I need to make some serious changes in my life, I need advice

MrMiata

I'm going to try and cut the sh*t, I'm not where I want to be in life and I'm the sole cause, I've been given each and every opportunity and frankly I just haven't seized them.

From the outside it looks fine, I'm in college and as far as anyone can tell all is well.

I hate college, it's been the biggest mistake of my life, a close second is going back.

Long story short I got into my first choice course, a business degree.
Didn't care for it, found that 80% of it was maths, stats, econ, accounting and I hate(d) them all equally.
So I wasted some time but ultimately I dropped out.

I went working with my uncle who's a carpenter by trade for a brief while and I thought to myself 'yeah the trades seem like a good shout'.
I thought I'd be slick and go into an electrician apprenticeship with a large industrial outfit, in my head I was thinking; it pays more, it's more technical, more routes for advancement, respectable etc..
I knew from day 1 it wasn't for me but I stayed with it for 4 months to say I at least tried, I left after the trail period when i was asked to sign up.

I had notions of going back to Uni for engineering (somehow forgetting my distain for maths), It seemed like I copped on at the last second and decided I'd make another go at a business degree, but this time in a different college with less of the stuff I hated.

Honestly I made it through 2nd year because it was easy, I haven't studied for a test in my life, the second a module pops up that I find difficult I'm screwed because I genuinely can't study, I don't have the attention span for it.
I never have and I'm starting to realise and accept that college just isn't for me, there's nothing beyond the booze and the women that I've enjoyed, it taken me far too long to realise that college isn't for me.

I won't be continuing, I'll either drop out after Christmas or I just won't go onto the following year, I have zero interest and I don't think I'll ever use it.
I'm only in it to keep my (lovely) parents happy and to at least feel like I'm 'working' towards something while doing sweet f*ck all.

I think that learning a trade or a skill is still my best option, but it certainly won't be as an electrician.

I like working with my hands, I like seeing a finished product, I have a great eye for detail (noticing tiles aren't centred, doors are crooked, handles aren't on straight etc.).
I have zero intentions of spending the rest of my life in an office.
I know that's not the only route from a business degree but sales doesn't really interest me, and I have absolutely no intention of pursing any further education, plus I'd be lucky to scrape a 2.1 - and it certainly wouldn't be due to any effort on my part.
I have an exam tomorrow morning - I have absolutely no interest.

I think I just need to pick something, stick at it, graft and shut up.

My end goal has always been entrepreneurship, I want to own my own business.
I know that much at least, you could argue that I'm not fit for it and I'd say I honestly don't care, I've always wanted to start my own company and grow it into something impressive and successful, that's what I strive towards, that's what keeps me up at night - thinking how will I get to that.

I'm becoming a fan of Jordan Peterson (leaving aside the political stuff), he talks a lot about responsibility and I feel that's what I need, essentially a kick up the hole and a tear in my safety net.

I think I've brought all of this on myself, I've grown up comfortably and I haven't pushed myself in any real way, I know I need to start doing that for my own sake.
I want to start.
I'm not dreadfully unhappy but I'm not in any way fulfilled, I'm restless and p*ssed off at myself, I'm doing nothing I'm actually proud of, I'm getting no closer to where I want to be. I'm essentially a waste of space, I need to really cop on.

Here's what I think I need to do.
Get out of college,
Get into a trade, something I get satisfaction from, or that I can see myself enjoying once qualified, I'm expecting to deal with **** as an apprentice, that's just a given but I just don't want to dread waking up in the morning..

I just hope I get in with someone who's sound, I'd go with my uncle but he's over an hours drive away and work can be further afield again, I'm still considering it though, is the driving worth it to work with someone who I know and get on with?
If I could afford to I'd commute for a year and move down as a 2nd year apprentice.. I could possibly live with his family but I don't know if they want that, I just know I'd like to work with him.

Beyond that I just need to graft, put my head down and just work, stop looking for the next best thing and just accept where I am.. I need to pick my limitations, I've seen nothing but limitless opportunities but that's useless unless I pick one.

From there it's a case of finishing my 4 years and hopefully starting out on my own.

I'm just looking for advice, am I missing anything here?

-Get into something I like, work exceptionally hard (for once), stop looking for excuses, ways out and short cuts..

Why carpentry, why would I work hard at that and not college?
I enjoy working with my hands, it's concrete, there's no kitchen there and then you build one piece by piece, your ability is measurable, it's not open for interpretation, it's satisfying, it's employable.

I'm just so sick of my current situation, beyond college it's not that bad, but it's not where I want to be in any sense of the word..

I'd appreciate some outside input.

Drewgerger

Life will be very tough for you if you don't have a degree you will be moving from job to job and be unemployed alot

MrMiata

Drewgerger wrote: »

Life will be very tough for you if you don't have a degree you will be moving from job to job and be unemployed alot

That's why I'm planning on getting a trade.

I really don't want to just aimlessly work minimum wage jobs, I want/need to feel like I'm progressing towards something.

A friend of mine works full time in McDonalds, he's happy out - that's not for me, not at all.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Drewgerger wrote: »

Life will be very tough for you if you don't have a degree you will be moving from job to job and be unemployed alot

That’s a sweeping generalisation, and too broad to be in anyway meaningful.

Gregor Samsa

It sound like you’ve put a lot of thought into what you don’t want to do, rather than what you do want to do. That’s not a path to success.

You want to be an entrepreneur. First skill you’ll need - before any other - is to identify your vision and work through anything - literally anything - to get to it. Forget about disliking maths and dropping out. You’ll have to be willing to put the head down and work through much more unpleasant and tedious stuff to make it.

There’s no point in lying awake at night dreaming of future success, while you spend your days failing at what your doing right now. Success breeds success. You say you want to pick something and stick to it. Look at where you are. Pick your degree. It’s right there in front of you, you’re half way through it. Your plan is to give it up now and start something else (you don’t know what) that you will succeed at. That’s just kicking the can down the road.

