The What's holding you back thread

[JEFF_H]

In a way, all of us have an El Guapo to face someday.
For some shyness might be their El Guapo
For others a lack of education might be their El Guapo
For us El Guapo is a big dangerous guy that wants to kill us.

[Popeye the Sailor]

In a way, all of us have an El Guapo to face someday.
For some shyness might be their El Guapo
For others a lack of education might be their El Guapo
For us El Guapo is a big dangerous guy that wants to kill us.

I have no bat shit here. 

[JEFF_H]

guano


guapo

[Popeye the Sailor]

I know-I was being petulant.

[Ddan]

I know-I was being petulant.

Are you sure that wasn't being obtuse?

[tcspeedfreak]

my age.  im a 22 almost 23 year old yacht mechanic, and i can hold my own in some cases i know more then the older guys i work with.  but when your the owner of a million dollar boat who do you trust with your boat the young kid or the older guy.

[zarn02]

Ennui, complacency, a feeling of general uselessness.

[abby normal]

i spent the first 40 years of this life desperately trying to get selected to the
astronaut corp.  It took one BS, two masters and a PhD before i figured out
that, as the old saying goes, "its not what you know, its who you blow".

for the last 8 years i've been a bitter shell trying to come to grips with fate.

when someone tells you, "you can be whatever you dream", tell them
they're full of sh!t.

[ZLTFUL]

Nothing.
Short of a few inconsequential incidentals, I am very content with my life.
I may not be rich, but I don't have to worry about people just liking me for my money.
I may not be pretty, but I don't have to wonder if she is dating me for my looks or my great personality.
I may not live in a giant house, but I don't have to vacuum 17 rooms.
I may not drive a brand new car, but my insurance is lower and I have no car payment.

You get the point. I am content where I am and anything above and beyond that is simply icing on the cake.

[Grampa]

carpet glue

[Venom51]

Massive guilt and low self-esteem

[ZLTFUL]

A painful large penis and incredibly low self esteem.

Er...wait...what was the question again?

[VisceralReaction]

Fear of the unknown and being able to change and still provide
for my family.
Having goals, but the inability to finance them and make them come
to fruition.
Needing to change but not sure how I need to change.

[Triple J]

So I guess what is holding me back is fear of change.

I'd say fear of change as well.

I have a good paying and secure job as a design engineer in a field that I got a BS and MS in. Unfortunately it isn't all that interesting being a design engineer most of the time, and I have a hard time really applying myself when I'm only marginally interested. I'm not lazy...just bored.  I think I would enjoy working for a contractor (same field) more...and I could probably make more money doing so...but I'm "comfortable" where I am, work for a good employer, and my schedule is pretty flexible. I fear a contractor wouldn't be as flexible, and I'd probably have to move every 3-4 years as the projects change. I also fear that I'd feel the same. The jump is complicated by a 3-month old at home.

The problem as I see it is we go to college at 18, but it is very rare someone knows what they want to do by 18 years old...or even at 25! No wonder so many people dislike their jobs.

If I had it to do again I would have practiced my drums a hell of a lot more growing up...and tried to be a professional musician...maybe went to college to get a music education degree so at least I had something useful.

Ah well...so it goes. My advice to my son when it comes time will be to follow your heart first, a career second. Hopefully the two collide at some point. 

[Vindingo]

The problem as I see it is we go to college at 18, but it is very rare someone knows what they want to do by 18 years old...or even at 25! No wonder so many people dislike their jobs.

Time is holding me back...   

I recently finished my first semester back in school at 26.  Another year and a half + MCATs and hopefully I will be in medschool by 29.  I am older than most in my position, but I have found that A's come easier when you aren't out partying and drinking.  Maybe time has also helped me get to where I want to be...  I decided I didn't want to be in a position where I was 40, looking back and wondering "What if ?"