Torn as to what to choose for my career and my passion. 2

[ProjectX]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I'm conflicted into what I want to do with my life. I need to have a definite answer to my purpose.
Its hard to get out of bed and do the important things with great results when I don't have a clear vision and goal in which I want to spend my life doing.

I am currently a college student studying for a diploma in business. I hope within the next two years after graduating I know exactly what my career choice will be so that when I do go to university I am studying it.

I wish to live a life of empowerment, creativity and lots of money. But also to raise the consciousness of other people.

There are three possible career paths that I want to choose but all of them I have little skill and knowledge about.

1) Marketing/Advertisement - Why? Because its business related but on the other hand it allows me to utilize my creativity, move around a lot and socialize with many people. I can create something of value that can improve people's life.
The downside, my verbal, written and interpersonal skills are lacking and I need to develop them. The only way I see is through some intense coaching.


2) Finance/Investments - The most secure comfortable route and also probably the route where I can make money the easiest. The stock market is a gold mine in my opinion and the only career where you make money out of nothing. I am currently learning finance mathematics I find it very interesting but I'm afraid the job itself is boring and stressful. It is also the least creative.
But the way I see I can have a different job and still become a successful investor.
What do you know about this area? Is attaining a finance degree crucial to becoming good in investments?


3) Film/Directing/Screenplay - The most exciting and creative path for me but the least of the three which I know about.
Film is my passion and for a long time it has been my dream to make a movie and actually raise the awareness of others through film.

Seriously I have so many ideas when it comes to film. Its like these images and visions appear in my mind that I NEED to let it out.
Put my ideas into creation and to me that would be the most wonderful thing for me in life. Plus the fact that if I am successful there is a lot of money in it.

But this route is also the riskiest and least safe one. There is no guarantee that I can achieve what I want. And I know nothing about the industry. All I know is it's very competitive. I never wrote a script or studied anything to do with film but I love to watch and analyze movies. Maybe I can enter the industry by first writing a screenplay?



These are my 3 possible paths that I think the most about.
My greatest concern is money and my living standard. I like film but I also want to do other things like travel a lot.

Though there are very different subjects I have come up with a plan. .
Why don't I choose film as my major and business as my minor.
I can then go into advertising and market the products/ideas through filming.
I will work myself up the chain, first doing commercials, music videos, then documentaries, TV shows and finally the big prize, Films.
All that while putting my ideas on paper through screenplays.
Part-time I can invest in real estate and stock and make some real cash.

[ProjectX]

anyone?

[Ecce Homo]

Hey Project, how’s it going?

Originally Posted by ProjectX

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I'm conflicted into what I want to do with my life. I need to have a definite answer to my purpose...

Are you sure you need that? I'm guessing that you continue to walk, talk, eat, drink, enjoy your loved ones, be a successful college student and all around great guy, all without having a definite answer to your purpose.

I’m really starting to think that this whole finding your purpose thing is doing more harm than good. It feels similar to the “finding your soul mate” story. You know, the one that says that if you find your one true love, your soul mate, then you’ll feel complete and live happily ever after? That’s what the finding your purpose thing sounds like to me nowadays. Perfectly smart, passionate and capable people, people like you Project, are twisting themselves in knots trying to pin this ever elusive concept of purpose down. Meanwhile, their life is passing them by…

Why not just pick a path that you love and that will be of value to others? Bring your love to the path, whatever it is, and love will be reflected back to you.

[dbstraight]

If you want to be a screenwriter/director, the best thing to do is probably practice. You say you've never written a script. That's a pretty important prerequisite to being a screenwriter. You can also pick up a cheap video camera, get some friends together, make movies, and put them on YouTube. The experience will help and you may get some exposure through YouTube.

[Lena Carpenter]

From my perspective, it appears that the film route holds the most passion for you. I think you have a great plan already. Just go for it! While majoring in film, you can pick up some excellent skills for advertising. Go for what you enjoy doing, and you can adjust direction, while doing it.

[Brutha]

The thing you listed aren't purposes. Marketing is no purpose.
There might be marketers who do have purpose in their life and are driven by something, but Marketing itself is simply a big field.
The same goes for finance and film.

What would make you are a different marketer than the others out there?
The same question also applies in the other fields.

[suchnessofmoment]

I've had similar questions about my life. In fact, I opned a thread about it Is it what you do, or how you do it? and then just saw your thread

Are you sure you need that? I'm guessing that you continue to walk, talk, eat, drink, enjoy your loved ones, be a successful college student and all around great guy, all without having a definite answer to your purpose

This is a great answer. I mean, what is the real purpose of our lives? All we do is to find happiness. So, rather than go looking of happiness from a "perfect" career, I think I should practice gratitude at a very basic level - being grateful for our existence itself.

Looking for a perfect career is a product of ego's never ending desires. Sure, there are some careers which are better than others, but the way I feel is that a concept of a perfect career is an illusion.

Oh, btw, feel free to chase your dreams !!.

[Lanya]

I actually have a friend who's a film major (in his junior year), and based on what he's done, I would whole-heartedly agree with dbstraight.

My friend's done a lot of practicing in high school before taking any film classes, and it was really helpful. It's easier for him to do the assignments, and on his own, he's learned stuff (about lenses and editing and such) that isn't even taught in any of the classes.

As for money, he doesn't expect to make a lot, but he has it all planned out on how he's gonna live out of a car, and get income from film festivals and a part-time job.

If you're going to do film, there's no need to wait for Hollywood approval to start making stuff.


Also, if you want to post stuff for critique, try vimeo. It allows higher-quality video, and a more film-oriented community.

Good luck choosing your path!

[ProjectX]

Originally Posted by Lanya

I actually have a friend who's a film major (in his junior year), and based on what he's done, I would whole-heartedly agree with dbstraight.

My friend's done a lot of practicing in high school before taking any film classes, and it was really helpful. It's easier for him to do the assignments, and on his own, he's learned stuff (about lenses and editing and such) that isn't even taught in any of the classes.

As for money, he doesn't expect to make a lot, but he has it all planned out on how he's gonna live out of a car, and get income from film festivals and a part-time job.

If you're going to do film, there's no need to wait for Hollywood approval to start making stuff.


Also, if you want to post stuff for critique, try vimeo. It allows higher-quality video, and a more film-oriented community.

Good luck choosing your path!

Do you mean his going to live in a car?

[Lanya]

Originally Posted by ProjectX

Do you mean his going to live in a car?

Yep.

Well, a van, so he has enough room for an editing setup and equipment. (he's pretty crazy-awesome)

There's tons of stuff you can find on the Internet about living homeless/out of a car. For instance, a thread in this forum.