Lived off trust fund and now my career sucks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't waste time with college classes or getting a degree in X. Since you can't hold down a typical job, the degree won't do you any good. It's a waste of time and money. Given that a lot of colleges/universities are online these days, do you really have the self discipline to complete consecutive online courses?

Since your passion and degree is Dance why not go into coaching or teaching dance? There are a ton of studios, rec centers, camps, etc that are always hiring that you could find a job.
Plus, teaching a bunch of dance classes isn't a 9-5 job so that's a plus since an office-type job is where you struggle.

Hec, even teaching a few zumba classes a few times a week would check off all your boxes.

This is terrible advice. Who would want to pay for their child or budding professional to take classes from a never-professional? College dance degree holders are people who paid 4 years of tuition dollars to self-actualizing their self-fantasies, not actual dancers who the public pays season tickets to watch perform. And frankly, nobody would pay to take physical training lessons from someone who is out of shape. A good number of college dance (i.e. modern dance) products do not have body types to aspire towards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't waste time with college classes or getting a degree in X. Since you can't hold down a typical job, the degree won't do you any good. It's a waste of time and money. Given that a lot of colleges/universities are online these days, do you really have the self discipline to complete consecutive online courses?

Since your passion and degree is Dance why not go into coaching or teaching dance? There are a ton of studios, rec centers, camps, etc that are always hiring that you could find a job.
Plus, teaching a bunch of dance classes isn't a 9-5 job so that's a plus since an office-type job is where you struggle.

Hec, even teaching a few zumba classes a few times a week would check off all your boxes.

This is terrible advice. Who would want to pay for their child or budding professional to take classes from a never-professional? College dance degree holders are people who paid 4 years of tuition dollars to self-actualizing their self-fantasies, not actual dancers who the public pays season tickets to watch perform. And frankly, nobody would pay to take physical training lessons from someone who is out of shape. A good number of college dance (i.e. modern dance) products do not have body types to aspire towards.

How do you know OP didn't keep up with her dancing and is out of shape? And it's not that hard to become a dance instructor especially for lower levels. All you need is "experience" which OP has, no? It's not like she's applying to coach (or try-out for) the Rockettes. She could teach a dance class at the local renter, camp, or whatever. NBD.

It's not that far-fetched of an idea given OP can't hold an office job for more than a few months, she's bored and feels aimless, and she came here looking for some suggestions. A degree in dancing means OP likes something/good at it to get a degree in it, so run with that. Right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't waste time with college classes or getting a degree in X. Since you can't hold down a typical job, the degree won't do you any good. It's a waste of time and money. Given that a lot of colleges/universities are online these days, do you really have the self discipline to complete consecutive online courses?

Since your passion and degree is Dance why not go into coaching or teaching dance? There are a ton of studios, rec centers, camps, etc that are always hiring that you could find a job.
Plus, teaching a bunch of dance classes isn't a 9-5 job so that's a plus since an office-type job is where you struggle.

Hec, even teaching a few zumba classes a few times a week would check off all your boxes.

This is terrible advice. Who would want to pay for their child or budding professional to take classes from a never-professional? College dance degree holders are people who paid 4 years of tuition dollars to self-actualizing their self-fantasies, not actual dancers who the public pays season tickets to watch perform. And frankly, nobody would pay to take physical training lessons from someone who is out of shape. A good number of college dance (i.e. modern dance) products do not have body types to aspire towards.

This might be the dumbest response in a thread full of really dumb responses.

[Anonymous]

I think OP lost interest in this thread already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a different perspective: you were born with what 99% of people in the working world, even the lawyer/MBA types like myself, are busting their butts to achieve--a stable source of income for the rest of your life sufficient to cover your basic needs. Instead of trying to find a job that will let you buy more stuff and go on more/better vacations, consider taking your amazing freedom and using it to really explore the world or yourself. Ditch the apartment and use your rent money to travel around the world or live in a cabin in the woods for a year (the road less travelled, etc.). You can't start traveling now, of course, because of COVID, but you can start planning now so that you are ready to hit the ground running once things return to normal. You won't be staying in 4-star hotels, but you can see amazing things, meet amazing people, and broaden your horizons beyond buying more stuff to keep up with the Joneses.

If you feel like your life is unfulfilling now, do you really think an office job and bunch of fancy cars and nice vacations is going to give you a sense of purpose?

+1
Something to consider!

TOTALLY

I would also suggest joining some boards. It's way way way more fun to be on a board than to actually have to go to work every day - as you know, since you've quit all your jobs quickly upon starting them.

I don't know how big your monthly payment is. If it's big enough, why don't you start a nonprofit or a foundation or something that you can be in control of, and that way you don't need the tedium of having to go to work every fcking day.

