It happens to most people. It has probably happened to you.
At some point on the road of life you came to a fork. One direction promises security and safety. A paycheck with benefits.
The other promises uncertainty, possibly no paycheck. At least not for awhile. Years, even. Certainly no benefits. But potentially a huge payoff down the road, way beyond the bend, way beyond your wildest dreams…
How many take the secure route and go for the paycheck? More than take the other road, that’s for sure! The road less taken, as Robert Frost so eloquently and simply put in his poem of the same name, is not nearly as worn down as the road of the familiar, which is rutted, and rutted deep.
I got to thinking about this poem, and the road less taken, after recently seeing the movie “Up in the Air,” which stars George Clooney as a professional downsizer. Essentially, companies hire Clooney’s character to fire their employees for them. He is very good at what he does, emotionally removed from the pain and suffering the individuals he “lets go” experience upon hearing the news. Given the current economic climate and reality of many people losing their jobs, the story cuts close to the bone, reminding viewers that life is never certain when it comes to your j-o-b.
While the whole movie was memorable, one scene in particular has stayed with me these last few days. In this scene, George Clooney’s character is firing a man who has worked for his employer for 27 years. (He did not choose the road less taken.) He has two children, and they are the first thing he mentions upon learning he is no longer employed.
“And what am I supposed to tell them?” he says angrily, tears in his eyes, holding their pictures up for George Clooney to see.
“I see here on your resume that you studied French culinary arts. What did they pay you when you started to work here to give up on your dreams of becoming a French chef?”
This question catches the man completely off guard, disarming him instantly. He lowers his eyes and viewers can see his anger dissipate as he recalls his younger days.
“27,000 a year,” he says softly.
George Clooney looks at him. “Have you told your kids about that? That their dad gave up on his dream for $27,000 a year?”
Ouch.
That road more taken has too many selling out on their dreams. They trade what they really want to do in order to satisfy some cultural push to be stable. Yet as we are seeing in today’s horrendous economic climate, there really is no safety net with a j-o-b.
While becoming an entrepreneur is not for everyone, neither is living a miserable life doing something mindless and routine just for the sake of a steady paycheck. Life really is too short for that. It takes courage and a vision to make it on your own, and perhaps a restructuring of your financial picture, but like anything else, those things are temporary.
The price of giving up on your dreams is far too great. What will you do today to make sure you aren’t giving up on yours?
Not everyone dislikes their j-o-b and some people are quite content to have what they feel is a security net. The problem as you have stated is that we are not facing security just because we have a job. Having a back up plan is a very intelligent move so as to not get ourselves into a pickle. This is a good reminder as to the importance of re-inventing ourselves if need be. Thanks Mary Lou!
Interesting article Mary Lou. It really is a tough thing to give up security and safety and go after your dreams, especially if you have obligations that require your sacrifice.
I think, as you point out, that in the current economy, more and more people are realizing that the “safety” factor of working “for the man” is dissipating. So more and more people are on the internet looking to establish their own enterprises, and in the process, discovering their own identities… often for the first time.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial nature, so I think that’s great! But I’ll always be grateful for two people in my life who did take the security route… My parents were from a generation that knew nothing of entrepreneurial enterprise. They worked 80 hour weeks for years and years without blinking an eyelash. When I got to be a young adult I was critical of their dogmatic allegiance to the system and lifestyle laid out for them.
Now, years later, I have come to really appreciate their sacrifice and know that I could never have gotten to where I am in my development without them. Everybody has a path to walk and I guess what I’m saying is, even if it’s not ours, it is more important that they follow faithfully their own truth, even if you or I can’t necessarily relate to it.
I really enjoyed this post, Mary Lou. Thanks for making us take stock of our own direction in life, and question its authenticity.
You are so right, Kellie, about the folks who are content to be employed. And goodness knows, not everyone can be an entrepreneur! Plus, plenty of businesses NEED workers to keep the lights on!
I just see a huge shift happening in the world of work, one that is forcing people to explore options they never believed they would have to consider. I would like to see more emphasis on early education about entrepreneurial options in our schools so young people could make truly informed decisions about what to do “when they grow up.”
David, Having made the leap from employee to entrepreneur, I understand first hand what it is like to give up that safety cushion and swim like mad to keep my head above water.
Love your story about your parents. Have you considered writing an extended blog post about what you mentioned here? What a compelling story, and your own awakening as an adult related to your parents is very touching, and one so many readers would relate to. Your comments are just like your blog posts, too — thorough, detailed, and so very, very thoughtful. I really appreciate you, David! 🙂