How did you discover what you loved to do?

[War Eagle!]

I'm at a crossroads of sorts these days. I grew up loving the computer and making websites. I started out around 1995 with my first computer and those hourly AOL cd's. From there I transitioned learning everything i've come to know about computers today. I went to college in 2006 and started out in Software engineering and ended up graduating with a degree in Management information systems.

I've always been the go to IT /computer guy for friends and family but as the days go on I am realizing that I just don't love the stuff as much as I used to. People I work with speak about the certifications and such they are working on and I have no interest in them at all. I have no interest in working on computers and with the jobs I have landed out of school, that's all they seem to expect of MIS majors.

I've tried diving into Networking, Java, HTML, C books and all types of different genres but I'm just seeing that I do not care about being so technical anymore. Put me in front of any type of software and I can master it. Learn the in's, the out's limitations of what it can do simple but I want more than being a technical support guy.

I really don't know where to start looking though. I am looking for any insight that you can provide. Did you have any books that you read or any good advice that helped you figure out what you wanted to do?

[24]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

I'm at a crossroads of sorts these days. I grew up loving the computer and making websites. I started out around 1995 with my first computer and those hourly AOL cd's. From there I transitioned learning everything i've come to know about computers today. I went to college in 2006 and started out in Software engineering and ended up graduating with a degree in Management information systems.

I've always been the go to IT /computer guy for friends and family but as the days go on I am realizing that I just don't love the stuff as much as I used to. People I work with speak about the certifications and such they are working on and I have no interest in them at all. I have no interest in working on computers and with the jobs I have landed out of school, that's all they seem to expect of MIS majors.

I've tried diving into Networking, Java, HTML, C books and all types of different genres but I'm just seeing that I do not care about being so technical anymore. Put me in front of any type of software and I can master it. Learn the in's, the out's limitations of what it can do simple but I want more than being a technical support guy.

I really don't know where to start looking though. I am looking for any insight that you can provide. Did you have any books that you read or any good advice that helped you figure out what you wanted to do?

I'm in a similar situation myself War Eagle though I'm currently in college. There's quite a few things that I'm good at but I have absolutely no clue what do do in life. I've bounced from major to major trying to find my spot but I haven't yet.

I think that eventually I'll discover it on my own and the same goes for you. Your going to find something one day that you will love doing. It might not be now but you'll find it. My best advice to you is take one of the jobs. Yea you might not like it, but use it as a networking opportunity. You are bound to meet someone that does something that interests you.

[Matt10]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

I'm at a crossroads of sorts these days. I grew up loving the computer and making websites. I started out around 1995 with my first computer and those hourly AOL cd's. From there I transitioned learning everything i've come to know about computers today. I went to college in 2006 and started out in Software engineering and ended up graduating with a degree in Management information systems.

I've always been the go to IT /computer guy for friends and family but as the days go on I am realizing that I just don't love the stuff as much as I used to. People I work with speak about the certifications and such they are working on and I have no interest in them at all. I have no interest in working on computers and with the jobs I have landed out of school, that's all they seem to expect of MIS majors.

I've tried diving into Networking, Java, HTML, C books and all types of different genres but I'm just seeing that I do not care about being so technical anymore. Put me in front of any type of software and I can master it. Learn the in's, the out's limitations of what it can do simple but I want more than being a technical support guy.

I really don't know where to start looking though. I am looking for any insight that you can provide. Did you have any books that you read or any good advice that helped you figure out what you wanted to do?

I made the decision to stop focusing on IT just recently actually. It wasn't something I read about or anything like that. I realized I had my go at tech support, liked it - but realized that within the last 2 years I've been out of that field. Like you, I'm the go to IT guy for friends, family and co-workers. I think it's funny because once I realized I jumped on google more often to find those "it answers":



I realized that I was done with IT. I've been out of the field, and out of touch with technology. I don't play my xbox or any PC games like I used to. I'm growing up, and I've realized that I am okay with that.

I recently got promoted to a director of admission at the university I work at. I had been an admissions advisor for the last two years - and I never thought it would be something that I wanted to do for this long. I get to change lives everyday, have great conversations - and make big decisions. It's a joy. It's very rewarding to hear about students coming back to me and tell me if it wasn't for me - they'd still be on a path to nowhere.

