Comments on: The Importance of Paying Your Dues

By: Tanner

Tanner — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:27:43 +0000

I’m currently in the middle of paying my dues, and there’s something incredibly satisfying and empowering about it. I’m finishing up my Bachelor’s degree in electronic journalism – it’s about 15 hours a week, working 30 hours a week as a loan officer at a credit union, and working overnight weekend shifts at a local newsradio station. I never have time for anything but work and school, and to some extent it’s great. When I do climb into a TV or radio journalism position I will feel like I’ve truly earned it. I’ve been able to ride on my natural talents and likeability my entire life. I never knew how good it would feel to actually work for something.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:56:24 +0000

Brett,
Great article. Like many others have said already, this article came at just the right time for me. After leaving the Marine Corps about a year ago, the best paying and best fitting job I could find was a security job at a bank headquarters. It was a little hit on my ego to go from what I did in the Marine Corps to working as a security guard. Nevertheless, I’ve stuck it out for a year now, and was finally promoted to assistant supervisor. I thought that would make me happy, but it hasn’t done anything to improve my happiness in the position I find myself in.

Lately, I’ve been looking very hard for a new job, and I’ll admit that I’ve been looking with an “eye” for a job with a bit more prestige than my current one. With my end goal of federal law enforcement, it’s been difficult for me to find something that lands in between my current job and that one.

Your article was a good reminder that thigns don’t always have to go exactly the way you want them to, and that if you continue to work hard and apply yourself, you’ll likely reach your goals. Oftentimes, if you don’t reach your goals, it’s because you found a new path somewhere along the way and were happy to go in that direction instead.

As a final note, I’m also a member of the 20-something Generation Y, and I have noticed all of the things you mentioned in your article as some of our potential pitfalls. The military in general, and the Marine Corps in particular, seems to expose many of those pitfalls and weaknesses, and either gives a man a good reason to change them, or allows him to fail based on his own merit. Failure is an important experience as well.

By: Chris Hamilton

Chris Hamilton — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:09:01 +0000

I’m admittedly the naive Generation Y’er, or at least I was. I graduated college almost two years ago and luckily enough ended up getting a job in my field. But being the pre-madona I was, I was really unhappy at first because I wanted the big paycheck and all the other things that go with working in my field… I felt entitled to them for whatever reason. I was at the point of giving up and almost joined the military, but I stepped back and thought about it for awhile. Then I kinda realized on my own, everything that this article talks about and rededicated myself to my passion and my work. Now that I’ve realized that I’m lucky enough to be working in a job that’s related to my ultimate goal, and I’ve realized my success will not come overnight… everything is much easier and I’m generally more happy now.

Anywho, great article, I’ll make sure to pass this one along.

By: Tanner

Tanner — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:39:48 +0000

Great article. I’m currently in the process of paying my dues. I’m a full time student, have a full time job in one field, and an overnight-weekend job in my career field. My weekend job is literally at the bottom of the totem pole, but it’s the best place to start.

The great thing about the current mentality of most of Gen Y is that it makes those of us who are willing to work hard look so much better. I’ve never had a boss who wasn’t impressed by what my parents taught me was a “normal” work ethic.

By: willzager

willzager — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:40:28 +0000

Being a Generation Y-er myself this can be hard to read. But it is very true. While I hated it as a kid I now appreciate the discipline my parents gave me. If I wanted something I didn’t NEED, I had to buy it with my own money. If I wanted my own money, I had to work for it.

Sometimes the simplest lessons are the hardest to learn.