MLM Directory

Keep cushy office job or leave to work towards my dream position....?

I currently work as department manager in the marketing department for a large-but-new digital media and technology company. I have a solid salary, benefits, a great team of people around me and paid vacation. Unfortunately, the position is not particularly rewarding or interesting to me. The hours are long, the stress level is pretty high and I am not passionate about the field. My background is art history, don't ask me how I found my way into this position... I couldn't tell ya! The work is not satisfying outside of the context of me loving my colleagues and genuinely enjoying their/our success. My real passion is baking. I do custom pies, cakes and cupcakes on the side. Usually about 5 orders a month and a wedding cake 3 times a year. I don't make a profit, typically. It's done for me. I love doing it, it's my meditation and what "gets me out of bed in the morning." I already have a plan in place to transition slowly from my present position into opening my own bakeshop. Today, completely out of the blue, I was offered a low-paying, no benefits position as head baker/dessert "chef" for a popular, well respected cafe here in Chicago. It has been a fixture for the last 8 years in an extremely "trendy" neighborhood. It requires 3 days of work a week... about 10 hours each day. Certainly not enough to sustain me full time... but too much to continue working my present job. This new job would be an opportunity of a lifetime. The experience and networking opportunities it would provide would likely ensure that I am successful in my own establishment down the line. However, I don't know how I would make ends meet. I also don't want to hurt my current company, colleagues or "brand" in any way-- I love all of them, just not what I'm doing with them. I don't know what to do. I'm 25 years old. I work in the position of a LIFETIME. While most of my peers are working low paying office jobs or food service, I have a substantial title and work for a genuinely wonderful company. Am I being petulant and ungrateful? The work bores me, I can see the quality of my work slipping as I get increasingly frustrated with the fact that 1) I don't enjoy it and 2) I'm not making any real difference or impact. Granted making desserts isn't going to end world hunger-- but I really see the power in small acts that make someone's day better. Giving someone a delicious dessert that puts a smile on their face for 10 minutes can turn around a day... and that good day can sometimes make all the difference. Totally cheeseball and idealistic, I know. Do I stick with the job I have and my plan to open the shop in the next 5 years? Do I take the new position and try to build out my side business or grab a bartending gig? What would you do? What would you tell your kid to do? Any help is so greatly appreciated.

Public Comments

1. I say, follow your passion so long as you can somehow find a way to make ends meet. Talk to your parents and sell your plan to them and maybe they will be able to help you out in someways. Cut your personal expenses so that you can follow your passion. Find a second job plus plan your personal business. This head baker position will only serve to make your own business strong in the end, plus you can see how a successful bakery runs. Don't worry about "hurting" your present company. You state that they are wonderful, but believe me, if things got to the point of layoffs, they wouldn't think twice about letting you go Plus, from how you are describing your current work, it won't be too long before your employer notices your lack of enthusiasm and decline of performance and let you go anyways.