Adventure or Money? and life options for those in their mid 20's. Advice please
06-01-2016, 04:10 PM
Some thoughts from my POV:
I would definitely forget about things like working on a cruise ship and being a flight attendant. Those things won't get you anywhere. You can work these jobs for a couple of years, but these are not long term careers. You need develop skills / a career that has a longer term future.
Also, I would not recommend going the "digital nomad" route - if that includes doing small gigs on "sharing economy" platforms like upward etc. You can do that for 6 months when you are starting out to gain some experience, but you need to leave these platforms behind asap. The pay is way too low, and you want to build a brand/ reputation for yourself outside of these platforms.
The idea that you can bust your ass for 10 years as an employee and then be set for live is not very realistic. There are some people for whom it works - mainly people in the banking / finance industry. You need to get into a very high-level, well-paying field for that plan to work out. From the way you sound in your posts, though, you are probably not a person who will make it into these spheres.
Ok so what do I suggest?
You said that you started learning fron-end coding and Javascript. Thats is very good basis. ESPECIALLY in CONJUNCTION with your anthropology degree. If I was in your situation, I would definitely leverage this. There is an emerging field of digital anthropology - see for example this article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/16/techno....html?_r=0
There will be an increasing demand for the position in the future, together with UX Design and Consumer Ethnography - these fields are all interconnected. Anthropology is a very good foundation for that.
So instead of becoming a code monkey who works for pennies on some "sharing economy" website, rather become an "Interaction Expert" based on your knowledge of screen design and anthropology. Just get some more experience in that field, make a portfolio, and brand yourself that way. Another advantage is that you're young-ish, so you can become a "Gen-Y Digital Guru" or something in that vein. I.e. you help corporations understand the UX needs of Gen Y - there's a lot of money in that.
You can then still build your own digital service on the side, maybe with a focus on China, as YMG suggested - I think that's a good idea.
The main thing though is to develop a skill set that you can build upon and that is in demand. I wouldn't only think about "how can I make money" but what will be the best path longer term. I think you can't go wrong with going into the digital field, but you need to make sure that you don't get stuck on the code monkey level and instead work in a more "strategic" position. Again, your background is very well suited for that.
That's quite a lot of bullshit. You cannot weigh your 20ies against your 40ies - each age is what you make of it. It's all about building a long-term life that you enjoy and that gives you freedom. Do you think you won't want to socialise and fuck foreign girls when you're in your 40ies? Of course you will. Many people simply can't, though, because they're in a 9-5 grind and don't know how to get out of it.
That's why my advice is to build expertise in a field and always keep adding new skills and knowledge to it. This will make it easier to go independent over time and build high-level clients. Then the next step is to start a company and/or develop a product. But that comes later, after you have built a good foundation in a field and gained some good experience.
I would definitely forget about things like working on a cruise ship and being a flight attendant. Those things won't get you anywhere. You can work these jobs for a couple of years, but these are not long term careers. You need develop skills / a career that has a longer term future.
Also, I would not recommend going the "digital nomad" route - if that includes doing small gigs on "sharing economy" platforms like upward etc. You can do that for 6 months when you are starting out to gain some experience, but you need to leave these platforms behind asap. The pay is way too low, and you want to build a brand/ reputation for yourself outside of these platforms.
Quote: (05-31-2016 04:58 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:
I worked first, and it didn't pay off.
The idea that you can bust your ass for 10 years as an employee and then be set for live is not very realistic. There are some people for whom it works - mainly people in the banking / finance industry. You need to get into a very high-level, well-paying field for that plan to work out. From the way you sound in your posts, though, you are probably not a person who will make it into these spheres.
Ok so what do I suggest?
You said that you started learning fron-end coding and Javascript. Thats is very good basis. ESPECIALLY in CONJUNCTION with your anthropology degree. If I was in your situation, I would definitely leverage this. There is an emerging field of digital anthropology - see for example this article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/16/techno....html?_r=0
There will be an increasing demand for the position in the future, together with UX Design and Consumer Ethnography - these fields are all interconnected. Anthropology is a very good foundation for that.
So instead of becoming a code monkey who works for pennies on some "sharing economy" website, rather become an "Interaction Expert" based on your knowledge of screen design and anthropology. Just get some more experience in that field, make a portfolio, and brand yourself that way. Another advantage is that you're young-ish, so you can become a "Gen-Y Digital Guru" or something in that vein. I.e. you help corporations understand the UX needs of Gen Y - there's a lot of money in that.
You can then still build your own digital service on the side, maybe with a focus on China, as YMG suggested - I think that's a good idea.
The main thing though is to develop a skill set that you can build upon and that is in demand. I wouldn't only think about "how can I make money" but what will be the best path longer term. I think you can't go wrong with going into the digital field, but you need to make sure that you don't get stuck on the code monkey level and instead work in a more "strategic" position. Again, your background is very well suited for that.
Quote: (06-01-2016 12:42 PM)zatara Wrote:
I'd far rather party in my 20s than in my 40s. Far easier to socialise with other travelers, to hit on the widest age spectrum of girls etc. A 25 year old just has so many more social/romantic doors open to them than a 45 year old.
Quote: (06-01-2016 12:42 PM)zatara Wrote:
Those 5 years you spent traveling the world, fucking foreign girls, partying your ass off etc in your 20s are far more unique. And that window of opportunity closes so damn fast on your life.
That's quite a lot of bullshit. You cannot weigh your 20ies against your 40ies - each age is what you make of it. It's all about building a long-term life that you enjoy and that gives you freedom. Do you think you won't want to socialise and fuck foreign girls when you're in your 40ies? Of course you will. Many people simply can't, though, because they're in a 9-5 grind and don't know how to get out of it.
That's why my advice is to build expertise in a field and always keep adding new skills and knowledge to it. This will make it easier to go independent over time and build high-level clients. Then the next step is to start a company and/or develop a product. But that comes later, after you have built a good foundation in a field and gained some good experience.