Sure, college isn’t for everyone. And not everyone needs a degree. But it’s what you have right now, and a degree will never hold you back. If you were on here saying you wanted to drop out because you have some other concrete plan, I’d be saying “go for it”. But you don’t. So don’t. You’ve tried that already and it didn’t work.

You can change. You can focus and succeed. You can become an entrepreneur. But you won’t do any of that by quitting every time you find the going tough or boring. If you want to change, start now. Don’t be putting it off to your next endeavour. Get your degree and spend some time figuring out what it is you want to be an entrepreneur at, and use the success you achieve in college to springboard you to that once you have the vision clear in your head.

MrMiata

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

It sound like you’ve put a lot of thought into what you don’t want to do, rather than what you do want to do. That’s not a path to success.

You want to be an entrepreneur. First skill you’ll need - before any other - is to identify your vision and work through anything - literally anything - to get to it. Forget about disliking maths and dropping out. You’ll have to be willing to put the head down and work through much more unpleasant and tedious stuff to make it.

There’s no point in lying awake at night dreaming of future success, while you spend your days failing at what your doing right now. Success breeds success. You say you want to pick something and stick to it. Look at where you are. Pick your degree. It’s right there in front of you, you’re half way through it. Your plan is to give it up now and start something else (you don’t know what) that you will succeed at. That’s just kicking the can down the road.

Sure, college isn’t for everyone. And not everyone needs a degree. But it’s what you have right now, and a degree will never hold you back. If you were on here saying you wanted to drop out because you have some other concrete plan, I’d be saying “go for it”. But you don’t. So don’t.

You can change. You can focus and succeed. You can become an entrepreneur. But you won’t do any of that by quitting every time you find the going tough or boring. If you want to change, start now. Don’t be putting it off to your next endeavour. Get your degree and spend some time figuring out what it is you want to be an entrepreneur at, and use the success you achieve in college to springboard you to that once you have the vision clear in your head.

I've put a decent amount of thought into this because I honestly can't think of anything else.

I've put enough thought into it to know that college isn't for me.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about what I want and beyond the general 'I want to own my own business' I've come up with nothing.
I just know I like carpentry, I've enjoyed the time I've spent doing it, it's heavy work but I can live with it.

Maybe it won't be carpentry, but it certainly won't be college.

I've said this to my parents and naturally they're p*ssed about it, 'how do you know now? Why didn't you know 4 years ago when you started?" - I did, I just thought I'd get through it, its the done thing, it's the right track, but it's absolutely not for me.
I've hated every minute I've wasted in college and I don't intend to waste anymore.

If I could take back the last 4 years of my life I would, or even if I just knew 4 years ago what college is like and what it entails - I wouldn't have wasted those 4 years.
You could argue 'it's only a waste if you don't get your degree'.
1 - There's no guarantee I'll get my degree or pass these modules I have zero interest in.
2 - It's only useful if I use it - I have no intention of doing that.
It's a scrap of paper, if I did somehow or for some reason get through and come out with a degree I'd throw it in the bin purely for the symbolism.

zoobizoo

If you want to run your own successful business, a degree in business (accounting) is a good background to have.

Marketing
Economics
Accounting
Payroll
Tax
Etc

Even if you go into a trade, and you have a plan to expand to become a bigger player, the understanding of the above will stand to you.

What I'm hearing from your post is an inability to commit and an inability to do what you don't want to do. That's not a criticism.... I'm guilty of both myself. I switched courses, moved around jobs, set up a business.

Like you I've always enjoyed working with my hands.... but on freezing cold days like today when I see guys building houses outdoors etc, I figure that it wasn't for me.


Have you got any career guidance advice or seeked out advice from parents/uncles/aunts ... even your college lecturers....?

There's nothing wrong with wanting a trade - just make sure its the right one for you before jumping into it.

zoobizoo

MrMiata wrote: »

There's no guarantee I'll get my degree or pass these modules I have zero interest in.

It's a scrap of paper, if I did somehow or for some reason get through and come out with a degree I'd throw it in the bin purely for the symbolism.

In relation to the first statement..... every course I've ever done had modules I have had no interest in. Stats in marketing... and logistics now that I think of it. It didn't stop me getting my degree and then my Masters, which again had modules I had no interest in.

That's life. I'm sure carpentry has similar.

In relation to your second statement, it's a measure of work done over 3/4 years and it's an achievement...... it's a bit of a childish statement to make really.

When asked by a future employer 'how come you came to carpentry a bit late?' they might be more impressed hearing 'I wanted to get a good understanding of business before entering a trade so I got a business degree. I lost interest half way through and wanted to start carpentry earlier but I committed to getting my degree and I'm very proud of the achievement'

MrMiata

zoobizoo wrote: »

If you want to run your own successful business, a degree in business (accounting) is a good background to have.

Marketing
Economics
Accounting
Payroll
Tax
Etc

Even if you go into a trade, and you have a plan to expand to become a bigger player, the understanding of the above will stand to you.

What I'm hearing from your post is an inability to commit and an inability to do what you don't want to do. That's not a criticism.... I'm guilty of both myself. I switched courses, moved around jobs, set up a business.

Like you I've always enjoyed working with my hands.... but on freezing cold days like today when I see guys building houses outdoors etc, I figure that it wasn't for me.


Have you got any career guidance advice or seeked out advice from parents/uncles/aunts ... even your college lecturers....?

There's nothing wrong with wanting a trade - just make sure its the right one for you before jumping into it.

Ignoring everything else if I was being pragmatic and I was in my current situation, I'd go down the route of accounting because as you said - it'd really help.
But I don't like accounting, not every successful entrepreneur has, some haven't even been able to do basic balance sheets - I can, but I'm not getting a degree in it.
I'm not getting a degree, that's end of.

