What's the hardest career decision you ever had to make?
Posted at 5:00 AM on August 4, 2010
by Eric Ringham
(16 Comments)
Filed under: Culture, Health
Once again, quarterback Brett Favre has fans and officials guessing about whether he'll play with the Vikings this season. Today's Question: What's the hardest career decision you ever had to make?
Comments (16)
I left a large minnesota based medical device company over a year ago because I would not agree to work on projects where my full attention could not be given to patient safety concerns. My responsibilities at the time were for both new product design patient safety assurance, and determining root cause and clinical risk of field safety issues. Needless to say, current field issues were always more urgent (and many), and I wanted to have my position be solely safety vigilance. Management would not allow that, and it was not negotiable, so I left. My wife still has a great position at that same company, so I could not rock the boat too much with respect to making more of an issue of this matter with the public. Although money for us right now is not an issue, being without a fulfilling career does weigh on one.
Quite milking just 16 cows...voluntarily, in '79, because the stanchion barn was worn out, and felt I would soon be too! Don't miss the cows for one moment in summer heat nor dead of winter . Freeborn County has about a half dozen remaining dairy farmers...I know four of em, with two looking very unlikely to continue.
Hardest decision bar none was to leave the military before retirement. I separated at nearly 17 years with nothing to show for it but memories. . Everyone always asks "couldn't you just tough it out for three more years?" and the answer is no. I loved the Air Force but it was taking a terrible toll on my emotional and physical health as well as the emotional well being of my children. I work in healthcare so getting a job was not a problem but I feel guilty for depriving my family of the security of a military retirement.
Not necessarily the hardest decision, but the most major one I made was four years ago when I decided to give up my career to stay at home to raise our son (and now a daughter).
12
Two years ago I took the giant leap of leaving my steady full time job to pursue my dream of starting my own business. Although I am relatively young in my career, it was still a big decision to walk away from a regularly paying job during a bad economy. I am happy to report I am still in business for myself and do not have regrets about my decision.
I left a full-time job a few weeks ago because it did not fit into my long term goals and plans. It is scary to leave any job in this environment. I should know in a few months if it was the right decision to make.
The hardest career decision I've ever had to make was trying to decide whether or not to leave a charter school that I loved teaching at, to take a job at a regular public school district; it was a hard choice because I loved teaching at the charter school, but their health care benefits, retirement package, and salary just could not compete with the regular public school districts.
If Bret Favre's decision whether to play with the Vikings this year is your idea of a "hard career decision," you need to get a life. Every career decision I've ever made has been harder than his decision whether to take or pass up the opportunity to make millions of dollars more than the millions he already has over and above what a person really needs to be content.
12 years ago I left a job I loved, to stay home and take care of my daughter who had become handicapped through an accident. Now trying to find a job with a living wage is a nightmear! My husband was laid off and now has a job that pays less than half of what he used to make, but he's happy and that is the good thing we're hanging on to. Looking at loosing the house isn't so pleasant.
Leaving a good paying job in the Twin Cesspools to “Go Home” and raise my children.
I miss the pay,,, DO NOT miss the crime, crowds, and sheeple.
DTOM
I guess the hardest decision i have had is the midlife crisis in my career. I have had a wonderful career and a loyal worker as a community-minded person. I try to maintain a positive attitude and not to negative effects of the economy-but keep going and being productive and contributing to society!
Leaving my small, slowly-growing business 14 years ago to work for "the man" so that my family could have meaningful health insurance
A couple years ago, I moved half-way across the country with my boyfriend (now husband) because he had a job offer. I decided to leave two part-time jobs I loved-- one of them provided me with benefits-- for a place where a job was likely, but not certain. It was very risky to give up employment for the potential of not having a job, but I got lucky and it worked out wonderfully. We now both work at the U of M, carpool every day, and have great jobs that we both love. The risk was worth the reward!
When I found my "ideal job" as a hospice nurse, a job I loved...I found that they would pay for me to go to seminary. So I enrolled but then found they would only allow me to take one class at a time. At that rate it would take me 15 years to get a degree. Do I stay with a job I loved or do I pursue the call I had run from for 25 years? I would make half the money at double the hours and go into debt to the tune of $50K at a time when all my siblings are retiring.
It was the hospice residents that made my choice easy. Without knowing my situation, several asked me over the months why I was a nurse and not a chaplain. Today I am one week removed from leaving nursing forever to begin a one year internship leading to my ordination. I am confident in my calling to finally go into the pastoral ministry and eventually chaplaincy..
My husband and I are right in the middle of it as I write. We both currently work, but are looking at starting our own business. The sticker shock and fear of the unknown is definitely present. Lease agreements, equipment, inventory, marketing, it's all a big risk from our current, stable jobs. However, we love what we could be doing, and we have a plan of how to do it right. Let's hope it all works out. Eeep!
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