I know you've heard this before, but...

[InterfaceLeader]

How do I figure out what the best thing is for me to do work-wise?

For a very very long time I wanted to be a writer. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I did a Creative Writing and English degree. By the end I was completely burned out and disillusioned with writing. Since then I haven't managed to recapture the energy and passion with which I used to write.

I'm hoping it will return, but it may be that I was just in love with the idea of being a writer, and not actually passionate about writing itself.

Meanwhile, that leaves me a bit hanging. The other thing I wanted to do was write and draw comics. But since then I've realised I want to keep that as a hobby, so there is one thing in my life I do purely and completely for fun.

At the moment, I have two jobs, which is killing my enthusiasm for life. I also do some on-the-side work, including writing articles and blogs etc. My income is sufficient to keep me living pretty well, and make some small savings. One of my jobs is run of the mill retail, the other is much more exciting, but also much more exhausting. I'm having to learn a lot very quickly, and whilst it is a great experience, part of what I'm learning is I hate managing other people.

These are the things I really really enjoy.

1. Reading. I adore, and love reading. It is my favourite thing to do. I'll read anything, from cheap romance to War & Peace, John le Carre, to Les Miserables.

2. Walking/Hiking/Camping. I love getting away from everything, seeing beautiful things, and going into that 'zen' mode that feels so good when you're walking.

3. Cooking. I'm a terrible cook, but I do enjoy it :P

4. Traveling. Not just to exotic beaches, but anywhere that isn't 'home'. I love crashing on somebodies couch, or wandering down the streets of a strange city. I would love love love to have the time and financial security to do more of this.


Things I really don't enjoy, and therefore do badly:

1. Networking, especially with groups. I'm the kind of person who makes three or four very intense, very close relationships. I focus on one individual at a time. The ability to make myself known in social situations is really hard for me, and I find small talk impossible.

2. Managing people. Keeping track of hundreds of projects at once. Again, this is a focus thing. I can concentrate on one person or one task and do it 110%, faster than most people. But I can't multi-task effeciently, or manage two or three projects simultaneously.

3. Doing stuff I don't enjoy. Actually, I see this as a positive. I worked in a call centre for a while, hated it, so quit. I haven't stuck any job I've disliked for more than six months. Simply put, once I'm in a rut, I'm gone. However, this was fine when I was unfettered and free, but recently I started building a home, paying rent and taxes, planning on marriage. I'm not excessively wasteful (my wedding is going to cost less than £100, including registry fees), but I can't not pay council tax and rent in the UK is astronomical wherever you are.


I want from a job something structured, where I complete one task at a time, something where I'm always learning, and something that will give me enough money that I can quit my second job and get my weekends to focus on building passive income streams.

So I need to focus on creative value right? The trouble is, I don't know WHAT I can do. I did play with the idea of being a therapist/counselor, because I'm a very good listener, and a very calming person (though I don't always come across that way online). I've dealt with many emotional situations with people, and I know I can do that job. But I don't even know where to start. I don't really want to get another student debt, go back to school, etc etc. But I don't know the path into that career, as it isn't something I ever thought about seriously.

I'd like to avoid busy offices, managerial positions etc.

I'd like to avoid being a teacher, simply because I feel too many YOUNG people are becoming teachers without the life experience and depth of character that children and pupils need in their role-models. I know that all of my avourite teachers had done 'other things' before they taught, rather than going from school - college - university - teacher.

Or to put it another way - if you're going to teach business, I'd rather you'd run a successful business rather than just read about it!

Okay, I'm just rambling now....