I've spoken to career guidance counsellors who recommended social care - Why?
Not a clue, doesn't interest me, I told her that and she said 'consider it', I did, not for me.

Parents aren't helpful, aunties and uncles (beyond the carpenter), just waffle on about how college is the best time of your life and how their kids love it.
Lectures I don't feel comfortable approaching, I don't know them.
I'm sure they'd all say get your degree.
For once I'm going with my own instincts - college isn't for me.
I'm not going to torment myself any longer, I'm deeply unhappy in a college environment.

LegacyUser

The first bit of advice I'd give you is check with your college, if you finish this year you might get some kind of cert or diploma for doing the three years (that's if I've read correctly that you're midway through third year?). No matter how much you dislike it or would prefer to be elsewhere, its definitely worth getting whatever certification and recognition you can for the work you've already put in.
This bit stuck out for me 'the second a module pops up that I find difficult I'm screwed because I genuinely can't study, I don't have the attention span for it'. Any course you study or indeed job you do will have elements that you find difficult, or boring, or just hate for whatever reason. And that doesn't matter, you just have to get on with it. There is no such thing as the perfect course, or perfect job.
Really though, fair play for thinking and trying to plan what you want to do with your future. Far too many people go on to college and university because its what everyone does, study something they have just a passing interest in, struggle on through and then look back on 4 wasted years at the end, with a degree that they have no interest in using, and this is a real killer when it comes to motivating yourself to figure out your next step.
It does sound that business probably isn't for you. My advice would be to not quit your course until you know exactly what you you're going to do next. And you'd probably benefit from chatting with a career guidance counsellor.

cannotlogin

Is it a 3 year degree or 4 years?

Surely if it's 3 years, 6 more months won't kill you and at least you'll have it then. It's a starting point for a lot and will also stand to you.

If it's a 4 year degree, at least you'll have a diploma in 6 months. If you ever decide that you need a degree you can do the final year part time at night.

The next 6 months is still very unsure given covid etc and a lot of employers will be reluctant to take on staff. Yes, trades are a little different but there's no guarantee.

Running your own business will require far more willpower and commitment than finishing college. If you really don't know what you want to do, maybe just buckle down and finish something before you make a move. I know this isn't what you want to hear but it's still what I consider your best option. Also, there's nothing wrong with a 2.1 degree.

zoobizoo

MrMiata wrote: »

I'm not getting a degree, that's end of.

I've spoken to career guidance counsellors who recommended social care - Why?



I'm not going to torment myself any longer, I'm deeply unhappy in a college environment.

Have you ever done anything entrepreneurial?

When I was 12 I brought fireworks back from holiday in France and sold then x 10 times the cost price to my friends.


I set up a few different small businesses in my 30s. My marketing background helped immensely and I've seen good businesses that I've worked for fall down in that departmentment as the owners think that they know everything.


When I closed my business, as it wasn't making enough money any more, I had my marketing masters to fall back on.


Did you ask the career person why she advised the social care course? Were you not curious?

MrMiata

It’s a 4 year.
That’s my plan - I’d ideally come out after this year.
The problem is that I’ve a couple exams this year (and continuous assessment modules I’ve already submitted but awaiting grades for) that I don’t know if I’ll pass.
They’ve been horrible, if I fail I don’t think I’ll pass the repeats (especially the CA because I’ll have to do the same thing but without lecturer input/guidance).
If I pass these exams, or if I’ve only got to repeat something I can see myself passing I’ll finish out the year.
If not I won’t go into 2nd semester and throw away even more money..

MrMiata

zoobizoo wrote: »

Have you ever done anything entrepreneurial?

When I was 12 I brought fireworks back from holiday in France and sold then x 10 times the cost price to my friends.


I set up a few different small businesses in my 30s. My marketing background helped immensely and I've seen good businesses that I've worked for fall down in that departmentment as the owners think that they know everything.


When I closed my business, as it wasn't making enough money any more, I had my marketing masters to fall back on.


Did you ask the career person why she advised the social care course? Were you not curious?

I have, I've bought and sold guitars for years, I've done the same with clothes (designer clothes), same with cars - Mx-5s.
I've helped my father with his side business (phone repair), mainly with Facebook advertising and the likes, but that's his claim to fame, not mine.

I did ask her, she said it was because she said:
I'd be good at dealing with the others, especially the varied bunch you'd meet in that line of work.
I'm quite pragmatic and goal oriented, I like helping others and I'm good with stress.
That seemed quite general though.. I certainly couldn't see myself as a social care worker, a lot of my friends are social care workers and that just doesn't seem like my cup of tea.

santana75

You'll figure it out Op. Use your time to try things, experiment. Something will stick, you'll find your thing and forge your own path. The notion that you need a degree is absolute nonsense, and I have a degree. Long before education became the idol that it is in society people were forging their own paths in life. Some of the most successful people in the world will tell you that the idea you need a degree is a lie. Take your time to find out who you really are, it's worth it in the long run even though it may appear that others are passing you by. They're not.

qwerty13

There seems to be a bit of a pattern of not doing enough research into something, discovering that it contains things you find difficult or boring, and then just bailing on it, and going for something completely different (or returning to something you had discounted as definitely not for you).

These are not traits that will stand to you if you genuinely want to set up your own business. You’ll need to be determined, and stick with something - whether it provides short term kicks or not. As another poster pointed out, developing your understanding of maths and accounting would be very much and advantage. I’m not saying that to be cruel, but it just seems like ‘entrepreneur’ is another under-researched blue sky idea.

