A Non-Poodley Question: How did you find your path? - Poodle Forum - Standard Poodle, Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle Forum ALL Poodle owners too!

Hayley22 · 11-03-2011, 12:38 AM

Hello everyone!

Recently I have been challenged to think about things that I actually want to do with my life, as opposed to simply following the path of least resistance. I studied English and Italian Literature in my undergrad, but chose to do the Law School thing afterwards (mainly) for financial security. I am a creative soul at heart and envision that one day when I am less fearful, I will be able to work towards a PhD in something I love, and work in academia, teach, write, that sort of thing.

Anyway, my question to all of you is: How did YOU decide what you wanted to 'do' with your life? How did you find your path?

I am always fascinated by how people find their niche, and thought perhaps I could find some inspiration in the wisdom of this Forum's members!

fjm · 11-03-2011, 02:23 AM

I never had a Grand Plan - just followed whatever seemed the best offer at the time. I am not sure one can plan more than a few years ahead - so much stuff just happens to change things. I have had filling in jobs (Assistant Matron in a boys' Prep School was a particularly weird one), a career in both the public and private sectors that took me from local Librarian to "business consultant" - the much-vaunted "job with international travel" (you get to see an awful lot of airports and Hilton hotels, and not much else). Somehow or other, by muddling along, I have done most of the things I wanted - I have lived in a thatched cottage, spent several years living and working abroad as a volunteer, had my own ponies, live in my own place with central heating (a wish that shot to the top of the list after several icey years as a student in shared flats!), and managed early retirement, which enables me to live life as I choose, surrounded by dogs and cats. If I have regrets it is that I let work and career get in the way of spending time with family and friends - but then it was because of the same career that I was able to be with my parents in their last months, when they needed me most.

It sounds as if you are on the threshold of exciting years - have fun! If there is something you really, really want to do, go for it. You may not succeed, but you will learn a lot, and at least you will have had the satisfaction of knowing you tried.

Gracie's Mum · 11-03-2011, 04:54 AM

I went into factory work, night shift, right out of high school. In my 12yrs there I got married, had kids, took care of the kids all day and worked all night. When the economy started going bad and layoffs were all around me, I quit and went to a different factory, night shift. 3yrs there and layoffs again. I went next door to the sister company and worked 2yrs there, still night shift.

I have spent my whole life saying that I needed to find a way to work with animals but I had no idea how to make that a reality. I was also tired of working to pay the bills, I wanted to work at something I loved.

Right after I started at the last place, we took a vacation to my aunt's house in Mississippi. As is usual for me, we visited all the local pet stores. My aunt mentioned that one of the pet stores had lost their groomer. Light bulbs lit up and I knew this was a job I would love!

I spent the next yr trying to figure out a way to get out of the factory and get into grooming. There was a grooming school about 1 1/2hrs from me but I would have to quit work and do 4 months of full time school. My kids were now old enough to stay home alone, I just had to convince my hubby that this was a "real" job and I could make a good living grooming. I came across a job opening as a bather at a local shop. I spent 9 months working 18hrs a week there plus my 45hrs at the factory (I don't know how I survived on so little sleep).

Finally I was able to quit my factory job and learn to groom. That was 2 1/2yrs ago and I have never been happier. My next step is having my own salon. And a BIG plus is I met some wonderful standard poodles and fell in love with their personalities - so I HAD to get one!

Hayley22 · 11-03-2011, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjm

I never had a Grand Plan - just followed whatever seemed the best offer at the time. I am not sure one can plan more than a few years ahead - so much stuff just happens to change things. I have had filling in jobs (Assistant Matron in a boys' Prep School was a particularly weird one), a career in both the public and private sectors that took me from local Librarian to "business consultant" - the much-vaunted "job with international travel" (you get to see an awful lot of airports and Hilton hotels, and not much else). Somehow or other, by muddling along, I have done most of the things I wanted - I have lived in a thatched cottage, spent several years living and working abroad as a volunteer, had my own ponies, live in my own place with central heating (a wish that shot to the top of the list after several icey years as a student in shared flats!), and managed early retirement, which enables me to live life as I choose, surrounded by dogs and cats. If I have regrets it is that I let work and career get in the way of spending time with family and friends - but then it was because of the same career that I was able to be with my parents in their last months, when they needed me most.

It sounds as if you are on the threshold of exciting years - have fun! If there is something you really, really want to do, go for it. You may not succeed, but you will learn a lot, and at least you will have had the satisfaction of knowing you tried.

FJM - thank you so much for this! I am so inspired by the notion of not having a Grand Plan - I have had plans since I was 6 years old! (Obviously they've changed a lot through the years - but I'm always fixated on having a plan of some sort.)

