One of the hardest choices we make is our career, our line of work. 

Right out of the gate, we have to differentiate between jobs and careers. A job is something you do for money that is temporary in nature, a stepping stone to something, whereas a career is something you want on a more permenant basis that can sustain you long term, help you live comfortably?

I thought instead of an essay I might write this up as an FAQ page format.

Does a career have to be managing people?

Often yes, but not always. You can absolutely have a career without leading a team, e.g. accountant, engineer, plumber. However, if you want to keep growing as a business or keep moving up a company you will eventually need leadership skills. And leaders DO make more money in return for the headache of handling people.

Does my career have to be something I love?

Nope. I mean, it's great if you do, but it just needs to be something you can commit to and show up to on a regular basis. The point is how good you are at it, not necessarily how much you enjoy it. That said, there should be some aspect of the job you like, maybe just the gratitude of the people you end up helping, or the love from your family that you support. 

Will I make more money in a white collar office job?

Have a look at this comprehensive list  - sure, if you're in the medical profession, or finance, or a corporate executive, you make the most money. That said, closer to the median income, someone who has a business repairing cars might make more money than a K-12 teacher, who has more college education. So while SOME degrees like medicine or law or an MBA make a big difference, not all degrees translate into more money. 

Should I get a job or do a business?

How about both? I started my own consulting business while teaching at a college, that gave me the income and benefits to sustain myself while I built up clientele. You may find "passive income" options that you can run on the side e.g. stock investing (tread carefully!) or a hobby business like making baked goods out of your home kitchen. If one starts to outgrow the other then you may have to make a decision down the line...you can cross that bridge when you get there.

What if I don't have much formal education?

Mike Rowe   is at the forefront of honest, respectable and well paying blue collar work in the trades and beyond. Sure, if you want to manage people you might need some college courses but for the most part you just need the skills, certifications/licenses and ultimately the reputation - are your customers happy and will they hire you back?

Last question - where do I start?

Go on YouTube! See people doing different kinds of jobs. Do you like working with people? Computers? Tools? What is your comfort with numbers?

You can take free or cheap certificate courses in most commonly used business programs like Quickbooks (if you want an admin or accounting job) and even design your own website on Wix or Godaddy etc.

The best way to figure it out is to web search for networking events near you and talk to a real person. You might make a valuable contact that pays off later down the road.

Feel free to reply to this post with questions, have a great labor day weekend!

Sincerely,

RJ