Dodge the Quarter-Life Crisis: The 2 Job Paths for Career Starters
We’ve all been there before -- it's the start of your "career." You sit there lost because you really don’t know what to do with your life. There’s an inner conflict waging: do you follow your dreams, or go down the less exciting but "smart" and "stable" route? On your shoulders, you feel the pressure to decide what you want to do with your life, right now.
Many people choose the conventional, "safer" career path, and even manage to convince themselves that it was the right decision... until they end up colliding with a quarter-life crisis, after realizing that they hate their job and are left wondering what might have been.
You can avoid this, by carefully choosing between one of two types of jobs. The choice you make will depend on whether you want to scale the corporate ladder or forge your own path.
Dodge the Quarter-Life Crisis: The 2 Job Paths for Career Starters
The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.- Steve Jobs (more quotes)
Path 1: The growth ladder
Too many people are in jobs where the work they're doing isn't fulfilling -- where it doesn’t challenge them or teach them anything new, and where they feel like they're stagnating. A job like this means you will find it extremely difficult to progress up the corporate ladder.
For example, a buddy of mine’s dream job was to be in a management position within a top company. While at university she was offered a role at a top financial company with a large compensation package, but rejected it due to the lack of opportunities for career advancement. Instead, she decided to take a role at a consultancy company with a much lower pay package. Why? Because the job offered constant training, the opportunity to work on different projects, and the ability to grow her network significantly compared to the other role. And a network is the best way to progress up the corporate ladder or even to land your dream job.
Long story short, while she was employed at this consultancy firm, she got to work on a project with her dream company. She made connections with top people within the firm, and was soon offered a position as a head of a division within the company.
The moral of the story: always choose a job that provides you with the opportunity to grow as a person, and most importantly, to grow your network. Take a lower pay if you have to, it’s a small sacrifice for future gain.
Path 2: The smart route to freedom
If you’re like me, you know that the corporate world isn’t for you. The best thing you can do is take a job that pays you well enough to fund what you really want to do in the future. That may be starting your own business or even touring the world in a travelling circus. Whatever floats your boat.
The key is to find a job that gives you enough money and allows enough time for you to work on your project on the side. "Oh, but shouldn’t I just take the job with the highest pay and then use the money to start after I quit," you ask? No. Take it from me that it’s extremely difficult to stay in a job which you hate, working long hours in a role which you know is leading nowhere. The time spent slaving away at someone else's company is time that could be spent working on your own passion and dreams.
I’ve seen too many people leave their jobs and then start from zero; things become hard and they end up giving up early or regretting leaving the comfort of their old jobs. Do not leave your job without having a solid foundation first unless there is literally no way to do the job and also work on your project. Give yourself the solid platform to land into when you leave the corporate ladder.
Above all, remember your end goal
Finally, remember kids, don’t fall for the trap -- the corporate life can be addictive. You chose this path to fund your dreams but got hooked on the private healthcare, large salary and after-work drinks with colleagues.
Don’t forget the end goal. Just like in chess, knowing your end game dictates how you play the game. Whether you want to climb up the corporate ladder or leave to do your own thing, you always need to keep the goal posts squarely in your sights.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.