You can do it however you want, but also that way when people ask you what you do you'll have an answer - Oh, I run the Baxter Family Trust. We give grants and support to animal shelters looking to reduce cat euthanasia across the country, and we fund programs to help at-risk shelter dogs get the training they need to be able to get adopted! It's super fulfilling. We've saved 30,000 animals this year by funding programs at 1000 shelters across the country, and next year we're expecting that number to double.

(I can help you figure out how to give out grants to shelters, if that is your interest. Just give a shout!)

LOL joining boards -- I work at a small nonprofit and we would never bring OP on unless she gave a bunch of money. Board want CPAs, lawyers, marketing people, MBAs. Op brings nothing to the table.

OP, start volunteering somewhere meaningful. You are literally wasting your life.

Well yeah obviously she'd have to contribute to the boards. The boards I know want people who have networks or expertise, or have money. It sounds like OP has money. And is looking for purpose. I could see plenty of boards wanting in on that.

What’s the going price for a board seat? Someone with a (seemingly) modest trust fund and no real world experience can just waltz in and get a seat?

The board I'm on asks for $1500 a year, either cash or in-kind. It's not that much. I'm on the board because of my network and expertise, not my money. Boards sometimes advertise when they are looking for more members.

https://boardsource.org/fundamental-topics-of-nonprofit-board-service/composition-recruitment/board-service/locate-open-board-position/

OP can also start calling around at orgs she is interested in to see if they have any need for board members, and what's involved. This is my fantasy, not hers, but I dream of the day I can sit on boards of the orgs I've worked for instead of being at my computer all day every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP lost interest in this thread already.

Heh. I mean, of course.

And here are us strivers still trying to fix the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP lost interest in this thread already.

Heh. I mean, of course.

And here are us strivers still trying to fix the problem.

PP had me in stitches!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP lost interest in this thread already.

Heh. I mean, of course.

And here are us strivers still trying to fix the problem.

I literally laughed out loud.

[Anonymous]

Go see a therapist who specializes in ADHD, and also revisit med options that may work better for you.

Try some career assessments or something like the Clifton strengths assessment. You need to find that thing that interests you and that you’re good at.

Spoken as someone diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and who made a big career change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP lost interest in this thread already.

Heh. I mean, of course.

And here are us strivers still trying to fix the problem.

I literally laughed out loud.

Oh God, hilarious!!! I was just getting ready to tell OP to teach a dance class. Heck maybe even open up a barre studio. Or go into real estate. But oh well I guess she lost interest.

[Anonymous]

Not to hijack this thread but I was thinking I could be OP someday. Not a trust fund baby but my DH is older and has setup various income streams for me. I don’t have to worry about anything even though I left grad school in May and haven’t worked on anything but my hobbies since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 34 year olds and have a small trust fund that gives me a monthly amount to live on. It’s enough to wear I can rent a good apartment in an urban area, pay my bills and groceries and have some left over, go out for the occasional dinner and save up for occasional vacations (not super often though)

Because of my trust, I’ve been able to not rely on working a 9-5 job. So my work history is peppered with jobs I started by left after 6 months (or 2 months) and then long stretches of not working. I have a college degree, but it’s in dance- hardly useful for getting an office job.

I am smart, believe it or not, and always tested very highly. My friends joke that I would make a better president of a company than the low level positions I have been working at. But obviously you have to stick it out at the job in order to get to higher positions, which I have not done so far. Or have the money to start your own company, which my trust does not allow for.

Now that I’m in my mid 30s, living off a trust fund does not seem as cool as it did in my 20s when lots of people were struggling to pay for their small shared apartments. Now I’m starting to see my peers make bigger salaries, go on way better vacations, buy houses, etc- stuff that I can’t do because I don’t have the income. And I know it’s just going to get worse as people move on and their salaries continue to grow with age.

So I guess my question is- does anyone have any advice about the best thing to do? I was always good in liberal arts fields- writing, history- but I know these fields are hard to break into. I'm starting to feel extremely bored with my life and aimless, like there's no point, and I'd like to have a career I'm passionate about where ideally I can also make a lot of money and afford the luxuries I grew up with. Any advice would be welcome.

Get over yourself, and seriously what a weird thing for your friends to say.

Your friends are joking and you tested "high" not "highly." How high is high? You're not taking about being in the top 80 percent, are you? The DMV people are very highly educated, so a top 80 percent nationwide would put you at only average or so for the employed in white collar professions in DC.

[Anonymous]

“I am smart, believe it or not, and always tested very highly. My friends joke that I would make a better president of a company than the low level positions I have been working at.“

No. Your friends lied to you.

[Anonymous]

Entrepreneur path seems like the best option for your personality type. Actually there are many top entrepreneurs similar to how you described for you. But a salaried desk job as is common in DC is not for you. And that’s okay- you might make way more money than them anyway!

[Anonymous]

What kind of ADD medication were you on?