As kids, we were always asked the question: “What would you like to be when you grow up?”
Most of us would have a single answer: A doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, an architect, a singer, a movie star… The slash-and-dash occupations (musician/administrator-secretary) just don’t occur to us.
For many, the single answer career path becomes reality, although some may go on to different directions. But generally, single answer careers tend to be the norm.
Not for me, though. Ever since I discovered the slash-and-dash way of working, I’ve become: student/entrepreneur, college student/freelance writer, recruitment specialist/private tutor/writer, employee relations specialist/graduate student/writer-journalist, communications supervisor/consultant/writer, teacher-trainer/writer, writer-journalist/publisher/graduate student, psychologist*/writer/artist, etc. etc.
I guess, I’ve never really been a single answer professional. But, it doesn’t mean that I’m all over the place. I know what I want. It just so happens that I see several “perfect jobs” as a way to achieve my dreams and goals. And, instead of feeling drained – I feel invigorated with the variety of work that I face. I love the challenges. I enjoy the rewards.
Jeremy Wright wrote about this topic too a couple of weeks ago over at The Wealthy Blogger.
How about you? How do you feel about your job/s? What do you think is THE perfect job of all? If you were to trade places with anyone, whose job do you wish to take for a day?
*NOTE: I have worked officially with a title of Psychologist in Singapore, but unable to claim this title here in Australia as of now. I have yet to be officially registered.
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hlei 08.20.05 at 4:15 pm
I liked what I was doing before but it wasn’t compatible with my personal life. I think if I could have any job I wanted, I’d still choose to be in the healthcare field, but maybe more on the corporate side instead of the research side.
On the other hand, I’ve always thought being a columnist would be cool or a politician. Oh dea, maybe I would like to be a slash-and-dash worker too. haha
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Christine 08.21.05 at 6:16 am
hi shai — i have a question for you. do you feel sometimes that with all the things you want to do or that you are doing, you become a jack of all trades but a master of none because you are so spread so widely and thinly? That’s how I feel sometimes. I mean, I have learnt through the years to prioritise what I want in my life but there are days I feel stretched…:P
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Shai Coggins 08.21.05 at 3:29 pm
Lei: It never hurts to try!
I’m curious, though, if you’re keen on going back to working in the corporate/organisational environment again at some stage. And if yes, do you have a specific timeline?
Christine: No, not really. I’ve stopped defining myself by what I do, so I’ve called myself the “raket queen” instead.
Just kidding. As I said in this post, I actually *love* the fact that I can do a lot of things and enjoy them immensely. Can I do one thing really well? Maybe, maybe not. But, as far as I know, there isn’t any rule about having to be a “master” at what we do. Some people like to do that – and, that’s great. But, if you’re happy doing several things — and you are able to — then, why not? Hmmm… come to think of it, I do have a masters in psychology – so I guess I am a master of something after all! 
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Deb 08.22.05 at 4:27 am
I always wanted to be a firetruck. It’s how I always answered the question.
Then when I got a little older I wanted to be a Charlie’s Angel.
I ended up being a legal secretary/PA and then later on a Reiki Healer and a mother.
I’ve been happy with how I’ve become as a grown up
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hlei 08.22.05 at 6:05 am
I’ll probably return to work when S is in grade school. And only if we’re living in Singapore or some other English-speaking country. Otherwise, I’ll try my luck at freelance writing?!
I still maintain my contacts so I have some people to hit up for jobs in the future.
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Alanna Spence 08.23.05 at 1:54 am
I feel really lucky that I’ve developed a career that allows me to do things that are important to me. It didn’t come easy, it took a lot of work to get here. Now that I’m in enough demand to pay the rent, I get to paint, write, design, develop websites, and go to school. I just wish there were two of me. Freelancing can be so stressful and such hard work that sometimes I wish I had a clone that could do all the sleeping for me. Most days I wouldn’t trade in my freelancer’s life for anything, except a winning lottery ticket maybe. I suppose on a really bad day, I’d trade it for an ice cream cone and a hug.
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Lotion Motion 08.29.06 at 3:40 pm
I think the “slash and dash” is becoming the norm because really there are too many things to do nowadays that you would have to be really dedicated to stay in one field your entire life. Today more and more people get bored very quickly and find many reasons to change careers.
“How do you feel about your job/s?”
I am happy with my job.
“What do you think is THE perfect job of all?”
Well there is no perfect job or else everyone would want to do it.
I don’t think there is such thing as a perfect job as perfection is really a relative thing for everyone. What it comes down to really is the job satisfaction. Earning enough money and happy with what you do. Whatever does that for a person would probably be “their” perfect job. 
“If you were to trade places with anyone, whose job do you wish to take for a day?”
That is a tough question since there would be many other things I would WANT to do. Probably something in the emergency field to help people one way or another.
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