If you could do it ALL over again...

what would you do differently? Would you choose a different major, a different career, a different spouse, a different city or just richer parents?

Bluetea in Texas said: what would you do differently? Would you choose a different major, a different career, a different spouse, a different city or just richer parents?

I DEFINITELY would have chosen a different major. Meteorology is one of the most fun fields to study but it SUCKS as a career. Do you know what they call someone with a B.S. in meteorology? Lieutenant. Because the only thing that you can do with a B.S. in meteorology is join the Air Force. Probably no more than half the people with an M.S. in meteorology work as meteorologists/climatologists. If I had studied computer programming instead of meteorology and followed the typical computer programmer career path rather than working for research labs, I bet I'd be making $90-100k right now. Which is $90-100k more than I'm making.

I definitely would have made more of an effort to find a different career. I briefly got out of the profession I was in for close to 20 years with school and a temporary job. I happened to stop in to see an old boss and got offered a position which I accepted. In the back of my mind, I knew that was not the right choice. Right back into a volatile job instead of making the effort to find something completely different.

I tried computer science in school.... my brain isn't wired that way. But what would I have tried which would have been better? No clue. At all. I likely would have wound up in the same position as I find myself in now......

testing

Jeff in Denver, Colorado said: I bet I'd be making $90-100k right now. Which is $90-100k more than I'm making.

The grass isn't that green over there. You are in your 40's, I think, and interviewing with 20-year olds, isn't exactly easy. IT has this weird mix of great jobs and no jobs.

I would probably joined the Air Force and go to college on the GI Bill for accounting CPA.

Not all folks make big $$$ in the computer industry.

I would have started my art career earlier. I didn't start until about 40 years old (7 years ago).

If not that, I would have went to school to get schooling to be a stockbroker/Goldman Sachs sort of power broker and lived in NYC. Then, after amassing a fortune, I'd buy a house in the country, travel, do art and landscape.

Jeff in Denver, Colorado said: I DEFINITELY would have chosen a different major. Meteorology is one of the most fun fields to study but it SUCKS as a career. Do you know what they call someone with a B.S. in meteorology? Lieutenant. Because the only thing that you can do with a B.S. in meteorology is join the Air Force. Probably no more than half the people with an M.S. in meteorology work as meteorologists/climatologists. If I had studied computer programming instead of meteorology and followed the typical computer programmer career path rather than working for research labs, I bet I'd be making $90-100k right now. Which is $90-100k more than I'm making.

Jeff, I had always wanted to be a meteorologist and this was my personal regret not going to college for it. Maybe the heavens above saved me some heartache. I was convinced had I gone for my dream, I would have had a solid career. Funny how that is.