So, my best advice is take this opportunity to do something you never thought you'd enjoy. Maybe you are at that point in which you want your job/position to mean something and make a true difference - not only to you - but maybe other people. You sound like you've been working for a while - so I think you have that right to go after and try something. If you were in a college I'd say the same thing - but there's not much ground for new college grads imho - they just need to go find any job, and experience things that way. I'm 28, but I've been working full time since I was 21.

[jct32]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

I made the decision to stop focusing on IT just recently actually. It wasn't something I read about or anything like that. I realized I had my go at tech support, liked it - but realized that within the last 2 years I've been out of that field. Like you, I'm the go to IT guy for friends, family and co-workers. I think it's funny because once I realized I jumped on google more often to find those "it answers":



I realized that I was done with IT. I've been out of the field, and out of touch with technology. I don't play my xbox or any PC games like I used to. I'm growing up, and I've realized that I am okay with that.

I recently got promoted to a director of admission at the university I work at. I had been an admissions advisor for the last two years - and I never thought it would be something that I wanted to do for this long. I get to change lives everyday, have great conversations - and make big decisions. It's a joy. It's very rewarding to hear about students coming back to me and tell me if it wasn't for me - they'd still be on a path to nowhere.

So, my best advice is take this opportunity to do something you never thought you'd enjoy. Maybe you are at that point in which you want your job/position to mean something and make a true difference - not only to you - but maybe other people. You sound like you've been working for a while - so I think you have that right to go after and try something. If you were in a college I'd say the same thing - but there's not much ground for new college grads imho - they just need to go find any job, and experience things that way. I'm 28, but I've been working full time since I was 21.

He is alive! Sounds like you are enjoying life Matt, I am happy for you bud.

[Matt10]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

He is alive! Sounds like you are enjoying life Matt, I am happy for you bud.

I'm here, jc. I will be on a bit more too - just had to get used to the new hours and you know I got that baby boy growing up!! Good to see you, man!!

[JazzMan]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

She was my waitress, she gave me her number, and the rest is history.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

I did things that I enjoyed and thing I didn't enjoy. Then, I stopped doing the things I didn't enjoy.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

All I needed was a bottle of lotion and an imagination.

[LowerWolf]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

I wanted to play major league baseball. When I got cut from my high school team, I realized that maybe that dream wasn't very realistic.

A few weeks after getting cut, I was recruited to be the sports editor for the high school newspaper. I decided that wasn't a bad alternative.

Worked in sports journalism for a decade or so and then decided that making better money during regular hours was better than doing what I love.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

OP - You say that you can learn the ins and outs of a certain software easily. Now I don't know what your life situation is, but if you're not tied down right now have you considered doing implementation consulting work? Meaning you learn the software inside-out and help clients fit it to their business and train them how to use it. It is a whole lot of travel and potentially long hours, but it's definitely more involved than being in IT support.

[mgoblue]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

I'm at a crossroads of sorts these days. I grew up loving the computer and making websites. I started out around 1995 with my first computer and those hourly AOL cd's. From there I transitioned learning everything i've come to know about computers today. I went to college in 2006 and started out in Software engineering and ended up graduating with a degree in Management information systems.

I've always been the go to IT /computer guy for friends and family but as the days go on I am realizing that I just don't love the stuff as much as I used to. People I work with speak about the certifications and such they are working on and I have no interest in them at all. I have no interest in working on computers and with the jobs I have landed out of school, that's all they seem to expect of MIS majors.

I've tried diving into Networking, Java, HTML, C books and all types of different genres but I'm just seeing that I do not care about being so technical anymore. Put me in front of any type of software and I can master it. Learn the in's, the out's limitations of what it can do simple but I want more than being a technical support guy.

I really don't know where to start looking though. I am looking for any insight that you can provide. Did you have any books that you read or any good advice that helped you figure out what you wanted to do?

Have you thought about moving into programming? I do web development, more than just creating HTML, and it's challenging and interesting.

I would not enjoy being a IT guy, but I like being technical.

[ehh]

Re: How did you discover what you loved to do?

I've been an IT consultant for nearly a decade and it's great. I probably don't want to do it for the rest of my life but it's a great gig for now. I've started dabbling in programming, mostly Rails so far. It's definitely not easy but I do enjoy it.

That being said, being a regular in-house IT guy sounds awful.