Revisiting Career Choices
The following article is a therapy session for myself. Writing cures a lot of issues for me. Right now I am struggling with the fact that my path forward to my ideal career has dwindled or all but vanished. I provide this article for a younger generation that might be “stuck” or “drifting” from their goals. There is hope for you and therefore take this article as a wake-up call.
In no particular order, the following careers have interested me over the years that I thought I wanted and the reasons that I did not pursue them.
Airline Pilot — Once I found out I wore glasses I knew my career in the military was over for learning how to fly.
Investment Banker — Once it was determined that I was terrible at Math, this career was over. Please note, this career choice was based on my infatuation with the original Wall St. movie with Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen.
Venture Capitalist — In 1992 on the night I graduated from college, I penned a letter of what I wanted to be in life. I wrote “I plan to get a job here in Wellesley with a Health Care firm and take night classes to further my education. After two years apply to law school and business school. I know it will be hard but I have a desire to learn, be successful and become a Venture Capitalist”. During those two years, I did take classes. I went to Bentley College and night and took classes in computers. That allowed me to achieve a role in the technology department of a mutual fund company which did lead to Gryphon Networks, (See below). Unfortunately, after two years of these classes, I took the LSAT’s and scored poorly. I took the GMAT’s and scored poorly. Since I could not go to a first rate school, I decided not to go at all. If I had known where I would end up today, I would have made a different choice.
Entrepreneur — OK, in all fairness to myself, I came close to this one. Out of college I joined a small health care startup that specialized in Mental health. Little did I know how much I disliked Mental Health. From there I joined a “Startup Mutual Fund company”, but all I did was answer the phones and tell people that we had lost their check. From there I became employee number 7 at Gryphon Networks. Unfortunately I never found my own company to start.
Equity Options — Continuing to pursue the venture capital track, I attained a position at a Bio-technology startup with equity options. I figured if I could not make my money in Venture Capital, I would make it on the options. While I met some wonderful people on this journey, this did not materialize into anything financially beneficial, but it did catapult me into my world of Washington DC.
Washington DC — Once I landed in Washington DC, it was all about Project Management and just keeping the job. At this point, I was 39 years old and subconsciously I knew that my choices to the Venture Capital path were limited, but I got “one more shot at the title!”
Software Companies — I managed to parlay my experience in Washington, D.C. to a job in Silicon Valley at VMware. One of the best companies I got a chance to work for. I had these dreams of moving to Silicon Valley, working during the day and networking at night to find the next startup to build. After 6 months, I realized that I was too old for the Silicon Valley scene and did not have the network to find something quickly. I returned and took a full-time job in the government sector.
Now at 50, looking back on the career choices, I see that I could take part of the career choices and make it work. For example, I could get a private pilot license and fly. Every time I consider learning to fly, I then ask myself “Where would I go?” I am also reminded that I like investing more and would rather use that money and become my own Investment Banker. I am “somewhat” interested in Drones. I believe that a Drone is a way to satisfy my interest in Aviation and potentially find a company to start.
Needless to say, out of all of the careers, the Venture Capital one continues to fascinate me. I am thankful for Harry Stebbings and The Twenty Minute VC. I am thankful to Fred Wilson at USV for his postings on AVC.com. I have multiple Venture Capital books on my reading list. I continue to dream up ways to combine my Project Management experience into a Venture Capital firm to help them. I wrote the article: Venture Capital Should Hire Project Managers. One can dream right?
For those that are younger, 30 or less and not in your ideal career, my advice would be as follows: 1)Start writing about the industry you are interested in. Try to read about the industry and then write your thoughts on it. 2)Take classes. Use the online classes that are available to know something about an area you want to focus on. This could be technology, investing, engineering, etc. 3)Examine your choice and make sure it is a passion! If you are not thinking about it all the time, it might not be a passion. If it is not a passion, then you may want to review your choice. 4)Stay focused. Sure, it is fun to hang out with friends, go to Burning Man, White Water Rafting, etc., but use that time to stay focused on your goals.
I do believe my career choices are now fixed. I am not sure how a new one could enter my catalog. I won’t rule out a new one entering my catalog, but I am not looking for it. For now, this article has inspired me to see if we still have a shot at the Venture Capital title and putting the old careers out to pasture.