What path should I take in a business career?

[Coldkilla]

As a student venturing into business (who has yet to take 'business classes') what route do you guys recommend I take? I'm kinda forced to go into business... but I want to be a cut above the rest so I can rake in a larger income.

-I'm not much for a social life (Meaning, I'm not around people right now. But am a social person when in the work environment!)
-I've got a (very annoying) mental learning disability that forces me to spend 20 hours what takes an average student 4.
-Grades: I start high, but then wear out mid-semester due to stress getting a C for all my hard work.
-I'm mid college. This semester will finish my 3rd in total. I've transfered a total of 3 times to 2 different schools.
-I'm good with numbers and don't find myself programming computers (after taking a class on it already).
-If I do well next semester, I have a good chance of getting into a good school (UW Madison). If not, I will leave this community college and go to UW Milwaukee.
-Still live at home, but living here causes an insane amount of stress.
-Have an unwavering addiction to the internet, and friends on voice communications who I've known for 12 years. I know its a horrrible habbit, and keep trying to quit... Today, Sunday I found myself browsing 6 different websites for 5 hours...wasting my study time! Now I've got class tomorrow. So add that to my inability to learn quickly... and you got: wala, an self-acknowledged idiot.
-No job, after realizing it puts a toll on my grades. I'm living off my 4.5k in savings.

My friend's Uncle is making 6 figures as an Accountant... But I find that A) hard to believe. B) If true, he's probably really lucky. And am not sure if thats the route I should even take.

My friend is also someone who learns what it takes a typical student to learn in 4 hours, in 2. He's regularly at the top of his classes, pretty smobby and annoying, and it takes a toll on me trying to do half as well as he does. While he works a full time job and is probably the best guitarist in this City, finding time to practice everyday, and has a vibrant social life.. And I can't hold a job, social life, have any talent (except drums), without feeling like an idiot.. Not to mention I probably study 4x as much as him..

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If you or you know someone in the business field, what are some helpful tips that you could offer me. If you are in business, perhaps some insight on what you 'wish you should have done'. I just need some sort of model to work from so I don't feel like I'm just coasting along, hopefully going to fit into place and work my way up the later so at the end of it I can make 70k... I'm willing to work hard and sacrifice a lot in order to get there.

 

[Farang]

"Business" sounds like a nice career track but if you're not very social and have trouble making friends easily you likely won't be very successful. From what I've seen the people with the basic credentials (and even those without) who can bullshit the best and network move up, the others make the slow ascent in a cubicle to $80k/year by the time they retire.

 

[Coldkilla]

Just because atm I'm not very social. I don't mind being social. I also don't mind BS'ing to work my way up. However - It's kinda hard to follow a business model that is based off of "well if you lie this good, you'll make 90k, but if you lie this good, you'll make 80k".

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
Just because atm I'm not very social. I don't mind being social. I also don't mind BS'ing to work my way up. However - It's kinda hard to follow a business model that is based off of "well if you lie this good, you'll make 90k, but if you lie this good, you'll make 80k".

I've yet to meet a successful business person who not only didn't mind bullshitting, but bullshitting wasn't built into their very soul. They seem to live to be social, to smile and shake your hand and pat you on the back, remember small details as to make you feel special and then shoot the shit to make for a pleasant encounter.

Then there are the people below them. The people that can get by bullshitting, they don't mind it, but it isn't a built in function of their being. They end up in the cubicles resenting every time that smile and handshake and pat on the back comes by to tell them how great of a job they're doing without giving them a raise.

 

[magomago]

accountants can make that much. it isn't terribly hard, but the work is mundane (counting numbers all day, double and triple checking), and the hours are going to be loooooong.

 

[magomago]

oh and i don't know what kind of disability you have, but try "studying smart" as opposed to raw hours. A few years back when i was still getting adjusted to college I found that if i spent more time studying I would have better grades (lol duhh). But that materialized very quickly into 60-70 hours per week with THREE classes (outside of class time). I did this for a little over a year. Then I decided I had to study "smart" and not the method I did before - Now I have six classes and probably put in half that time. I'm not saying one can jump straight to the latter (I really think busting myself for that time helped me prepare well for what was to come next), but start thinking about how you can start shaving time off of studying...

and really...cut the internet down. that is crazy hours

 

[JEDI]

"I'm not much for a social life "

u would have a MAJOR problem in business.

business = networking = contacts

no social life = programming/computers or other job that u can work alone

 

[Mo0o]

It's hard to pretend your way up to the top. What kind of "business" are you interested in? Ibanking? Consulting? Accounting? Gotta be a litte more specific here.

