Comments on: Changes

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:48:18 +0000

Hey Four Pillars,

Congrats on the move, I recently made a similar one, going from a steady, challenging engineering job to graduate studies, in my case it’s a masters. I can say that it was right choice for me.

I have time to learn more about my field and although my networth took a bit of dip in my first year due to a car loan, once that was paid off, the funding for graduate studies is enough to get by on.

Once I finish this masters I’m looking forward to ever more challenging, fulfilling and better paying work.

Remember, it’s not a sprint, but a marathon.

Cheers,

By: Happy First Birthday Quest for Four Pillars

Happy First Birthday Quest for Four Pillars — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:02:27 +0000

[...] friends in the personal finance blogosphere, and even got a chance to meet Bill Gates! Life always changes, often for the [...]

By: centsprout

centsprout — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:40:44 +0000

I find standard employment far, far more painful than most, and therefore have had to figure out a way to get by on less

I can totally relate! I wish you all the best in your new path, I’m sure you’ll do great!

By: Mr. Cheap

Mr. Cheap — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:34:13 +0000

Riscario: I’ve heard the same thing, that often things look their darkest right before success (and people often quit *right* before they’ve got it made).

With employment I’m pretty sure its more often a dead end then the “tough slong before success”.

I’m definitely going to track down and read “the dip”, thanks for letting me know about it!

By: Riscario Insider

Riscario Insider — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:13:51 +0000

The way you interspersed Bowie is terrific. I didn’t really know the lyrics. So I first thought you were becoming a poet and then a plagiarist

Here posters support you quitting. In The Dip, Seth Godin notes that many quit when the going gets tough (just before success) and stick when they’re in a dead end. A post is here

Being cheap gives you more options. Good luck with your PhD. I hope you won’t start using harder and harder words. When do we start calling you Dr. Cheap?

By: Mr. Cheap

Mr. Cheap — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:24:43 +0000

WW: I don’t think I’ve read anything that you’ve regretted doing your PhD, so hopefully that I’m on the right track!

By: WoolyWoman

WoolyWoman — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:22:32 +0000

Wow Mr Cheap, good for you! It is funny, reading your post sounded like me a few years ago (ok minus the computer geek speak, well, mostly anyway) I quit a 8-6 job to go back to do my PhD- not because I hated the work as much as I hated working for someone else on their time schedule. I believed a PhD would help open doors to being more independent. Especially in my field- if a person cannot obtain professional status (which I can’t because I don’t have the appropriate undergraduate degree in forestry), then a PhD gives you more credibility (whether this is true or not!!). Congratulations on your decision, I am sure it is going to be a good path for you.

My tuition was free here in BC- so you might want to find out if any universities which you are interested in offer free tuition to PhD students. And being Mr Cheap, you are right, you are probably going to be able to live off the stipends just fine Keep us posted on the progress!

By: Mr. Cheap

Mr. Cheap — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:20:36 +0000

WC: Thanks for your encouragement!

GIV: You may be right… I feel like a heel taking jobs then leaving 1 month into it though. Not sure what the right approach would be for trying to determine a good fit BEFORE I accept a position.

Christine: That’s good to hear! My money needs are quite modest, so I’m willing to give up on compensation if I can find work that I enjoy.

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 18:07:02 +0000

Congratulations on a brave move! Life is too short to be stuck for too long in something that is wrong for you.

The PHD path is very intellectually satisfying, albeit a very long one. The friends who have gone that route truly enjoy what they are doing. Compared to other professions though, I don’t think post-docs and profs are well compensated for their education and contributions to society, but you can’t have it all…

By: growthinvalue

growthinvalue — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:00:44 +0000

To me it just sounds like you haven’t found the right fit. You’re a fairly introspective sort of cat, and in my experience, people with the ability to think outside the box and process abstract thought are in demand. It’s a skill that people who have it don’t cout as a skill until they meet people who don’t.

At any rate, you’re right to pursue whatever makes you happy in the short term.

You may not be a 9-t0-5 kinda guy as you say, but that’s not to say there isn’t a job out there that’s the perfect complement.