Why do you want to set up your own business? Or is it a somewhat idealistic notion of “being an entrepreneur”. Like would you be happy with your own one man operation business?

pconn062

A friend of mine is a 3rd year apprentice carpenter, and is a little older coming towards 30. The guy he is doing the apprenticeship with is a fairly traditional guy doing a lot of the run of the mill stuff like kitchens and wardrobes. My friend is not particularly interested in that stuff but is picking up good skills and is doing a nice little trade doing custom bespoke furniture, high end stuff. His plan when he's finished the apprenticeship is to start his own bespoke furniture company.

I mention this as it's a way you could combine your enjoyment of carpentry and working with your hands with the challenge of running your own business. Doesn't have to be customer furniture, could be a different aspect of carpentry.

You're never too old to start an apprenticeship either. Even though the money is not great at the start, you're still earning and learning.

o1s1n

There definitely is a pattern here and if you don't learn from it you're doomed to repeat it unfortunately.

You started a college course and quit.

Then started a trade and quit.

Now you think your best option might be to quit your college course again and start a trade?

If that didn't work the first time, why do you think it will work this time?

I don't meant to be overly harsh by the way and you do seem to be noticing that you need to change your ways, but quitting what you're currently doing (again) because of some grand epiphany might not be the best course of action and just an easy way out of a situation you'rw currently finding difficult.

We all go through phases during courses where we think it's not for us, too difficult or that we made a mistake. Do remember that there were reasons you chose the course in the first place that seemed appealing at the time.

TheadoreT

You sound like my brother, always had notions of making it big but never had the work ethic, he'd start something new and become frustrated that it's not happening quick enough and then either quit or be fired for making delusional demands beyond his position.

Soon it will come a time when this will really start affecting your life in terms of relationships and if you ever want to buy somewhere. The older women get they look for solidity and genuine ambition in a partner not someone who has a new flight of fancy every ten mins.

Nothing in life comes easy and you seem to want it that way, the minute anything becomes difficult you up and leave. Accepting you're not good studying Is just a cop out, very few people actually enjoy it and would prefer to be doing more fun activities but it's a means to an end and people persevere through it. "Its not for me" is a juvenile attitude you need to shake off if you ever want to do anything with your life.

MrMiata

qwerty13 wrote: »

There seems to be a bit of a pattern of not doing enough research into something, discovering that it contains things you find difficult or boring, and then just bailing on it, and going for something completely different (or returning to something you had discounted as definitely not for you).

These are not traits that will stand to you if you genuinely want to set up your own business. You’ll need to be determined, and stick with something - whether it provides short term kicks or not. As another poster pointed out, developing your understanding of maths and accounting would be very much and advantage. I’m not saying that to be cruel, but it just seems like ‘entrepreneur’ is another under-researched blue sky idea.

Why do you want to set up your own business? Or is it a somewhat idealistic notion of “being an entrepreneur”. Like would you be happy with your own one man operation business?

I wouldn't say I've returned (or am about to return) to anything I already discounted.
I wrote off the idea of an electrician apprenticeship, but not all apprenticeships.
I wrote off that college course, but when I found a business degree with far less maths based elements I thought that was a real goer..

Now I'm realising a 4 year college degree just is not what I want.

I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur, the people who I respect and admire are all entrepreneurs.
If not entrepreneurship then I don't know why I'm doing anything, that's the only concrete idea I've had through all this sh*t, it's the end goal.
I want to work for myself, I'd be happy with a one man operation but I'd want to expand, I wouldn't be outright content.
I want to run a business.
I aspire to be like the Comer brothers in the sense that they went from plastering to incredibly successful property developers.

I've always said that to my parents, if I started selling cars, I'd want to be bigger than Colm Quinn, if I was building kitchens I'd want to be bigger than Cash & Carry.
I like/need to be kept busy, I don't switch off, I want to work towards that level of success, frankly I'd like the nice cars and big houses, but that's a tiny justification for putting in that amount of work.
I've thought to myself 'what would make you happy', and that's the answer, not the cars, but the success, building something from nothing and having it succeed.
I've failed all my life, I'm comfortable with it, if it collapses I'll build it up again, I won't be turning around looking for my college degree to pick me up.

MrMiata

TheadoreT wrote: »

You sound like my brother, always had notions of making it big but never had the work ethic, he'd start something new and become frustrated that it's not happening quick enough and then either quit or be fired for making delusional demands beyond his position.

Soon it will come a time when this will really start affecting your life in terms of relationships and if you ever want to buy somewhere. The older women get they look for solidity and genuine ambition in a partner not someone who has a new flight of fancy every ten mins.

Nothing in life comes easy and you seem to want it that way, the minute anything becomes difficult you up and leave. Accepting you're not good studying Is just a cop out, very few people actually enjoy it and would prefer to be doing more fun activities but it's a means to an end and people persevere through it. "Its not for me" is a juvenile attitude you need to shake off if you ever want to do anything with your life.

I agree (bar the disillusioned demands bit), that sounds like me.

That's why I want/need to cop on and learn what hard work really is.
My genuine ambition is entrepreneurship/starting my own business.

That being said - I'm not continuing with or going back to college, I'm done flogging that dead horse, it won't get me anywhere, I need to go from where I am.
That's why I'm looking at getting a trade/working construction.

MrMiata

o1s1n wrote: »

There definitely is a pattern here and if you don't learn from it you're doomed to repeat it unfortunately.

You started a college course and quit.

Then started a trade and quit.

Now you think your best option might be to quit your college course again and start a trade?

If that didn't work the first time, why do you think it will work this time?

I don't meant to be overly harsh by the way and you do seem to be noticing that you need to change your ways, but quitting what you're currently doing (again) because of some grand epiphany might not be the best course of action and just an easy way out of a situation you'rw currently finding difficult.

We all go through phases during courses where we think it's not for us, too difficult or that we made a mistake. Do remember that there were reasons you chose the course in the first place that seemed appealing at the time.

It'd be a different trade?

