, so be it.