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JayhawkInMaine t1_iw7gyq5 wrote

Reply to comment by ScarletFire21 in Salary in So. Maine by [deleted]

They’re not wrong though. At 27, I was making $40k and was ambitious and wanting more. At 28 I was making $150k and was miserable. I left and started a job I loved at $20k and was fulfilled, but hungry.

Ultimately, once I determined what I wanted my life to be filled with, I learned to prioritize my income to achieve that thing.

Now, whether I make more or less, I am content.

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risinson18 t1_iw9bhro wrote

One of the best years of my life was when I was making 10k a year as a ski bum.

Edit: this was after working as a production manager making 65k a year, buying a house and losing literally everything from a divorce. The house took up my savings and the divorce took the house. The job ended unexpectedly when a business partner decided to shut the company down. I was broker than broke and lived out of my truck for 9 months.

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JayhawkInMaine t1_iw9cntg wrote

That’s certainly a rough turn of events. Awesome that you found joy in it.

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P-Townie t1_iw8235c wrote

May I ask what the 20k job was, or what other jobs you've enjoyed?

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JayhawkInMaine t1_iw84dmi wrote

Sure!

$40k I was in the Army. $150k was a RF Engineer $20k was working with a non-profit for at-risk youth

Currently love what I do and have multiple streams of income.

Main job is $65k working at another non-profit & additional income is combo from a couple book royalties & coaching fees.

I earned a PhD in leadership and now help other nonprofits & individuals with various leadership and life choice/organizational direction issues.

All in all I was a great engineer, but I found fulfillment in helping others succeed in getting “unstuck” and being able to reach for the best version of themselves/their organization.

That’s the thing I’d do for free if all money dried up. I’m just privileged to be earning an income from it for the past 8 years.

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100pushupsaday t1_iw8mkaw wrote

When I read that you had earned a “PhD in leadership“, I was dubious. So before posting here about what a crazy ass thing a PhD and leadership is I looked it up. Seems like a PhD in leadership is actually a real thing and it seems pretty interesting at that. Thanks for helping me learn something today.

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JayhawkInMaine t1_iw8o2yj wrote

Thanks for keeping an open mind and not going on the attack first. The world needs more of that for sure!

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P-Townie t1_iw86fxr wrote

Thanks, always looking for ideas! I would like to take a pay cut to work for a non-profit as soon as I can.

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JayhawkInMaine t1_iw86ya7 wrote

It’s definitely rewarding, but the electric company doesn’t take feelings of fulfillment as payment. Arranging the budget to allow for a decrease is something that I wish I would have done BEFORE making the jump.

After a few hard years, we got things situated here so that my family of 4 can comfortably survive on relatively little… even with multiple special needs issues in the home.

Definitely doable, but takes focus to get there.

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fugensnot t1_iw8gr21 wrote

Idealist.org is the best place to start. Depending on wat you're doing, expect payment mostly in gratitude and free "-athon Day" t-shirts

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Alternative_Sort_404 t1_iwap97z wrote

Be wary and check them out thoroughly, though - some will use you up and spit you out, just like any other business…

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ppitm t1_iw8jxim wrote

I work in telecomm and everyone hates the damn RF engineers, haha

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AbortedYouth t1_iw7ujap wrote

Did Forbes give you the cover for being such a wise work/life balance guru? Did some one buy the fairy tales you write online for you to earn more money?

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JayhawkInMaine t1_iw7vtxx wrote

I’m just a guy on my journey who is willing to share with others what I’ve learned to help their experience be better than mine was. You’re obviously happy with your current situation. No need to lash out here.

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elydakai t1_iw7uxxs wrote

You didn't have to attack that commenter

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