I think I was on the right track last time just in the wrong apprenticeship for me.

I know what you're saying but this isn't some grand epiphany, it's a long coming realisation.

Those reasons are dead and gone, I'm not disillusioned anymore (at least not with business degrees!).

It's hard to explain to a stranger, but trust me when I say college aint it.
I'm far from an idiot so I'm not making an idiots mistake in continuing with something that's costing me money and wasting my time.
If I could erase the last 4 years of my life I would, knowing the simple truth that college isn't for me I would have saved myself the worst 4 years of my life.
There's nothing for me there, I've moved on.

I know what you're saying and honestly, thank you for taking the time to help.

My situation is I've buried the hatchet regarding college - so where do I go from here? Keeping those previously mentioned goals in mind.

mick121

As an apprentice (carpenter) you will be expected to pass exams both theory and practical.Back in my day 30years ago it was either 1 day a week in college for 3 years or a 3month stint each year for 3 years.Either way you need to pass your exams

MrMiata

mick121 wrote: »

As an apprentice (carpenter) you will be expected to pass exams both theory and practical.Back in my day 30years ago it was either 1 day a week in college for 3 years or a 3month stint each year for 3 years.Either way you need to pass your exams

I know, I've spoken to a couple of people about them they've all said I should be fine with that/it's not overly difficult.
In comparison when I was asking about the electricians exams I heard from multiple people how they failed elements and seriously struggled to scrape a pass.

I think it'd be more up my street than the exams I have in my bachelor of business.

Deeper Blue

Dropping out of several courses doesn't look great on a CV, I'd advise you to stick your current course out to the end.

How do you know you're going to enjoy entrepreneurship? If you start on that path and don't like it then what do you have to fall back on?

Also if you're looking to be an entrepreneur surely completing the business course is the way to go? I'd imagine there would be some form of entrepreneurship modules/electives which would give you a feel for it.

Best of luck

XsApollo

Drewgerger wrote: »

Life will be very tough for you if you don't have a degree you will be moving from job to job and be unemployed alot

I don’t have a degree and have had 2 jobs in 23 years and I left the first one.

Airyfairy12

Drewgerger wrote: »

Life will be very tough for you if you don't have a degree you will be moving from job to job and be unemployed alot

I disagree with this completely. Allot of people with degrees are unemployed or moving from job to job. A degree is not going to fix your problems.
If I was you I would get a trade, work in that for a couple of years, maybe go abroad working as a builder or carpenter then come back in a few years. At that stage if you want to go back to college, the option is always there if its something you can afford to do.

Airyfairy12

XsApollo wrote: »

I don’t have a degree and have had 2 jobs in 23 years and I left the first one.

Comparing things now to how they where 23 years ago is not a fair comparison. I wouldnt even compare now to 15 years ago. Young people starting out will find it more challenging to get employment with or without a degree and its not possible to walk into ant job, besides stacking shelves with only a leaving cert.

MrMiata

El Sueño wrote: »

Dropping out of several courses doesn't look great on a CV, I'd advise you to stick your current course out to the end.

How do you know you're going to enjoy entrepreneurship? If you start on that path and don't like it then what do you have to fall back on?

Also if you're looking to be an entrepreneur surely completing the business course is the way to go? I'd imagine there would be some form of entrepreneurship modules/electives which would give you a feel for it.

Best of luck

Thank you.

I'm not going to change my mind regarding college - It's not for me.
I trust myself to know that when I say - I regret ever going to college, I feel like I've wasted 4 years of my life on it and if I could I'd start over from the day I got my Leaving Cert results.
There's nothing there for me, I'm done with that chapter of my life.

I also trust myself to know that entrepreneurship is for me, I can't live my life wondering 'what if it's not for me, what if I fail, then what?' - that gets me no where, doubt serves no purpose other than to push me towards what I feel is right.

I am trying to make changes in my life as I see fit.

I'm sick of living my life in fear.
I'm terrified that I'll never amount to anything of value.
That my best years are behind me.
That I'll be riddled with regret.
That I won't be happy for any substantial amount of time.
That I'll disappoint my parents, and myself.

They're all real concerns and possibilities, but if I do nothing they're eventualities.

I need to treat myself like someone I am responsible for helping, not my own worst enemy.
I need to pick a measurable, achievable goal - starting my own business.
I need to get away from that child like notion that I can be whoever I want to be, that's useless unless you pick something to be.
I need to stick at it and work hard, I know that's easier said than done.
I need discipline and routine, I need goals and realistic ambitions.

I need to get out into the world.

MrMiata

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

I disagree with this completely. Allot of people with degrees are unemployed or moving from job to job. A degree is not going to fix your problems.
If I was you I would get a trade, work in that for a couple of years, maybe go abroad working as a builder or carpenter then come back in a few years. At that stage if you want to go back to college, the option is always there if its something you can afford to do.

I've always loved the idea of moving to Canada, haven't a clue why but when every lad I knew was high-tailing it off to Aus, I was thinking 'if that was me, I'd go to Canada'.

That's what I'm thinking - Get a trade, go from there.

9db3xj7z41fs5u

Being an “entrepreneur” is an extremely tough route! It is not a case of watching the Social Network and thinking that will be me. It is a lot of rejection, hard-work (I wish that I could tell you the last time that I went to bed before midnight), uncertainty and bull****. You can put 3-4 years of your life in, with very little to show for it and no guarantees for the future. I am lucky enough to have a degree that will ensure that I have a job. I think that the uncertainty of being an entrepreneur without this fact would drive me insane. I know that I can pay my bills at the end of the month. People talk a good game. But the reality is very different! Get your degree and have your fall back plan. There is no easy route! However, hard work never feels bad when you are passionate about what you do. Finding that passion is key.

Dial Hard

I've lost count of the number of these threads you've started at this stage OP. I'm not sure what advice you expect to get out of this one that you haven't already been given.

