Recently, my husband decided to make a "huge" career change. I say "huge" because to me, I was "freaked" out about him leaving a corporate career to become an entrepreneur. When he came home and told me that he wasn't happy with his corporate job and wanted to quit, my bubble burst. The bubble of "my" American Dream of corporate benefits, a set salary and retirement my husband had with his job came crashing down.
I quickly realized that my husband wasn't happy. "I'm tired of being told how much I'm worth by what they pay me, " my husband told me. I asked him what his American Dream was, "the American Dream is about choosing what makes you happy." How can I refuse that?
Our perspective of the "dream job" has definitely changed within the last month. If people work a corporate job and are happy with it, awesome! It's not for everyone, but someone live for it. Great! Since starting his own business, my husband is now living his "dream". He is more passionate about his work, he is building personal relationships with his customers and do things he couldn't do at an office job. "The sky is the limit," he says.
This assignment has helped me "snap" back in reality. The "cushion" of a corporate job is great, but being happy at what you do is more important to my husband and I. We are blessed to live in a country that gives us the freedom of choosing happiness.
4 comments:
Hi Allison!
My husband was in your shoes about four years ago. That’s when I decided to make a change. After almost sixteen years in the corporate world, I was unhappy, stressed and downright cranky. It took nine months to find something I’d be comfortable with but I made the change. To this day, turning in my two-week notice is one of the hardest things – and best things – I’ve ever done. Once I changed jobs, it was amazing the change in me. I was (and still am) happy with my “new” job. Yes, there is still stress, but not the eat-at-you-kind. It was a good leap-of-faith.
It is hard when a dream changes. Guess what – the next dream could be better.
Best of luck to you and your husband. Keep dreaming.
Marcia
Tell your husband he is very brave. I think it is great he knew what he wanted and decided to pursue it. My mom has been working at the same job for 21 years. She often tells me that she is unhappy with it but is too scared to leave because she doesn’t feel she is qualified for anything else. She works as a human resources manager at a department store. She worked her way up to that position from a cashier. She is very smart but only has a high school degree. Corporate downsizing changed her job a few years back. Now she is responsible for doing work that used to take three full time positions to accomplish. She is over worked and overwhelmed.
I believe there are a lot of people out there who are so concerned about having a job that they are willing to put up with any work given to them. I would like to think it is possible for everyone to have a dream job, but I think it is more realistic to hope everyone can find happiness in a job. We spend too much of our lives working to be miserable during it.
I am very happy for you and your husband. It is inspirational to see someone using the American Dream to choose happiness.
~Bethany
Allison-
I think that it is great that your husband was able to do this. I watched my dad work at a job he hated for 20 years. He tried to quit a few times, but he stayed to support the family. He was able to retire early and now does things he enjoys, but those early years were a struggle for him. Being happy makes a world of difference! I am glad your husband is getting to experience this.
Pam
Allison,
I agree with the others> Your husband is brave and sometimes changing your job is very hard. On the other hand, sometimes when you have 23 years into a job, changing is just not an option. There are days I wish my husband could change his job to one that isn't so demanding and time consuming. But giving up this job when he is seven years from retirement...
Part of my American Dream is to travel and see the rest of the world after we both retire. We'll need money to do that!!!
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