I know, I know. I said I wasn’t going to be posting as much and yet somehow I’m still going at the same tempo. I guess blogging is like my crack or something.
Actually, in spite of spending my weekend working, I still had a few minutes here and there to write, which was nice. And since a severe thunderstorm has ruined my running plans for tonight and the Modern Beau went home a little early so as not to be caught in his flimsy Ford pickup in the middle of said storm, I have some extra time now. I don’t expect the same freedom starting tomorrow (although I’ve already written a post for tomorrow, so there is that).
I spent the rest of the scant free time I had this weekend doing some soul searching and thinking about where I wanted my life to take me in the next few years. Nothing like a stern talk with your boss to make that happen. I had mostly gotten over that talk by Friday afternoon until I got an e-mail from my boss reiterating all the points she had already made loud and clear over the phone, which of course put me back in a mood for the rest of Friday and most of Saturday.
I can’t say I figured a lot out. I know that I’ve got to stick with my job until at least March 2010, so I’ve got to make the best of it until then. This past year went by especially fast, so a year and a half should be managable. Beyond that, who knows? Maybe I’ll want to stick with it, maybe I’ll be ready for something different.
In the mean time, I’m committing to three things:
- Saving money at twice the pace that I currently am. This would give me a nice stockpile, so in 18 months if I’ve decided it’s time to pursue something different, I’ll have some money to help me make a transition. If not, then I’ll have an even sweeter down payment on a house or money to buy a new car, should I need one.
- Prepare for and take the GRE. Any different path I might pursue in 18 months or beyond likely would require extra schooling. It would be nice to have the entrance exam out of the way. (I can go ahead and rule out the LSAT and the MCAT as those are professions I’ll never be pursuing). If I spread the pain over a year’s time, maybe it won’t be such an ordeal.
- Come up with a back-up plan. I’ve always been a sort of live-in-the-moment kind of girl. Sure I worry about what’s to come, but I’m also pretty shortsighted. I made it through college without really thinking that hard about what my dream job would be and what it would take to get there. I just got a job and figured I’d see what happened. It’s a very Zen way of life, but at the same time it might be holding me back too. So, I’m going to figure out what it is I would do with my life should my current profession cease to be what I want to do with my life.
Here’s to a plan for The Modern Gal. What’s your back-up plan?
Glad to see that you are starting to sort through all of this. I have some suggestions for reference material when you begin to to study for the GRE as well. As far as my back up plan…..getting employment after grad school rather than continuing on to my PhD.
Recently budgeted to pay off all debt by the spring. I’m stoked. Then I’ll be able to make bulleted plan lists that are much more fun and much less frightening.
Back up plan? What the hell is that? Actually no, if anything happens with this job I am going to just do freelance web design and equine massage therapy.
Back-up plan? What’s that? Oh wait! That’s what I’m doing right now! haha
Since I plan (hope) to be waiting tables for the next three years until I get accepted to and graduate from nursing school, there isn’t much for me to fall back on except being a full-time substitute teacher. Doesn’t that sound like fun? No?
I’m studying to retake the GRE right now. My scores are still valid from the last time I took it, but I’d like to try again and see if I can beef them up a little. After I’m done you can have my test prep stuff if you want.
I’ve got a partial backup plan for the really sad day when I realize that this industry has gotten the best of me and I don’t have any more to give.
Unfortunately, I just part of it mapped out _ not the whole freakin thing. So what does the illustrious Noodles want to do with her typing fingers? Become a nurse practitioner.
I’ve even got the school and program of study all picked out.
Unfortunately, the hurdles that remain:
a) being sure that this is what I’d want as a second career;
b) taking a bunch of undergrad science pre-reqs;
c) quitting my job since the first year of study is full-time;
d) being able to afford to do the above.
So, um, yeah. There’s a bunch of work to be done.
I’m in the same boat of you in terms of figuring out what my dream career is. I’m also thinking about taking the GRE, in the hopes that I will finally figure out my ideal job.
Back up plan? HA! I have none, she admits sheepishly as she ponders writing that novel.
Maybe more grad school to become one of those p h ds. (Snort.) That’s kinda funny.
I think I’m in my dream job. Except it’s in the middle of nowhere. Somewhere with easily accessible airports might be nicer. Also working for CNN like my original plan had been in grad school would be nice too. ;o)
This is inspiring. My back-up plan is the lottery. Sad.
Honestly I don’t know if I have a back-up plan. At worst, I go back to WI and go to law school or nursing school. Or win the lottery. Love your plans for the month to commit to.
You know, for the first time in my life, I don’t have a backup plan. I have jumped off the cliff with both feet and I’m still waiting to see how I’m going to land. Terrifying. I don’t know that I can recommend it.
Your plans sound great.