You've been repeating this mantra for years but nothing has changed. You want to be an entrepreneur - great. But doing what? You don't seem to actually know. You just know college isn't for you. But then again neither is trade, you don't think. And your guidance counsellors just don't understand where your skills lie, so you'll ignore their advice too.

There has been quite an enormous tone of exceptionalism running through all of your threads on this topic. You should be able to be an enormously successful entrepreneur (but very vague on what that actually entails) without having to go to college or do a trade or even just get a job and work your way up, because you're too special for that and your innate need and entitlement to be successful means it should just happen for you as if by magic, and it's all just so terribly unfair that it hasn't happened for you.

I know all that sounds harsh and I'm genuinely not saying any of it to be hurtful. But you need to realise that the universe isn't going to make you a successful entrepreneur overnight just because you think you deserve to be one.

Any entrepreneurs I know are focused on and committed to their goals with an almost scary single-mindedness. You don't seem to have committed to anything, ever. As soon as it gets too much like hard work, or bores you or, I suspect, you realise you're just not able for it, you quit.

You need to change your mindset before you ever have a hope of being successful.

cee_jay

MrMiata wrote: »

Honestly I made it through 2nd year because it was easy, I haven't studied for a test in my life, the second a module pops up that I find difficult I'm screwed because I genuinely can't study, I don't have the attention span for it.
I never have and I'm starting to realise and accept that college just isn't for me.

I have zero intentions of spending the rest of my life in an office.
I know that's not the only route from a business degree but sales doesn't really interest me, and I have absolutely no intention of pursing any further education, plus I'd be lucky to scrape a 2.1 - and it certainly wouldn't be due to any effort on my part.
I have an exam tomorrow morning - I have absolutely no interest.

My end goal has always been entrepreneurship, I want to own my own business.
I know that much at least, you could argue that I'm not fit for it and I'd say I honestly don't care, I've always wanted to start my own company and grow it into something impressive and successful, that's what I strive towards, that's what keeps me up at night - thinking how will I get to that.

OP taking just those bits of what you posted, you are living in cloud cuckoo land.
Entrepreneurship is your end goal, but you don't want to spend time in an office. Most jobs these days are based in an office. If you do a trade, and running your own business... guess what? You need to spend time in the office. Work won't fall into your lap - you need to spend time marketing, costing, balancing the books - even selling your product... so much more.
Being self employed is difficult - what happens when you get bored running your own business when you are doing the back office admin work? Drop your business idea and close the business?
Everyone has aspects of their job they dislike but they get on with it and suck it up.
You have a lot to learn about the business world for someone who would like to be an "entrepreneur".

Tork

Sorry OP but you sound flaky as hell. I have seen your other threads and as soon as I saw you had started another one, I had a pretty good idea what I was going to read. I know loads of people who came to realise the course they put down on their CAO form wasn't the right choice or who changed careers later in life. There's nothing wrong with that. Most of us could do well in all sorts of different careers and there isn't one set path for us.

The difference here is that you have developed a habit of starting things then bailing out. You're now on your second(?) college course and you want to quit this one too. You've already quit a trade. I would bet every penny I have that you'll try something else, get bored of that too and jack it in. What age are you now? If you don't change your ways and stick with something to the end, you are going to make yourself unemployable. If you were sat across the table from me now in an interview, there is no way I would give you a job. What do you have to offer any employer other than a track record of indecision and bailing when the going gets tough (or boring).

As for that talk of being an "entrepreneur", why haven't you become one? What's your plan? Have you got an idea about what it is you want to do? You sound more like a 5 year old who wants to be a fireman when he grows up. Entrepreneurship sounds like your "out" so that you can assure yourself that bailing on all these college courses and the trade are OK things to do.

MrMiata

Dial Hard wrote: »

I've lost count of the number of these threads you've started at this stage OP. I'm not sure what advice you expect to get out of this one that you haven't already been given.

You've been repeating this mantra for years but nothing has changed. You want to be an entrepreneur - great. But doing what? You don't seem to actually know. You just know college isn't for you. But then again neither is trade, you don't think. And your guidance counsellors just don't understand where your skills lie, so you'll ignore their advice too.

There has been quite an enormous tone of exceptionalism running through all of your threads on this topic. You should be able to be an enormously successful entrepreneur (but very vague on what that actually entails) without having to go to college or do a trade or even just get a job and work your way up, because you're too special for that and your innate need and entitlement to be successful means it should just happen for you as if by magic, and it's all just so terribly unfair that it hasn't happened for you.

I know all that sounds harsh and I'm genuinely not saying any of it to be hurtful. But you need to realise that the universe isn't going to make you a successful entrepreneur overnight just because you think you deserve to be one.

Any entrepreneurs I know are focused on and committed to their goals with an almost scary single-mindedness. You don't seem to have committed to anything, ever. As soon as it gets too much like hard work, or bores you or, I suspect, you realise you're just not able for it, you quit.

You need to change your mindset before you ever have a hope of being successful.

Despite what you might think I really don't enjoy writing these..
Sometimes it just feels like I need to get a complete outsiders input.

I think learning a trade is the route for me.

I am not someone overflowing with self belief, I'm naturally a very pessimistic person, but I feel like I'm capable.

I'm well aware of what entrepreneurship entails, and what an apprenticeship entails.
I'm under no illusion that I'm probably making life very difficult for myself but it's how I can get to where I want to be.

I'm not expecting it to fall into my lap, that's been the tone throughout this whole post - I know I have to work hard for it, and I will.

I'm not entitled to anything, I just know in myself I'm capable - if I didn't I honestly don't know what I'd do with myself, because then I'm just as useless as I currently am. I'm capable of more.

I'm not special, I'm not 'too special' for anything.

