"Millions of professional workers in their 20s and 30s are having a "quarter-life crisis", a report claims. A third feel they've wasted years in the wrong job, found LinkedIn."
Really?
I think that if you've wasted those years, it's in your own fault. Maybe harsh - but there is truth in it.
The thing is, they are only wasted years if you let them be. There is always a learning opportunity. You could have the worst job on the planet, and spend the most time doing it - but you couldn't tell me that there is not something you could learn from it.
So if it's true that a third of 20-30 year olds feel like they've wasted time in the wrong job, why haven't they done something about it?
I think one of the main problems for millenials / young people (my age range) is that we want and expect too much too soon. When it's not "perfect" or "everything we imagined" it's completely wrong, or not desirable, and we want to quit.
It's also the idea of comfort - they didn't want to not have the latest phone / clothes / apartment.. so they sacrifice what they really want in the long-term, as in dreams and goals (and ultimately happiness) for their short term goals - car / independence / house / beer / partying with friends.
I say be a bit more patient. Stick with the job - turn it into something that will help you down the road. It may not be perfect now, but it doesn't have to be, as long as you're learning something from it, and as long as it's setting you up for the next step, whatever that may be.
And if it really is wrong, don't continue with it. For people who are 20 and 30, time is still very much on your side. The top CEO's, the people who we all look up to, and aspire to be like.. how old are they?
What do you think?
I'm in my 50s and feel that way. Sure, I have a great IT career in Education, But I think I want to build boats instead...
Are you currently building boats? As a hobby, or just on the side?
I would like to tell you to go for it! If you start today, and look back in 5 months, or 5 years - how many boats would you have built? But if you do nothing, in 5 months / 5 years, you will still just say to yourself "What if I had built boats?" "What would I be doing now?"
I'm not saying quit your job, but definitely test it out, an hour here or there - wake up earlier on the weekend. If you really want it, you have to make it happen for yourself!
It's a hobby... Sadly there is no money to be made in small wooden sailboats as the labor costs are high, and everyone wants new plastic(Fiberglass and rotomolded garbage) because it is no maintenance. Going to start a new 21 foot Norwegian Faering this winter though.
Similar to this: http://www.christinedemerchant.com/boat-styles-faering.html