1.

Clever Dude
November 12th, 2007 at 12:03 pm

I wanted to win the lottery when I grew up. It still hasn’t happened and it’s still my dream. Besides that, I can’t quite think of what I wanted to be. I think teacher was in there somewhere, and maybe sports star, but I’m neither patient enough or physically gifted (aka “too lazy”) to do either right now.

2.

KMC
November 12th, 2007 at 12:29 pm

I’d be willing to bet the number of readers who became what they wanted to be when they grew up is in the single digits.

I listened to my father and got a degree “that makes good money.” I can now firmly attest that there’s more to it than that.

My brother, on the other hand, recently quit being a teacher to become a fire fighter. That’s doing it right.

3.

rstlne
November 12th, 2007 at 12:54 pm

I wanted to write software since the age of 13. Now that I have a job doing that, I think Playboy photographer might have been a better choice.

4.

Patrick
November 12th, 2007 at 1:54 pm

All my jobs were fantasy jobs – astronaut, pro baseball player, doctor, etc. In the end, those weren’t for me.

I’ve had various other fantasy jobs as well, such as teacher (which I think I would be good at), writer (which I am improving on through my blog, but nowhere near good enough to be a professional), and high level manager of something cool. I know, that last one is very specific!

Currently, I love alternative energy, and while my technical knowledge isn’t strong enough to design systems, I think it would be awesome to work in that industry. I’m not in the field now, but it is something I can work toward. Cool article.

5.

Patrick
November 12th, 2007 at 2:05 pm

I also didn’t mention that I had a cool job traveling around the world with a musical performance group that provided entertainment to military members around the world. That was fun.

I also worked as a mechanic on jet and cargo aircraft while in the military. I traveled to over 30 countries on 5 continents and generally had a lot of interesting experiences.

I guess I didn’t dream about doing all of that as a kid, but if my kid self could look at my future self and see the things I have done… he would think that I was a pretty cool dude! And I think that counts for something!

6.

plonkee
November 12th, 2007 at 3:02 pm

Mostly, your list says “lifelong geek” to me.

Although, when I was 14, I wanted to be a pension fund manager (I do something completely different). I don’t know whether to be ashamed, or proud.

7.

J.D.
November 12th, 2007 at 3:48 pm

Great post, Nick. I’ve been thinking about this lately, too. I actually have plans to do my first ever Video Post on this very subject. (But knowing the way I work, that could two years from now…)

Anyhow, when I was young I wanted to be an astronaut. This was just after the U.S. made its last moon missions, and the space race still seemed very real, at least to a boy. Soon after that, I discovered the joy of writing stories. From the fourth grade on, I’ve always wanted to write. For a long time, it seemed as if this might be just a pipe dream. Now it looks like a reality!

8.

Mrs. Micah
November 12th, 2007 at 9:28 pm

Marine biologist for a few years. Then I learned I’d have to take chemistry and biology–lots. So that dream died.

Librarian for a number of years. I’ve worked in 3 libraries total and just applied for a job with another one. So I guess I’m doing that.

Then there’s all the little things I’d like to be like a writer, seamstress, writer, actress (ok, not often), really cool person, person who saves the world—I’m still not positive what I’m going to do, but I’m trying not to limit it to one thing for the rest of my life.

If my site were actually up right now, I’d like to today’s post about MYO full-time job. But My SQL is missing. :-p

9.

E.C.
November 14th, 2007 at 10:03 pm

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a teacher. Then I hit junior high and decided I wanted to be a microbiologist. I’m now a college senior majoring in physics, with an emphasis in biophysics. After I graduate, I want to try teaching high school. If graduate school still calls to me, I guess I’ll get a Ph.D., become a professor, and thus end up teaching and doing research. It isn’t exactly my childhood dream, but it fits the theme.

10.

Jake
November 15th, 2007 at 1:04 am

I wanted to be a baseball player, but my dad shot down that dream so I settled on being a health care professional. Whatever, it pays the bills.

11.

dr.xnlb
November 15th, 2007 at 10:20 am

First it was a consultant (achieved), now its a media mogul (in progress).

Ah, Sweet Sweet Financial Freedom.

12.

debtdieter
November 17th, 2007 at 4:14 pm

I love this post!

I wanted to be a Florist, but then found I had to get up at 4am, pass. Then I wanted to be a Kindergarten teacher, but didn’t study hard enough in high school, thank goodness!

