Originally Posted by Unregistered

Reading this thread it almost seemed like there is a competition amongst a few posters for the biggest looser. You start with a looser mindset, it'll only get worse from there.

First and foremost, realize you are in control of your life.

1) If you are unemployed, do something about it. Passively searching for the perfect job won't do it. Start with something interesting, even if it does not match your ego, then learn from it and build your career from there. A trustworthy, reliable and proactive employee is worth gold, and no sensible employer will let you go if you meet those criteria. If you make yourself indispensable, progressing upwards, with more money, will be inevitable. If, however, you do the bare minimum to get by in your job, then don't be surprised you will stagnate, get bored and not have many prospects. However, if you go over and beyond what has been asked of you, you will not only impress your boss, but make his life easier which, in turn, will make you more valuable. So don't be concerned where you start ... It's your progress that will be more meaningful.

2) If you don't want to do banking or finance, don't do it. Do something you have passion for. No matter how skilled you are in your profession, if you do not like what you are doing you will not have the incentive to go "over and beyond" the call of duty (see above), which will in turn mean you will not progress. If you are very good you may get a decent salary, but your upside will be limited. It is the "extras" that you do which will propel you forward. In similar vein, every job has ups and downs and if you are not passionate about your work, the downs will be too depressing and may lead you to give up early. So go with your passion ... Success will follow.

3) If you want to earn more, think of changes you can do that will make that possible. There may be cases where your boss is just a pencil-pusher and does not care about his work, and gene about the contribution you make in it. In such cases, transfer or change jobs. You may need to learn new skills or start knew environment, which is often scary, but it could be also exciting and break the glass ceiling you may be facing. And do not dismiss the idea of starting your own business. One of the greatest challenges for any client is to find a trustworthy, reliable and proactive vendor (note these are the same keywords as point 1), and so if. You match that description you will not have a shortage of clients, hence business, hence money. The trick is to look well after your clients and manage your growth right, and the financial rewards will come with it.

4) Don't take life, and yourself, too seriously. Every problem along the way is manageable, and the world will not collapse if its not solved the same day.

To put the above into context of my life, I started washing dishes at a restaurant (when I was 14). Through being reliable and proactive, became manager by 16 (well ahead of long-time employees for whom, however, the job was just a chore). Did my education (yes I got my phd, but once I entered proper workforce I soon realized degrees and certs don't matter as much as the 3 points above). Started in clerical, then managerial post, and within 1 year became GM of a mid-size business. Just as I though things were going great, I was pushed by my boss to manage a project completely outside my zone. Instead of getting upset, though, I learned as much as I could from the project. I understood what was being done well, and what was not. From that I realized how I can improve on things, and did so in my own business which I grew from 1 man operation to 15 employee setup. Last year I drew a 7-figure pay. It has always been hard work, but I was always in control. Though the intensity and yes, stress, has been substantial at times, I am now facing the option, at my choice, to scale down with financial security. I am 36.

Perhaps the above will help someone :-)