 

[Coldkilla]

Well I'm not sure how specific I am. I don't know what would interest me (in terms of what type of business career I want).

As for social life: I don't have much of one at the moment. In high school 3 years ago I did. But when everyone moved on, I don't really talk to anyone anymore.

Any more info really appreciated....

 

[PHiuR]

you're on ATOT...You have no social life. Don't go into Business!

be a programmer or engineer.

bye.

 

[dawp]

I'd say don't base your life on "I want to make XXX" base it on what interests you. If you enjoy what you do, money wont matter so much. if you make lots of money but hate what you do, you will burn out fast.

 

[Coldkilla]

I already tried programming, it just don't appeal to me what-so-ever.

Edit: Sure making money and hating my job will make me burn out fast. I understand that. But I like numbers/math, I'm just unsure what route in business I should be taking. What type of careers in business would be good? (So I can start researching on them)

 

[wetcat007]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
As a student venturing into business (who has yet to take 'business classes') what route do you guys recommend I take? I'm kinda forced to go into business... but I want to be a cut above the rest so I can rake in a larger income.

-I'm not much for a social life (Meaning, I'm not around people right now. But am a social person when in the work environment!)
-I've got a (very annoying) mental learning disability that forces me to spend 20 hours what takes an average student 4.
-Grades: I start high, but then wear out mid-semester due to stress getting a C for all my hard work.
-I'm mid college. This semester will finish my 3rd in total. I've transfered a total of 3 times to 2 different schools.
-I'm good with numbers and don't find myself programming computers (after taking a class on it already).
-If I do well next semester, I have a good chance of getting into a good school (UW Madison). If not, I will leave this community college and go to UW Milwaukee.
-Still live at home, but living here causes an insane amount of stress.
-Have an unwavering addiction to the internet, and friends on voice communications who I've known for 12 years. I know its a horrrible habbit, and keep trying to quit... Today, Sunday I found myself browsing 6 different websites for 5 hours...wasting my study time! Now I've got class tomorrow. So add that to my inability to learn quickly... and you got: wala, an self-acknowledged idiot.
-No job, after realizing it puts a toll on my grades. I'm living off my 4.5k in savings.

My friend's Uncle is making 6 figures as an Accountant... But I find that A) hard to believe. B) If true, he's probably really lucky. And am not sure if thats the route I should even take.

My friend is also someone who learns what it takes a typical student to learn in 4 hours, in 2. He's regularly at the top of his classes, pretty smobby and annoying, and it takes a toll on me trying to do half as well as he does. While he works a full time job and is probably the best guitarist in this City, finding time to practice everyday, and has a vibrant social life.. And I can't hold a job, social life, have any talent (except drums), without feeling like an idiot.. Not to mention I probably study 4x as much as him..

=============================================
If you or you know someone in the business field, what are some helpful tips that you could offer me. If you are in business, perhaps some insight on what you 'wish you should have done'. I just need some sort of model to work from so I don't feel like I'm just coasting along, hopefully going to fit into place and work my way up the later so at the end of it I can make 70k... I'm willing to work hard and sacrifice a lot in order to get there.

Gah I've spent plenty of time reading this post while I'm supposed to be writing a paper.

 

[dawp]

My daughter is taking art classes at the local community collage and really likes it and has a talent for it. she want's to get into graphic design. My son has taken some creative writing courses and wants to be some form of writer, maybe screen or stories.neither of those will make them a lot of bank unless they get lucky, but it's what they like to do and will be happier than if they just looked to make money only.

 

[Coldkilla]

I've also tried the creative route. I've tried graphic arts, and music. None of which are appealing. I've used photoshop for nearly 8 years and never really had a nack for it. I can edit images sure, but cannot come up with something new and original. The same thing with my music, I've been in band for 8 years and have never come up with anything original, I've tried many times. I'm kinda forced to go down the business track, and have no problem in doing so. I just would like to get some idea on which road to take in the business field.

 

[TheoPetro]

umm youre not passionate, youre not creative, it takes you 4-5x longer to learn stuff than it does the normal person. im thinking you are going to have to find something youre passionate about because even if you get through school and someone hires you youre going to have one hell of a time keeping a job.

as far as what path to take, read up on the different majors offered. I would seriously consider some type of technical school though. It will be very difficult for you to make it in business with everything you have going against you.

 

[dawp]

i wasn't saying to do what my kids are, just find somthing you like and do that. if you look just at income and not you interests, you will either get in over you head or will get into something you hate.