I’m in marketing now, and love it. Before that though I’d been a web geek (still am at heart) and worked in customer service roles for internet companies, none of which existed when I was a kid.

13.

a cornellian
November 19th, 2007 at 2:57 am

I take issue with your claim that there hasn’t been new physics in 50 years. AMO as it currently exists did not exist 20-30 years ago, high energy had it’s hey-day in the 70′s and 80′s, there have been major advances in the fields of biophysics in the past 10-15 years and it still picking up steam, CMB is with in the last 10 years, we are hoping that LHC provides some new physics some time next year, experimental cosmology is starting to pick up momentum, Experimental physics is just starting to fully come to terms with the increased computing and detection power that has become available.

Failing that look at the publication rates of the various journals, they have only been increasing.

I will grant you that job prospects in physics are decreasing, but that is because companies (Bell, IBM, HP, etc) which used to fund large pure physics research (which made important advances…see the transistor) no longer do because basic research does not make a quarterly profit and because the cold war is over and the government no long hirers large number of physicists to design bombs. US companies will learn their lesson when the next major advance that changes everything (see the laser) comes out of an Asian corporate lab.

In the mean time, if physics doesn’t work out, a physics phd gets you a quant job on wall street.

Disclaimer: I’m a physics grad student, and the statement that physicist’s have just been twiddling their thumbs and collecting salary for the last 50 years really bothers me.

14.

Obbop
December 1st, 2007 at 11:01 pm

After being under the thumb of old-fashioned domineering parents AND under the control of what I consider to be an institution of brainwashing…the public school system… THEN, with no other alternative that I could find after high school graduation…entering the military where the domination is pert’ near total…. upon my return from overseas at the tender age of 20 (in 1977) I found myself dedicating my life to NOT being under anyone’s thumb.

Lacking talent and intelligence, though I believe I did have the inner drive, what work I did was…. well, I worked hard, not smart.

Thus, no success in the employment arena. A blue-collar working stiff whose wages never did match inflation and benefits? Bwa hah hah hah!!!!!! Living hand-to-mouth but I WAS freer than most folks.

Shunning wife and kids helped.

Finally…at age 43, I found a “real” job!!! Decent pay… not great but good for me. And, benefits!!!!!!!! My gawd!!! Health care, at a cheap cost, too. A pension plan!!!!! 401K!!!!! Stuff someone else always seemed to get but not folks such as I within the working poor socio-economic group.

Worked dilligently, my friend.

But, 14 months later…. my job along with 1,400 others disappeared, sent overseas.

Sigh……..

Tasted the “good life” for 14 months but am now back to the old routine. But, I am still freer than most folks.

There is a price to pay but we all die in the end so does it really matter?

15.

debt management plan IVA
March 21st, 2011 at 12:31 am

I am really shocked when I came to see your list of planning about your career. I just want to share that whatever we have planned it is to be sticked otherwise at the age of 20 we go on decide that we are going to be.

16.

Virtual Server
July 25th, 2011 at 2:29 pm

I always wanted to be a zoologist or a vet.

17.

شات مصر
September 15th, 2011 at 4:28 pm

This article is already excellent and worthy of appreciation and praise

18.

Black African Art
September 18th, 2011 at 5:11 am

I’ve alway want to be an artist but my parents didnt think I would make enough money paintings. I guesse they were right. But I’m a great admirer of African paintings and other form of art.

19.

Property Marbella
October 8th, 2011 at 5:17 am

So what happened that caused me to give up my dreams of writing, exploring the cosmos, or taking pictures of naked women? Property Marbella

20.

رسائل
November 21st, 2011 at 11:05 am

I have a presentation that I am presently working on – and I have been looking for such information.
التقويم الميلادي 2012

21.

jocu-RI cu Masini
December 1st, 2011 at 6:02 am

Amazing man, how do you come up with this stories

22.

jocu-RI cu Masini
January 3rd, 2012 at 9:49 am

I want more drawings from your and also more articles, everything is very funny

23.

replica jewelry
January 26th, 2012 at 1:16 am

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24.

شات
January 27th, 2012 at 9:44 pm

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25.

دردشة العراق
February 16th, 2012 at 7:03 am

I’m really glad you all enjoyed this! I had a lot of fun putting it together, too. Now I’ll have to figure out what to do for the Carnival of Personal Finance I’m hosting in a couple of months…