Some background information about me:
I'm 24, a recent graduate of USC with a BA in Psychology (5 year plan hurr) -- technically I'm finishing up a language requirement in the evenings this semester but whatever -- and currently wasting away in the action packed field of insurance sales.
In a way, I have two employers. I'm a partner in the family insurance firm, which my dad has been running for the last 55 years. Yes, he's been in the same career since he was 23. The other facet of my employment is with New England Financial, for which I am a Series 6/63 licensed Registered Representative. To them, I'm a "detached agent" meaning while I work under the family's company name I am authorized to only sell products offered in the MetLife hierarchy.
To put it succintly, this is not my niche. My father is a tremendous salesman, and my brother, when he was alive and with the company, shared the same silver tongue that netted him big cases left and right. I consider myself very intelligent and very talented, but not a good salesperson. First, I simply don't believe in this business enough to push the products like I should, and second, I detest sitting at a desk and I especially detest paperwork...which incidentally comprises 90% of my job.
So, I'm considering getting out. I know that scads of you would kill to be in my shoes -- a gigantic book of existing business, near-unlimited potential for income, complete freedom -- I'm sure some of you are thinking that I'm batshit insane for wanting to give up a prepackaged ready-to-serve American Dream.
Maybe I am putting the nails in my own coffin, but I see it this way: I can push myself really, really hard in an industry I despise doing a job I loathe, and possibly make a good six-figure income, or I can make substantially less but doing so in a job I like. Considering that my current job sends my stress levels through the roof (partly due to my father's oncoming senility) and makes me depressed as hell, I think the choice is perfectly clear.
Now, the question is, what the hell do I do? I'm damn good with computers but IT/Tech support are so goddamn far out of the question it's not even funny. I have restaurant experience (short order cook, cashier, trainer @ Cheesecake Factory), and I love to cook, so I was contemplating applying as a restaurant manager, or perhaps a line cook/sous chef. I was also thinking of possibly putting my Psych degree to good use as a parole officer. Then, there are other, random openings I found in the paper such as a Private Investigator trainee and a Chauffeur, both of which sound intriguing.
My ultimate goal, sometime down the road is to raise capital and open my own restaurant. Getting together funds to go to culinary academy is in the cards too. Also, I do plan on getting married in the next few years, which is something I have to think about.
Thanks for your advice, helpful or not.
I'm 24, a recent graduate of USC with a BA in Psychology (5 year plan hurr) -- technically I'm finishing up a language requirement in the evenings this semester but whatever -- and currently wasting away in the action packed field of insurance sales.
In a way, I have two employers. I'm a partner in the family insurance firm, which my dad has been running for the last 55 years. Yes, he's been in the same career since he was 23. The other facet of my employment is with New England Financial, for which I am a Series 6/63 licensed Registered Representative. To them, I'm a "detached agent" meaning while I work under the family's company name I am authorized to only sell products offered in the MetLife hierarchy.
To put it succintly, this is not my niche. My father is a tremendous salesman, and my brother, when he was alive and with the company, shared the same silver tongue that netted him big cases left and right. I consider myself very intelligent and very talented, but not a good salesperson. First, I simply don't believe in this business enough to push the products like I should, and second, I detest sitting at a desk and I especially detest paperwork...which incidentally comprises 90% of my job.
So, I'm considering getting out. I know that scads of you would kill to be in my shoes -- a gigantic book of existing business, near-unlimited potential for income, complete freedom -- I'm sure some of you are thinking that I'm batshit insane for wanting to give up a prepackaged ready-to-serve American Dream.
Maybe I am putting the nails in my own coffin, but I see it this way: I can push myself really, really hard in an industry I despise doing a job I loathe, and possibly make a good six-figure income, or I can make substantially less but doing so in a job I like. Considering that my current job sends my stress levels through the roof (partly due to my father's oncoming senility) and makes me depressed as hell, I think the choice is perfectly clear.
Now, the question is, what the hell do I do? I'm damn good with computers but IT/Tech support are so goddamn far out of the question it's not even funny. I have restaurant experience (short order cook, cashier, trainer @ Cheesecake Factory), and I love to cook, so I was contemplating applying as a restaurant manager, or perhaps a line cook/sous chef. I was also thinking of possibly putting my Psych degree to good use as a parole officer. Then, there are other, random openings I found in the paper such as a Private Investigator trainee and a Chauffeur, both of which sound intriguing.
My ultimate goal, sometime down the road is to raise capital and open my own restaurant. Getting together funds to go to culinary academy is in the cards too. Also, I do plan on getting married in the next few years, which is something I have to think about.
Thanks for your advice, helpful or not.
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