Life is terribly unfair and unjust - but I've brought this all on myself, if I succeed I'll have brought that upon myself.

I haven't committed to anything, it breaks my heart to say that because I know everything up until now basically been pissed away, it's not worth a sh*te.

Single mindedness - College isn't for me, entrepreneurship is, I need to learn a trade, I need to work hard for once in my life, I'm not where I want to be but I'll get there.

I am trying to change, change everything from my mindset to my current situation.

I want to change and I feel I need to for my own sake, so I'm starting now.

I'm trying.

I appreciate your input and honesty, but I think you've missed mark on a few points.

MrMiata

Tork wrote: »

Sorry OP but you sound flaky as hell. I have seen your other threads and as soon as I saw you had started another one, I had a pretty good idea what I was going to read. I know loads of people who came to realise the course they put down on their CAO form wasn't the right choice or who changed careers later in life. There's nothing wrong with that. Most of us could do well in all sorts of different careers and there isn't one set path for us.

The difference here is that you have developed a habit of starting things then bailing out. You're now on your second(?) college course and you want to quit this one too. You've already quit a trade. I would bet every penny I have that you'll try something else, get bored of that too and jack it in. What age are you now? If you don't change your ways and stick with something to the end, you are going to make yourself unemployable. If you were sat across the table from me now in an interview, there is no way I would give you a job. What do you have to offer any employer other than a track record of indecision and bailing when the going gets tough (or boring).

As for that talk of being an "entrepreneur", why haven't you become one? What's your plan? Have you got an idea about what it is you want to do? You sound more like a 5 year old who wants to be a fireman when he grows up. Entrepreneurship sounds like your "out" so that you can assure yourself that bailing on all these college courses and the trade are OK things to do.

You're missing the point of the post.

I'm under no illusion - I'm a useless waste of space with a track record of indecisiveness, notions and a spotted work and college history.
I don't like myself, I genuinely don't but I feel obliged to help myself.

The key point - I'm trying to change, I want to change.

It's well and fine to sit in your ivory tower, but you're not exactly offering anything other than 'I wouldn't hire you you flaky childlike individual'.

I posted here looking for advice not to be ridiculed.
I don't need and more negative voices in my head.

I'm trying, I'm trying to address the problem, I'm trying to be better.

Tork

How much longer have you got to do with that course of yours?

MrMiata

Tegan Screeching Dachshund wrote: »

Being an “entrepreneur” is an extremely tough route! It is not a case of watching the Social Network and thinking that will be me. It is a lot of rejection, hard-work (I wish that I could tell you the last time that I went to bed before midnight), uncertainty and bull****. You can put 3-4 years of your life in, with very little to show for it and no guarantees for the future. I am lucky enough to have a degree that will ensure that I have a job. I think that the uncertainty of being an entrepreneur without this fact would drive me insane. I know that I can pay my bills at the end of the month. People talk a good game. But the reality is very different! Get your degree and have your fall back plan. There is no easy route! However, hard work never feels bad when you are passionate about what you do. Finding that passion is key.

I'm well aware.

That's why I want to get a trade, at least if things go south I'd have a fall back.

I'm passionate about business, it's why I went into the degree.
My eyes lit up in my first year Business Information Systems lecture, Do I care about IT? No.
Do I care about databases, spreadsheets or big data? No.

But competitive advantage fascinates me.
I love understanding businesses and more so understanding what makes them successful.

Why Apple is as big as it is, why GoPro became GoPro, how RedBull went from selling soft drinks to extreme sports.
I'm interested in how I could apply that.

Why did the Comer Brothers become so successful, how many young lads from Glenamaddy went out plastering but they're the multi millionaires.
I know a guy who started around the same time as them, but they run one of the largest property development companies in Europe and he keeps busy.

That's where my interest lie.

MrMiata

Tork wrote: »

How much longer have you got to do with that course of yours?

A year and a half, but that's assuming I can actually pass.
There's a real possibility I'll fail.

qwerty13

Your posts sound very long on high aspirations (an entrepreneur, like the Comer brothers) - but very very short on anything practical. I think that’s what people are picking up on. It comes across as though you want to be perceived as a very successful person, but you don’t seem to equate this to hard graft, having a backup plan, and sticking with things to see them through - including the tedious stuff that so far you just bail out on.

I know you’ve said that you recognise that you can’t continue to chop and change direction. You’ve said your parents are lovely - talk to them. Like a cards on the table talk. They know you, ask for their input. Especially if they’ve been funding you, do them the courtesy of an honest chat with them. Your lack of a backup plan would concern me, in case a business you set up fails (which a lot do, and I think you said that you’d be ok with that) - how do you propose to pay rent / bills?

It just seems like you’ve grasped onto a ‘motivational’ poster reading entrepreneur, have no solid plans about how to achieve this, and flit from A to B to C, trying everything on for size and finding fault with each of them. You know you can’t continue doing this, especially not if you’re not standing on your own feet financially. I have no idea how good life coaches are, maybe research that. Or seek a few counselling sessions regarding why you aren’t really engaging in the real world of hard work, and have your head in the clouds.

qwerty13

MrMiata wrote: »

I'm well aware.

That's why I want to get a trade, at least if things go south I'd have a fall back.

I'm passionate about business, it's why I went into the degree.
My eyes lit up in my first year Business Information Systems lecture, Do I care about IT? No.
Do I care about databases, spreadsheets or big data? No.

But competitive advantage fascinates me.
I love understanding businesses and more so understanding what makes them successful.

Why Apple is as big as it is, why GoPro became GoPro, how RedBull went from selling soft drinks to extreme sports.
I'm interested in how I could apply that.

Why did the Comer Brothers become so successful, how many young lads from Glenamaddy went out plastering but they're the multi millionaires.
I know a guy who started around the same time as them, but they run one of the largest property development companies in Europe and he keeps busy.

