fork in the road...
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- OneNine
I work as a graphic designer in the in house Marketing Dept of a major bank in NY.
I am 24 years old, have been here for almost 3 years (started pretty much right out of college) and am already better at my job then the “senior” designer who hired me and has been here for over 20 years.
I have been getting a lot of side work and bust my ass to do good work but it’s tough coming home from a 8:30-5:00 and sit in front of the computer again and produce quality work. I’m just not fresh.
I enjoy the side stuff so much more and would love to put all of my focus into that and just say fu©k the bank. I’m having trouble pulling the trigger and committing myself to leaving. I’m not totally unhappy at the bank all the time – I have been recognized for my work and have started to get the more important projects from the head of marketing (which does not make the “senior” designer very happy and makes things a little awkward between the two of us).
I feel like I am learning a lot about organization and structure and functioning in a major corporation at the bank, but I am so sick of the same brand and I feel I would become a much better designer if I broke off and did my own thing.
My head has been spinning and I’ve been going back and forth on this for a while now. I also feel like I am only 24 and not married or tied down – this is my chance to try something...then again I do have expenses and don’t want to decrease my income and lose out on benefits...
If anyone actually read through this whole rant and have been through a similar situation and/or can offer some advice I would really appreciate it.
- harlequino0
You're young and have a ton of time and room to try other things.
Save enough loot so at least several months of expenses are covered, and then vamoose, look for something else.
- dskz0
stop hogging up all the work and decide already
- nuggler0
Three years is long enough, move on! You need to take a chance. Be smart about it, don't burn your bridges, but yes it sounds like it's time.
- mrdobolina0
Yogi Berra: If there is a fork in the road, take it.
- Mental image: Yogi Berra pulling a slightly tarnished fork out of a dirt road, and pocketing it.harlequino
- ha, I have an uncle who knows hundreds of yogi-isms.mrdobolina
- TheBlueOne0
A) Draw up a list of how much your monthly expenses are.
B) Draw up a list of how much you have actually pulled in the same month with freelance work.Subtract B from A or A form B...either way I suck at math..but there's your answer.
Also - You are 24, and although you might be able to handle technology quicker than the guy on the job for twenty years don't assume your better than him. Your pooped at 5:30 when you come home at 24? Sorry. Get in better shape. I got 16 years on you kid and I start earlier than you and finish later and don't get run down, 9-5 + freelance, at least not until fridays.
And at 24, don't hesitate. Jump.
- caffeine and/or just the exercise?jaylarson
- i still come home and work till 12 - im just saying my freelance work would be better if i could start on it in the morning when im freshOneNine
- both :)TheBlueOne
- true..sorry I was being curmudgeonly. Been doing that more of late...TheBlueOne
- OneNine0
Good points BlueOne - technology is a big problem with her, she is very resistant to learning new programs etc, but her style and view of design seems like it hasn't developed past 1993.
Also I cant use how much I have made through freelance while I have the full time job bc i feel i would def make more if i dedicated to freelance
- 1993 is due for a comeback soon... :)TheBlueOne
- hahaOneNine
- OneNine0
I was actually thinking about asking if I could work at the bank part time...or take a sabbatical and see how I like working on my own for a little bit
And part of the reason I get run down is I also play in 2 hockey leagues, softball over the summer and go to the gym a couple times a week > that stuff is also very important to me
- OneNine0
what i basically meant really is im not married, i dont have kids - this is a point in my life where i could make a change in my career and not have to worry about my income as much
- monospaced0
I'm about to become an Art Director in house at a large financial company in New York. I hope I am not unhappy like you, for I am also young and not "tied down." At the same time—and I know from experience—change is possible if you take the plunge.
- TheBlueOne0
I'm feeling weird, yet oddly comfortable, being at the age where I can start calling a 24 year old a kid...when I was that age I thought my life was already over and I was old and shit...if I had only known...
- tesmith0
I started my own company at 48 years old and my only regret is not having done it at 24.
- johndiggity0
get an agency gig to broaden your knowledge of the industry. only after you are completely disgusted of that lifestyle, you can do your own thing.
- TheBlueOne0
I started my own company at 32 had it fail and fuck up royally (the old adage about "Never go into business with a friend" is 100% absolutely true) about four years later. Had to go through the whole bankruptcy rigamorole. Went and got myself all depressed and crap. Then it's taken me a couple of years to wonder what the fuck the big deal about all of it was...just get back on the old high horse..nothing defines success like failure...
- In other words your 24..go out and fucking fail...TheBlueOne
- Dude! I went through the same thing.spendogg
- Scary ain't it...TheBlueOne
- tesmith0
Like TheBlueOne says don't go into business with friends or family. We have three partners who are completely different with completely different skill sets and don't socialize. Works great!
- OneNine0
Thnx for the advice BlueOne - you've been really helpful
what are you doing for work now if you dont mind me asking? - and do you like what you're doing?