I currently work in the Finance department of a large manufacturing company where I have worked for 6 years. The decision I'm living with is one I made when I was 18 and hardly old enough to make life long decisions. At that time due to factors I won't go into I decided to get an accounting degree. While I am very thankfull for my education and the security I get from an Accounting degree, it's not what I am interested in to any degree. I do a decent job, I've gotten 6 promotions in 6 years mainly because of my technical prowness and my willingness to not tackle large financial systems issues.

However, I feel as if I'm only giving 50% of my potential because of my lack of interest in Accounting. While I am succeeding at distancing myself from most accounting practices within my organization that distancing will only inhibit my future growth. Currently I do mostly analysis which I enjoy to some extent, however I still cannot get pationate about financial reporting.

I would love to reinvent myself and my career, perhaps to something more people or sales focused. My one major set back is the fact that I now suffer from "Golden Handcuff" syndrome. I am afraid I will not earn the same as I am now with a radical career change nor am I able to afford a large paycut.

I realize I must be willing to overhaul my personal and work life in order to accomplish this change but I am not sure to what degree. What's the trade off? What price do I put on happiness in the workplace? And what is the payoff? I'd love to hear from others that have made that giant leap and the gains or loses they have reaped.

I thank you in advance for you input.

-- Ken Frericks (frericks@home.com), November 13, 2000

Answers

Ken you can't measure your life against what happens to someone else.

Most of the times when you make the leap (and I have made it) the result isn't as half as frightening as you thought it was going to be, but we hold fear for a reason, so that we don't keep jumping and creating imbalance in our lives. At the same time our fear is our strength at the time we decide to make the jump. The easiest way to make the jump is with someone else, most people however face the prospect of a career change, which is a lonely one.

You asked a series of questions in the last paragraph that only you have the answer to. That doesn't mean you shouldn't ask those questions but do realize that if you allow your mind to consider them, the answers will come at unexpected moments, you just have to be aware that you have requested those answers and that your mind is working on them. Confusion arises when you are not clear whether those are the questions you wanted to ask and substitute them with conflicting questions before you have given the chance to come to answer with the ones you posed.

By all means look at the evidence and the experiences of what others have done but at the end of the day they are merely clues not decision points. What do you really want to do? Is it feasible for you to do it? Will you have happy with the result? A lot of the answers in such questions are given to you after you have made the decision, which is why so many agonize before hand and wonder why they agonized afterwards.

Yes, in all such decisions of the unknown, that is the risk. Listen to Garth Brooks song "Standing outside the Fire" and try to understand what you think Garth means.

Hope this discourse was a helpful perspective. Good luck Ken on whatever you personally decide to do.

M.

"To be or not to be that is the question" A quote by Willy Shakes. M Profile at: http://www.fastcompany.com/fasttalk/replypost.html? p=9738 Mantra of M. "Life is about Private Relations not Public Relations"

-- Mark Zorro (zorromark@consultant.com), November 13, 2000.

I work in a company where a VP Finance of a $4 million unit just became VP Store Operations, the largest line job in the division... with no experience outside accounting. He was the best executive available and the decision-makers gave him a chance. It'll be be a tough learning curve no doubt. I wouldn't count yourself out. You need to find a mentor or at least make people aware that you'd like to try a different line of work.

-- Dave Crisp (dcrisp62@home.com), November 18, 2000.

Ken, well I just had to throw my 2 cents into your piggy bank. I read the other posts and in many ways I couldn't disagree more. Maybe because I'm Canadian (worked in the states and find the American working outlook very mentally unfulfilling) or maybe it's because I've been self-employed for 13 years...... but here's a few thoughts for you.

First.... don't think "nor am I able to afford a large paycut". You're dead in the water right there. One can always re-invent themselves, find ways to augment your income, downsize your lifestyle or any other necessary movement to accoplish "happiness".

I started with accounting degree (Dad was a CA sooooo...) but realized REAL fast that I didn't enjoy working on a payroll. I then studied business management and economics independantly as well as going to evening college courses. The beauty of a background in accounting is that it can be 'ported' to an type of business model. Find something that lights your passion or gives you a sense of worth.

I don't think it can happen overnight. The whole concept of a 'new economy' makes me giggle. There truly is nothing new under the sun. After many different industry changes I have ended up being a consultant . This is thanks to this 'new economy'. So many business' out there do not adhere to sound business fundamentals. Simply stated I am teaching 'the basics' to business folk that are to busy thinking $$$ instead of planning (or realistic planning at least). Now I am constantly getting in and out of every feild imaginable.... at this time my firm is doing a business plan for a group in Russia, a web site development for a shipping company in London.... a marketing plan for dotcom in the states and more.

Am I an expert in all these areas??? Nope. Just an expert in networking and delegation. I merley have built a team of professionals from Russia to Malaysia to the US and then find the work and have my team submit the delegated tasks back to me for compilation and submission.

THE PAYOFF: In the end I have plenty of time to enjoy life. I am only 34 now and finally got around to haveing a daughter, and if I decide to take a day (or 2 or.....) to spend with my wife and child, I do. I find this extremely emotionally rewarding. That is what my real 'profit margin' is, time to enjoy life.

Relax, don't force it. Allow the truth within you to come out. The fact that you have posted your question IS the answer. Find what it is you are after in life, make your personal life business plan and execute it. Never be afraid to adapt to your feelings. This is the true 'success' that you should be after.

Best of luck. If you do decide to change feel free to get in touch, I'm sure I can help....... it's what I do.

David President Comprehensive Development Services

-- David (TheGypsy) Harry (cds@thebeachers.com), November 19, 2000.