That's where my interest lie.

I would say what all of the companies you mention have in common is years of hard hard graft, sticking with it through thick and thin, and never quitting!

And you need to care about maths, bookkeeping, spreadsheets and data if you are to run your own business. I’d say these are absolute minimum skills that you will have to have.

Honestly, your last post just underlined that you are totally clicked onto how to get the glory - and not ‘how do I plan for, and do the work involved, in order to get myself in position to even have National competitive advantage as something that I need to consider’.

You are obsessed with sprinting before you’ve learnt to crawl.

Gruffalux

You are writing the running commentary many people have at some points in their heads, and like tge rest of us it is a bit escapist and fantastical. You will be an entrepreneur, I will be a novelist, you will be successful, I will win the lotto.

But life is generally the boring one step in front of the other with lots of routine repetition forming the landscape into which some happiness hopefully and some sorrow unfortunately will wind its way.
You say your failures are yours, your successes will be yours - actually most failure and success has a fair bit of luck, randomness and inherited wealth behind the scenes. Just play the cards cheerfully.

If you don't want to stay at college then don't. If you want a trade, then do it. If you want to go to Canada save up and go there. Go out and meet the world.

Try to be content rather than always striving for something else and criticising yourself. You have been influenced by Peterson - we all have had influences here and there most of whom we drop as we realise we are living our own lives and they are just saying stuff that works for them. Fair enough they help at the time but don't build your whole unique life around someone elses ideas. It is wild enough in this improbable galaxy that we just exist without having to "become" someone.

When you find what you want to do, even if you love it, it will still be hard work day in day out. Unless you win the lotto.

Vital Transformation

It seems you're unlikely to change your mind but I would stick out the college course. You have a year and a half left. Honestly, that period of time is worth sucking up just to get the degree.

Having modules in a course that you don't like is just a reality of life. Very few people are lucky enough to enjoy absolutely everything in a college course. The value of persevering through the remainder of the course is more valuable than any alternative plans that I can see. Having the degree will open more doors and provide security down the line. Where are you going to get the capital to be an entrepreneur? Better chance of that happening if you have money to put away from the better paying job a degree will get you.

You don't have a fixed plan as regards a trade, and a track record of bailing on them. Aspiring to be like the successful entrepreneurs you mentioned; these people had to persevere through difficult times too. You haven't demonstrated that same mentality in the past. It's all very pie in the sky mentioning such people.

Think of it like this: There's no guarantee that in the short period of time between now and the end of your course that you'll be on a superior track in life to just sticking that time out and getting the degree. It wouldn't surprise me with a past where you've shown an inability to finish something to completion.

You'll have better employment prospects with a degree, you can even change to another area of work down the line with postgraduate study if necessary. In a year's time you could end up unskilled and back to square one if you were to drop out. Sounds like a bigger waste than the years in college you've perceived to be a waste. At least have something you can show for all the time spent.

cee_jay

MrMiata wrote: »

A year and a half, but that's assuming I can actually pass.
There's a real possibility I'll fail.

Only because you have decided not to study.
Make the decision to knuckle down and actual do some work - yes it will be hard, it won't fall into your lap, you might have to learn about topics that you don't necessarily enjoy, but the only reason there is a possibility you will fail, is because you are making it so.

pwurple

That business course not being for you means entrepreneurship is possibly also not for you, I don't know any entrepreneur who didn't have a head for numbers. otherwise you piss away investment, or don't get investors in the first place (because you can't back up the numbers)

So you're right, I think the trade suonds likely. But as you've been told, every trade also has exams. More so these days, constant revisions in regulations and specifications means most trades are a lifetime of learning and keeping abreast of these with exams.

How did your exam this morning go?

Surreptitious

I agree. Finish the degree first then worry about the rest later. This type of thinking is typical of some kind of dissociation to make you think everything is better than what you're doing now. Walk out of this degree and it's a load of money and time wasted. Even if you don't get a career in it, you will look bad in interviews chopping and changing constantly with nothing to show for it.

Tork

I know a lad who is training to be an electrician and I couldn't believe the amount of time he has had to spend at college. He's happy with that but he is somebody who had decided in school he was not going to go to college.

Sinus pain

Op - why don’t you open a business while you are in college? Come up with an idea ( you haven’t said what you want to be an entrepreneur in?) and trial it in a small scale while in college. My daughter is 20 and in third year in college and she has two businesses (one she runs with her boyfriend) she had great aspirations to be an entrepreneur (she is doing a business type degree and hopes to do a masters) but she’s started small scale (one business she opened when she was 16 when no one would hire her and one she seen a gap in the market during the pandemic and took a risk and went for it.) I’ve also one child training to be an electrician - he wouldn’t be the brightest spark (get it?) but he has passed his exams - he had some help in his maths - he barley scraped a D in ordinary level and he’s flying in it. Looks to me like you have great aspirations but when you feel your gonna fail you run away. Life is about risks - I don’t have a degree myself but I have good job - but I worked for it and took rejection but moved on. You need to make a plan and stick to it - you jump around too much. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day - you want a big business but you have to fatty small - and work your way to a bigger business

Hijpo

You could look at becoming a tool maker\machinist

Its a highly skilled and specialised trade.


Opens the door to opening your own machine shop in the future if your good enough.

Piehead

Can you cook? Maybe consider a cookery course. Can take you all over the world like being a chef on a cruise liner when the COVID is gone.

Surreptitious

Piehead wrote: »

Can you cook? Maybe consider a cookery course. Can take you all over the world like being a chef on a cruise liner when the COVID is gone.

Cheffing on a Cruise Liner is months of working very long hours and no days off for ages. You have to have about 1,200 dishes identical lined up for guests. Someone with that passion and drive would know early on in life if they want to pursue this career. You might not have been aware, just letting you know.