Taking the job?

[Lucas]

Recently I was offered a fairly lucrative job, basically in 100% comission based sales. Finances are the main area of my life that I want to get straight. The earning potential for this job is really high, and I have a decent amount of bills that need paid etc. If I did really well this year, I could potentially be out of debt. Not a bad place to be. However, pay is directly proportional to how well i do, and if I am spending 40+ hours a week selling, then will that mean less time spent on my band, which is my purpose. We are releasing an album soon, and the potential there is for it to take off (with leveraging it). Will I be able to lead a double life as a saleseman and a musician? I have a nagging doubt in my gut, and I can't figure out if its a fear of failure/becoming something I am not, or if its saying "you arent on purpose".

Any advice?

[coollikeme]

it seems like you love music there must be something in that field other than making an album, that you can make money on. If you can figure that out you can stay with your band until the album is ready. If you can sell for some one else. Why not sell for your self your ultimate goal is the album it sounds like you are close, our are at least worried that a job will hurt your chances. Talk to your band members and see if there is something else in music were you can make money. It won't be easy never give up. Your goal is your album, not a job. you can always get a job later. Good Luck!!

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by coollikeme

it seems like you love music there must be something in that field other than making an album, that you can make money on. If you can figure that out you can stay with your band until the album is ready. If you can sell for some one else. Why not sell for your self your ultimate goal is the album it sounds like you are close, our are at least worried that a job will hurt your chances. Talk to your band members and see if there is something else in music were you can make money. It won't be easy never give up. Your goal is your album, not a job. you can always get a job later. Good Luck!!

Yeah, but I have a job right now. It sucks, and I am spending 30+ hours a week there not making ends meet, so i I take this job, 10 more hours a week and I could make ends meet and then some. So its more like replacing my crappy job with a better one. Plus I could intend for big clients to come my way, heh.

[Liara Covert]

Hi Lucas,

Its been said that once a person discovers and follows true passions, the means to make money and become successful will emerge. Depending on how urgent your bills are, you may be forced to take a job in the short-term. Yet, the one you described as a current opportunity sounds time-consuling and is 100% based on sales commission, and may end up not paying much for the time you put in. I encourage you to figure out how much more time you need to put in with your band to finish your album and find a short-term job to work around that schedule. After all, you do not wish to put your dream on the backburner for a job in a completely different field...

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by Liara Covert

Hi Lucas,

Its been said that once a person discovers and follows true passions, the means to make money and become successful will emerge. Depending on how urgent your bills are, you may be forced to take a job in the short-term. Yet, the one you described as a current opportunity sounds time-consuling and is 100% based on sales commission, and may end up not paying much for the time you put in. I encourage you to figure out how much more time you need to put in with your band to finish your album and find a short-term job to work around that schedule. After all, you do not wish to put your dream on the backburner for a job in a completely different field...

I agree. I called the guy back and left a message, and he hasnt got back to me...so I took that as kind of a sign. I just dont feel right with the job, I think it is my intuition telling me to wait, push the heck out of my album, and make money the way I want; through records and touring. It's funny when my band plays out, we have to load up the truck, drive an hour or more, unload and set up, wait for bands to play, and then we put on a 20-45 minute set, pack up and drive home. Its like 5+ hours to play a half an hour, but none of it feels like work.

Our album is done, it needs mastered and printed, and then we can sell it.

[rene_stpierre]

You already know what it's like to have a job you don't like. But unlike many people, you seem to be very close to being able to make money with your passion. This is great!

If you take the new job, you will have to put in many hours because of the learning curve and income is not guaranteed (100% commission). This will require that you spend less and less time on your passion in order to generate the income you need.

I agree with other posts ... focus as much time on your passion right now to get to the point where you begin making money ASAP. What is great is that you will love every minute of that process!

Best of luck!
René

[escapee]

I have a slightly different opinion(plz bare with me), If i'm in Lucas' Shoes , i would probably do my best to get out of debt ASAP with crappy job that pays well securely before i start thinking about the real "passion".

Debt sucks , clear it as fast as you could.

Below is what Dave Ramsey says about debt

Myth: Debt is a tool and should be used to help create prosperity.
Truth: Debt is not a tool; it is a method to make banks wealthy, not you.

Debt is dumb. Most normal people are just plain broke because they are in debt up to their eyeballs with no hope of help. If you're in debt then you're a slave, in the sense that you do not have the freedom to use your money to help change your family tree. According to a recent USA Today article about debt, 78 percent of baby boomers have mortgage debt, 59 percent have credit card debt, 56 percent have car payments.

It takes a lot of will, discipline, courage and help to slay the debt monster. But it can be done. Imagine how much you could put toward retirement if you just didn't have a stinking car payment? This is how the wealthy build their wealth. Debt is really dumb. Welcome to the real world!

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by escapee

I have a slightly different opinion(plz bare with me), If i'm in Lucas' Shoes , i would probably do my best to get out of debt ASAP with crappy job that pays well securely before i start thinking about the real "passion".

Debt sucks , clear it as fast as you could.

Below is what Dave Ramsey says about debt

Crappy jobs suck, much more than debt.

I dont have credit cards, or a car payment...just student loans. I am not afraid of my debt, but when thinking about a job that isnt music related, I get a gurgly feeling in my stomach. I think the only reason I was asking is because the security part of my ego was saying "get a job that looks good on paper" when I would much rather play music and face the chance that I may be homeless and full of debt, then compromise my true nature to pay the bills.

I don't know why I question my intuition.

[Dave Kaminski]

I just took a job thats SMALL base + commission. If you were to take that job you'd have to see every hour at work as an investment, and be willing to invest add'l money on top of that to do very well. If you can't do that, I would say don't bother taking the job because sales doesn't need another professional who doesn't essentially want to be there and help people out. There's already enough negative social stigma towards it and the only people who should be in the profession now are those who will champion the consultative and helpful skills of the sales force.

But if you do end up taking it, have fun and help as many people as you can! You could enjoy this job much more than your old one, so don't brush it off immediately (although intuition is a very strong feeling) you've got to try it before you knock it

[escapee]

That crappy job would only suck for a short period of time, when you have the debt complelely off your mind , you know you are going let your passion explodes like the big bang ( Take my post as a grain of salt )