And then???
Here's the second part of the entry a few weeks ago (regarding the recurring themes of life). I'm trying to figure out how I got to where I am, what it means, and where the heck am I going.... when I was younger I assumed (in the way that many teenagers do, I'm sure) that I was destined for great things. I mean, Congressional Page. Tell me that's not special! :) I think I followed the right path... I went to a good college on a full scholarship, got a degree in something useful, joined the Navy as an Officer, went to graduate school and then on to Flight School. I couldn't be a pilot, but I could have been an NFO (Navigator in non-mil terms)... and this is where I made the conscious choice to stray away from ambition. Because with ambition comes quite a bit of sacrifice. I'm pretty sure I can recreate the logic...
Being an NFO would have meant 8-10 more years in the military. By the end of that time, I would have been a LCDR, 8 years away from a sweet retirement. I would have stayed (it's the logical choice) and gone for Captain. Who knows what happens from there... I mean, if I'm going to do it, I'm not going to half-ass it. Not only would I have had the rank, but I'm pretty sure I've got the brains and people skill for it (to be sure, these are a work in progress) Not to mention, the military is a ridiculous way of life. The responsibility is unparalleled in the civilian world. I talked about a promotion to manager here at my company. In industry, I'm young for it. Are you kidding me? Do you KNOW what my peers are doing right now? I miss it. I'm tired of old farts running things like whiny little school children. Of course, the military is not exempt from that.
But at age 25, I made the choice to put aside that ambition for a family. I didn't want to have a baby and then go back to sea 30 days later. I didn't want to leave for weeks and months at a time. I still don't. :) So my frustration with the working world around me is the small price I pay. And a part of me thinks that I can change it. (Or start my own company where I'm the boss. :P) I just don't know where to go from here. I wrote about Stage 5, and I'm not sure what Stage 6 is. In order to enact some business oriented change, I think an MBA is key. But how do I work full time, get an MBA, tend a family (and probably add another member or 2 during that time.) If I don't work full time, then our income goes down 50% and I incur more debt. Did this decision to have a family mean that career ambition needs to take a 20 year hiatus??? If I try to do it all, will I go insane?? Or will it hurt my family? Like I said, I don't want to do things half-way, including my family.
Being an NFO would have meant 8-10 more years in the military. By the end of that time, I would have been a LCDR, 8 years away from a sweet retirement. I would have stayed (it's the logical choice) and gone for Captain. Who knows what happens from there... I mean, if I'm going to do it, I'm not going to half-ass it. Not only would I have had the rank, but I'm pretty sure I've got the brains and people skill for it (to be sure, these are a work in progress) Not to mention, the military is a ridiculous way of life. The responsibility is unparalleled in the civilian world. I talked about a promotion to manager here at my company. In industry, I'm young for it. Are you kidding me? Do you KNOW what my peers are doing right now? I miss it. I'm tired of old farts running things like whiny little school children. Of course, the military is not exempt from that.
But at age 25, I made the choice to put aside that ambition for a family. I didn't want to have a baby and then go back to sea 30 days later. I didn't want to leave for weeks and months at a time. I still don't. :) So my frustration with the working world around me is the small price I pay. And a part of me thinks that I can change it. (Or start my own company where I'm the boss. :P) I just don't know where to go from here. I wrote about Stage 5, and I'm not sure what Stage 6 is. In order to enact some business oriented change, I think an MBA is key. But how do I work full time, get an MBA, tend a family (and probably add another member or 2 during that time.) If I don't work full time, then our income goes down 50% and I incur more debt. Did this decision to have a family mean that career ambition needs to take a 20 year hiatus??? If I try to do it all, will I go insane?? Or will it hurt my family? Like I said, I don't want to do things half-way, including my family.
I don't know the right answer, but I know you will make the right choice. We sure wish and pray for nothing but GREAT things for your precious family.
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