DOING IT YOUR WAY

I am an accounting clerk for a distribution company. I would rather be a stay at home mom/writer. One of these days, it'll happen. Just got to keep plugging at it.

I was an English professor. I loved the classroom and doing research. I hated the countless meetings and the endless paperwork. Now, I am a Homemaker and love it. I enjoy doing house chores and the freedom. I guess my dream would be to be a song writer. I have a lot of good songs, but won't sell my soul to get my foot in the door.

I'm finally able to do what I want to! After years of working outside the home, I had the opportunity to quit and focus on my business fulltime at the beginning of this year, plus be a homeschooling mom. So now, I run my dance business, performing and teaching bellydance, and I stay at home with my boys, ages 14 and 10, and we're having an awesome time unschooling!

Dreams do come true...and I couldn't have done it without the complete support of my hubby! (Love ya, babe!)

I am a medical biller/medical assistant. I would rather be a teacher. Sadly, I can't afford new student loans for what teachers get paid.

I couldn't resist adding my comment since this one aspect of my life has been so clearly divided. Its like you were calling to me.

My "daily bread" is earned as an administrator/office manager in an education department at a universtiy. I do the full spectrum of jobs you would normally associate with that position in that setting. Turns out I am very good at it. You are supposed to like/enjoy things you do well. This is how I have made a living for several years but it does not allow me to use my greatest gift.

I am an artist, a painter. All bragging aside, I am very good. But I stink at the money making part. Many of my artist friends who are the first to admit their talents are mediocre are fabulous at peddling their works, hitting the art shows, bragging about their works, building up sales and clientele. That kind of thing embarrasses me. So I paint for commissions and for my own pleasure/growth. I administer to pay the rent.

Tracy - go for it! I know a successful baker who does all her business online. If you send me a note, I'll put you in contact with her - I'm sure she'd be happy to give you some tips.

I just started part time at the Library and I'm pretty happy with it. I'll be happier when I get established and used to the job, but I can't think of much that I'd rather do as a job.

I am a welfare caseworker.

I would love to be able to make a living writing and working on my crafts -- quilting, painting and pottery. I have a dream of opening an artist colony and having a event (like a farmer's market) on weekends where they artists can display/sell their works.

I'm a software application trainer and deployment team member. I'd rather be a travel writer, or run my own beach bar! (Jimmy Buffett, I blame you for this!)

I'm a stay-at-home mom at the moment, do respite care for extra cash now and again. I don't know what else I'd do, I liked social work the best so far.

I'm a software developer, and yoga aficianado. I like the people I work with, and I haven't decided what other work I would rather do, but I'm pretty sure there's other work I would find more fulfilling.

The perfect job for me would be as Amy said, a concierge at a resort. I am currently not working. I can't say retired, because I can't imagine that I won't work again one of these days. It just doesn't fit into our lives right now.

I am currently not working either. Most of the time I enjoy not working, but I have to admit the extra money for my husband and I would be good. I would love to find a job that I could stay at home. Transcription or something like that. I am a really fast typist, but unfortuantely you usually have to go through some kind of training for that.

I was an ACUTE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER ... first in a Trauma 1 hospital then in a (previously) county run facility. I would have done either job for free! I love helping those that are in medical crisis and work through different systems for them so they get the care they need. It was a blessing to me to be able to assure them "do not worry - I got it" and they did relax about that part of their care. I miss it greatly.

I had to leave work as a result of being hit by a drunk driver. My body is destroyed and my mind 'spotty' due to a head injury. I am 39 years old and I got to 'practice' for 4 1/2 years before I was taken out of the game. I mourn it to this day!

For forty years worked in retail managment, some 60-70 plus hour workweeks. Now I change lives of other people and would not change it for the World, love what I do now, helping others.

Never, never give up on your dreams and goals. "You must take personal responsiblility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself" Jim Rohn

I have done many different types of work - retail, sales (inside and door to door), therapeutic foster care, administrative assistant to a pastor, insurance billing, bank teller, veterinary assistant, baker, line cook, fry cook, waitress. Right now I am a SAHM, and I don't think I would want to be anywhere else. The extra money would be great, though. I think that if I have the chance again this year, I would like to sell my baked good at the farmers markets again. I did some selling last year at two different markets. It was a lot of work (I was hugely pregnant at the time, which didn't make it any easier) but people really loved my work. I was offered jobs by bread companies, and people wanted me to make special items for them. It was so much fun!

I was a waitress, drug store clerk, factory worker, information operator for the Bell System, sales manager's secretary for an electronic's manufacturer, I did payroll for a sheltered workshop, worked in a financial aid department at a well known University. Though my husband thought it was fairly ridiculous (FDU, Madison campus N.J.) I worked in marketing and later made product in the production department of the same software company. I got sick in 1989 and haven't been able to work full time since. I only was able to get short term state disability. For many years I was on call to take care of my parents went needed. I currently have the position of Domestic Engineer for the Campbell family. I have almost 34 years experience as a mother of four. I also am on call 24 hours a day for the best boss in the world with out of this world benefits, and my retirement plan is paid for, in eternity, in a "heavenly" place!

I am a teacher... honestly... if I were younger I'd rather have my own school...
But now... just want to retire!

I work on computers.
I enjoy what I do but I would like to be making more money at it.

I am a sous chef, self taught and I really love what I do. It's hard work, the heat sometimes is unbearable, long hours, for the most part lousy pay, you work most holidays and almost never hear compliments but most always complaints..but I love it..and have been doing it for 29 years.

I'm a licensed professional counselor. I work with the birth to three population in the Illinois. the families I work with have children with a known diagnosis of developmental disability or developmental delay. I work with the family to deal with issues related to the concerns of the child and the family. It's a great job and worth the money I will be paying for my student loans on into my time of collecting social security. this is the best job I have ever had. Before this I worked for 20+ years as an LPN in nursing homes, at a convent (yes a convent) and for a pediatrician.

I don't even know what to call myself... I write, moderate a forum (Dollar Stretcher Community), do some consultation, do a little crafting. I love it all. When one area gets boring, I concentrate a little more on something else. I wouldn't have it any other way and can't imagine having to work a 9-5 job somewhere.

Until a couple of weeks ago, I led the Executive Customer Assistance Team for a security software company that will forever remain nameless (at least, as far as I am concerned!). I quit after 7-1/2 years of their particular brand of evil corporate BS was just a minute or two too long. Right now I am making some small pieces of jewelry and learning, a bit at a time, to build a web site that hopefully will not "suck" so badly for very much longer, and I'm joining groups like this one to learn what I can about how to develop my skills and knowledge into enough income to get a bit more stable. But you know what? No matter how much money we now DON'T have, I would not go back to THAT PLACE for anything!

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