Hayley22 · 11-03-2011, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gracie's Mum

I went into factory work, night shift, right out of high school. In my 12yrs there I got married, had kids, took care of the kids all day and worked all night. When the economy started going bad and layoffs were all around me, I quit and went to a different factory, night shift. 3yrs there and layoffs again. I went next door to the sister company and worked 2yrs there, still night shift.

I have spent my whole life saying that I needed to find a way to work with animals but I had no idea how to make that a reality. I was also tired of working to pay the bills, I wanted to work at something I loved.

Right after I started at the last place, we took a vacation to my aunt's house in Mississippi. As is usual for me, we visited all the local pet stores. My aunt mentioned that one of the pet stores had lost their groomer. Light bulbs lit up and I knew this was a job I would love!

I spent the next yr trying to figure out a way to get out of the factory and get into grooming. There was a grooming school about 1 1/2hrs from me but I would have to quit work and do 4 months of full time school. My kids were now old enough to stay home alone, I just had to convince my hubby that this was a "real" job and I could make a good living grooming. I came across a job opening as a bather at a local shop. I spent 9 months working 18hrs a week there plus my 45hrs at the factory (I don't know how I survived on so little sleep).

Finally I was able to quit my factory job and learn to groom. That was 2 1/2yrs ago and I have never been happier. My next step is having my own salon. And a BIG plus is I met some wonderful standard poodles and fell in love with their personalities - so I HAD to get one!

Gracie's Mum! I can't tell you how much your story has touched me. I really admire you for following your dream despite all the obstacles and challenges you were confronted with. Your happy-ending has found a special place in my heart. And of course all happy-ending MUST include a poodle of some sort!

Thank you so much for sharing your story.

tokipoke · 11-03-2011, 06:29 AM

I know you said this was a non-poodley question, but my answer is very poodley, and one of the reasons I love the breed so much - they saved my life!

I was a chemist for a couple of years and even worked in the maritime industry. I felt lost all the way through but stuck in the science field cause that's all I knew and I didn't want to "waste" my degree. Many years of frustration and depression later, I did some soul-searching and realized I needed to do what I love the most: work with animals. When I was 9 years old I'd sneak off onto the neighbor's property who had at least 10 mangy dogs, some tied to chains (he was a hoarder, but didn't know what that word meant at that age) and I'd pet them, give them treats and water and pull all the ticks off the ones I could get close to. I thought about going to school to be a vet tech or vet but couldn't deal with animal suffering and owners who didn't listen. I volunteered at a dog daycare and came across a standard poodle puppy. He was so loving and there was something special about him. The owner was boarding him at the facility and I joked how I was going to take him home with me, and if the owner didn't want him, that I'd DEFINITELY would take him. I fell in love with the poodle breed in the short time I spent with him. This prompted me to search for a poodle rescue in my area out of curiosity. The website had a heading "come learn to groom! Groom rescue dogs!" - I thought why not and showed up. I immediately fell in love with grooming (the LAST thing I thought I'd like), and of course, fell harder for poodles. I kept volunteering at the rescue while working, and while I was grooming a dog, someone came into the room and said "Hey, there's eight standard poodle puppies up for adoption. You should go look." I went to the kennels and saw a big fluffy poodle puppy in a kennel with a shih tzu. I fell in love at first sight! (for him, he fell in love at first sniff!). I called my husband and told him "I found him. He's the one. We're getting a dog." I named him Leroy

- i quit my job a couple of weeks after that, spent two glorious uninterrupted months with my new pup, went to grooming school for about 3 months, and now I'm working at a salon. I hope to one day open my own business. I am very happy with my life right now and I truly owe it to that one poodle puppy I met at the daycare.

Hayley22 · 11-03-2011, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokipoke

I know you said this was a non-poodley question, but my answer is very poodley, and one of the reasons I love the breed so much - they saved my life!

I was a chemist for a couple of years and even worked in the maritime industry. I felt lost all the way through but stuck in the science field cause that's all I knew and I didn't want to "waste" my degree. Many years of frustration and depression later, I did some soul-searching and realized I needed to do what I love the most: work with animals. When I was 9 years old I'd sneak off onto the neighbor's property who had at least 10 mangy dogs, some tied to chains (he was a hoarder, but didn't know what that word meant at that age) and I'd pet them, give them treats and water and pull all the ticks off the ones I could get close to. I thought about going to school to be a vet tech or vet but couldn't deal with animal suffering and owners who didn't listen. I volunteered at a dog daycare and came across a standard poodle puppy. He was so loving and there was something special about him. The owner was boarding him at the facility and I joked how I was going to take him home with me, and if the owner didn't want him, that I'd DEFINITELY would take him. I fell in love with the poodle breed in the short time I spent with him. This prompted me to search for a poodle rescue in my area out of curiosity. The website had a heading "come learn to groom! Groom rescue dogs!" - I thought why not and showed up. I immediately fell in love with grooming (the LAST thing I thought I'd like), and of course, fell harder for poodles. I kept volunteering at the rescue while working, and while I was grooming a dog, someone came into the room and said "Hey, there's eight standard poodle puppies up for adoption. You should go look." I went to the kennels and saw a big fluffy poodle puppy in a kennel with a shih tzu. I fell in love at first sight! (for him, he fell in love at first sniff!). I called my husband and told him "I found him. He's the one. We're getting a dog." I named him Leroy

