Today I'm 41. Where do I go from here?

[HFishbine]

Poll question: Today I'm 41. Where do I go from here?

I'm 41 today. Not much is happening in my life. I bump along as a self-employed web designer, but I'm not saving any money and I feel that a change is sorely needed. I have some dreams that may seem far-fetched, but I'm ready to make a renewed commitment to my future no matter what I decide.

What would you suggest I do?

[ET Awful]

1. Well, the normal progression would be 42, then 43, and so on :)

That wasn't much help was it? :)

[meegbear]

2. Get back to work!

You're not getting paid to believe in the power of your dreams.

And Happy Birthday!

[HFishbine]

10. Bummer!

Thanks!

[NoPasaran]

3. Go here

http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~geoffo/humour/flattery.html
And Happy Birthday!

[HFishbine]

8. Ha!

Funny! I had no idea.

[supernova]

9. Thanks for the laugh!

I needed that. :D

[WI_DEM]

4. Go for the dream!!

my dream is to write a book and I'm doing it and I have a publisher already and it will be published in April, 2005--one month after my 41st birthday. Go for it!!

[HFishbine]

5. Cool.

What's the subject of your book?

[WI_DEM]

16. it is a biography of Agnes Moorehead

Who worked extensively in radio and starred in numerous episodes of "Suspense" including the great, "Sorry...Wrong Number" and also appeared in such films as "Citizen Kane", "The Magnficent Ambersons", "Jane Eyre", "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes", "Johnny Belinda", and "Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte". winning four Oscar nominatiions.

But most people know her as Endora on "Bewitched".

[HFishbine]

22. Sure.

I know who she is. How did you find a publisher?

[WI_DEM]

28. lucky

my publishing company is bear manor media which specializes in nostalgia books, and I have an acquaintance who got a book published through them so I sent some sample chapters to them and they liked it and sent me a contract. Very lucky.

[muchacho]

6. I'm with you...

been in the web biz since before "the day" and now it all seems so stale..I hope to use what I've learned over the years in web development as a companion to my dream.

You ever think of starting a site for comedy writers?

[HFishbine]

15. You nailed it.

Yep. I've been in "it" since 1995. It has gotten stale. I've thought about using the web as an outlet for my humor. I think I'd need some expereince before I started a site for writers.

[muchacho]

25. dot.bomb

it's hard for anyone that lived through the dot.bomb era to regain the optimism and excitement. I think this is good (dumb business plans are see as such) and bad (excitement in your work is GREAT!)

Instead of a site for writers ow about a site for your writing? Sort of a blog as an outlet and testing ground for your work...

[HFishbine]

26. Yep

That would be a good first step, wouldn't it? Stay tuned.

[BOSSHOG]

7. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and it doesn't matter if

someone else thinks YOUR dreams are farfetched. I suggest you act upon them and make a Nike Commercial right now (Just Do It!), whatever it is. I suggest you write down whatever you want to do and plot a strategy to ensure it gets done, and change and update that list often. I'm pretty wackily anal when it comes to saving money. As a birthday present to yourself, get off the computer and get thee to a bank and open up a ROTH IRA (money market, CD, whatever, just do it.) You and I and others can philosophize for years about the best "type" of IRA to open up but the point is moot if action is not taken. Interest rates suck right now, but the last I checked 1.5% beats 0.0% which is what you are getting now. If you don't have much money to fool with I would not suggest dabbling too deeply in the stock market. GOOD LUCK, NOW GO KICK SOME ASS.

BTW - Your just a kid. You most likely have yet to hit the halfway mark of your journey here on earth.

[phiddle]

11. Where do you go from here?

42!

[HFishbine]

20. Gee, I was thinking maybe

40.

[underpants]

12. Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

I voted comedian.

[NewHampster]

13. How did you know what to write for my post?

today I'm 53.

I'm a self-employed web guy, but I'm not saving any money and I know a change is needed but this is the change I made after deciding to no longer work for "the man". This is my dream, too bad if it's my wife's nightmare.

My decision to go on my own was based on two simple truths. Every web shop I knew was dying or already gone. The second truth is that the web is not going away. Prices are maturing and way down but there will be incredible opportunities for well run, professional teams. Even doing the small biz, low priced projects. We may need to become well rounded ad agencies but that is not a bad thing.

Today on my Birthday, I'm doing what I do at least once a week. I'm leaving the office in search of new clients. I think I'll try the Renovation show at the Hynes.

Happy Birthday HF :party:

[HFishbine]

18. Happy Birthday to You Too!

Thanks. And best wishes!

[Red_Viking]

14. You need "Other" as a category!

First--HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :party:

Last year, I received some great advice from an unlikely source. I was working for De...uh, a major computer manufacturer in the Austin area. :P My job revolved around marketing enterprise-level products. Since I'm non-technical (I have an English degree), I made a point to educate myself as much as possible. I was able to attend a week-long class dealing in detail with SCSI protocols. Stay with me here...I was the only non-engineer in the class, but I did really well. The instructor was an older man with years of experience, very knowledgeable in the field. As the week ground on, we discovered he only taught these courses so he could pursue his real passion--as a spiritual advisor. Yes, it sounds kooky, but this guy was totally sincere. So I asked to have lunch with him one day. He told me amazing things about myself, and gave me some beautiful advice with one sentence:

Follow the bliss.

If you follow your bliss, the money will come.

Don't make your choices based on finances. Who cares how old you are? Your dreams are always valid, and have no expiration date. If not now, when? Do the old "deathbed" test: on your deathbed, would you regret not taking a new direction with you life? Going after a dream you always had?

You'll get a million different pieces of advice, from all perspectives. I tend not to be afraid to take risks. After five years at D***, I quit in January because I was tired of working for a misogynistic piece of shit. At 37, I'm leaving a lucrative career in high-tech because every day, going to work felt like having my soul sucked out. Can't stand working for the Man. So what am I doing? Packing my stuff, packing up my 13-year-old daughter, and following the bliss to Oregon. I start law school in the Fall at Willamette. After about 12 years of thinking about it, I finally went for my dream, and here it is: I'm doing it! And it feels great.

Sounds like you're at a major crossroads. Don't make this decision lightly. I've always tended toward that fabled road less traveled, and it hasn't disappointed me yet.

Good luck!

:dem:

RV

[HFishbine]

17. Great advice

thanks. And best of luck to you in law school!

[Red_Viking]

19. Thanks...

And good luck to you, too. Do something nice for yourself today. Like, see what it takes to get booked at a comedy club's open mic night! :)

Rock on--

RV

[TX-RAT]

21. Develop a taste for Geritol and long naps.

[HFishbine]

23. Owwww!

That's low! (Although I already do have a fondness for long naps.)

[loftycity]

24. Happy Birthday, Go for the Dream

It opens other opportunities that might suprise you. Learn to live like a farmer. You have great harvests and some droughts. Make sure you remember that one.

[sybylla]

27. 41 is just a few months away for me

This doesn't seem like a good time for the same old thing. Time to spice it up, shoot for the dream, take your web design down a new road.

Don't let 41 be the age of drudgery.

[Bonhomme Richard]

29. Live every day like it's your last!

Do what you want.

[TX-RAT]

30. Mix with 3 fingers of Crown Royal

Nothing is to far-fetched. Well me being a pro bull rider was, man that still hurts.

[Shananigans]

31. Other...

I highly recommend going to 42. It's the only logical next step.

[tjwash]

32. When I hit forty...

...I started my own business. I was in a position financially at the time to go for it, and be my own boss. Have never looked back since then...