- i quit my job a couple of weeks after that, spent two glorious uninterrupted months with my new pup, went to grooming school for about 3 months, and now I'm working at a salon. I hope to one day open my own business. I am very happy with my life right now and I truly owe it to that one poodle puppy I met at the daycare.

Tokipoke, I love how poodley your answer is! Your story really made me smile

I read something recently about choosing what you want to do with your life, and the advice was to think of things that you loved to do as a child - often those are the things that most meaningful and most pleasurable for us. So your story about sneaking over to your neighbour to spend time with his dogs really hit home!

Leroy is SUCH a beautiful spoo! I'm sure you make him as happy as he makes you

Thank you for your story! It really goes to show: things have a way of working out, if we are alive to the possibilities!

stealthq · 11-03-2011, 06:48 AM

I stumbled into it.

Honestly, I always wanted to go into horse training - I rode competitively when I was younger and really loved the training end of things more than the showing part. But, I realized that in my particular corner of the horse world I'd have to put up with some very unscrupulous people and probably be willing to be one myself in order to make a living at it. So, I let that path go.

Instead, I went to college with no real idea what I wanted to do. I like science, particularly biology so I chose a genetics/biochemistry track. I'm a good writer and love to read, so I took a ton of English lit classes - they were my 'easy A' classes. When I graduated, I went with the flow. It was natural to enter a PhD program since I didn't want to be an MD and a BS in any of the biology lab sciences won't get you far.

I finished my PhD, and as I did, I realized that I wanted no part of it. That track ended with me sitting in endless meetings, writing grant proposal after grant proposal and never getting to actually do any of the experiments myself - that's left to grad and post doc students. Sigh.

So, back to the drawing board. I took some personality tests. I wanted to go into something that wouldn't waste the work I'd already done. The obvious choice was Computer Science - bioinformatics is a big deal these days. So, back to school. Finished an MS. Found a good job through my advisor at one of the National Labs, but the working environment was not what I wanted long-term and it was too far from my family. I wanted to be in easy visiting distance.

I put out my resume and in one of those weird 'it's meant to be' kind of coincidences found a job in my home city where the researchers were trying to solve a problem that was exactly what my advisor and I had solved for my thesis and they didn't even know it. Was hired and am still working there and will be for as long as they'll have me.

Hayley22 · 11-03-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stealthq

I stumbled into it.

Honestly, I always wanted to go into horse training - I rode competitively when I was younger and really loved the training end of things more than the showing part. But, I realized that in my particular corner of the horse world I'd have to put up with some very unscrupulous people and probably be willing to be one myself in order to make a living at it. So, I let that path go.

Instead, I went to college with no real idea what I wanted to do. I like science, particularly biology so I chose a genetics/biochemistry track. I'm a good writer and love to read, so I took a ton of English lit classes - they were my 'easy A' classes. When I graduated, I went with the flow. It was natural to enter a PhD program since I didn't want to be an MD and a BS in any of the biology lab sciences won't get you far.

I finished my PhD, and as I did, I realized that I wanted no part of it. That track ended with me sitting in endless meetings, writing grant proposal after grant proposal and never getting to actually do any of the experiments myself - that's left to grad and post doc students. Sigh.

So, back to the drawing board. I took some personality tests. I wanted to go into something that wouldn't waste the work I'd already done. The obvious choice was Computer Science - bioinformatics is a big deal these days. So, back to school. Finished an MS. Found a good job through my advisor at one of the National Labs, but the working environment was not what I wanted long-term and it was too far from my family. I wanted to be in easy visiting distance.

I put out my resume and in one of those weird 'it's meant to be' kind of coincidences found a job in my home city where the researchers were trying to solve a problem that was exactly what my advisor and I had solved for my thesis and they didn't even know it. Was hired and am still working there and will be for as long as they'll have me.

Thanks Nicole! I'm very glad to hear you eventually found your happy place

All these stories are making me see just how much I need to enjoy the present and not think too much about what's going to happen ten steps ahead...

tokipoke · 11-03-2011, 07:04 AM

Like stealthq mentioned, I took some personality tests too. My results fit perfectly with being a groomer, not so much with a chemist. Just realize that our personality and interests are always changing. We aren't fixed beings. Also, don't let your job define you, like quote says "we are human beings, not human doings."