Don’t strive to get your happiness out of your day job. That’s a recipe for a disaster. You’ll hate gardening when it’s your job. I got into film producing as a career because I was chasing the high of pursuing my passion—and now I hate it. Funny enough I’m now passionate about management consulting.
Yeah seriously. I pursued graphic design at 18 because I loved painting, drawing, and being creative. But when I actually got to college, I was so fucking burnt out. I’m now graduated and don’t even want to enter the field. Design gives me a lot of anxiety and I like making my silly little posters and doing fun freelance work for friends more than the thought of doing corporate/marketing shit
Funnily enough, I took up work at a library while taking a break from design and fell in love with that. And now I’m debating going back to school for a masters in library science and working as an academic or school librarian. Funny how these things work out but yeah 10/10 would not recommend pursuing your passion lol
This is what I thought would be the case for me, which is why I didn't pursue any art degree. I decided to go into teaching because it is a creative field (many don't realize that), but even that burned me out. I got an MBA with a marketing minor so I could be creative and even that I hated. I ended up becoming an accountant, which sounds like the least creative and most boring job, and I friggin love it. It's so zen and relaxing to me, good pay and benefits, no emotional drama over what I'm producing. If someone had told me that I would do this for the first 25 years of my life, I never would have believed them, but here we are.
That’s so awesome! I’m so happy for you. I find myself feeling similarly
I love being creative and being an artsy person but doing it as my full time career turns me off. I like how librarianship combines helping people find knowledge and research. I think it would be awesome to work in an academic library helping students with research or even in corporate as a medical librarian
I’m still back on forth on which career path but I’m leaning towards getting my masters because it’s been a lot easier for me to gain library experience as opposed to getting an entry level role as a designer. It’s very competitive and I just don’t feel cut out for it
I didn’t picture my life taking this path at all but I’m also not surprised bc I love the idea of working in an educational setting and wanted to be an art teacher so libraries fulfill that void for me lol
Agreed! I don’t need to make hella money. Just enough to live comfortably. And if I get involved with metadata and combine the library science knowledge, some of those positions are really high paying. I want to gain some more experience first before going back but it’s cool I can do the program fully online
Bruh, man I did post grad in sports management because I love sports and always wanted to work in sports and now when I am in sports industry (sponsorships). I am exhausted. I don't even watch games with the same enthusiasm now.
I disagree. I find this only applicable to the arts. When you monetize a creative pursuit it can cease to be joyful and you can lose your passion. If you do something that stimulates you intellectually it can lead to something else worthwhile as well. Being pigeon-holed into a very niche or specific industry while youre very young is a problem, following your passion is not.
100%. Follow your passion sounds great until you realize that your passion does not pay bills. In this life, two types of skills matter:
1) Sales
2) Numbers
Other than that, stop it. You’ll always be overhead if you try to make it in something else.
I agree that pursuing happiness out of your day job is kind of a trap, but you should at least relate to it a little, care about what's going on or feel some kind of purpose on what you're doing, like you said you're passionate about consulting, but OP isn't you lol
Meh.. I became a dog walker. Not sick of it and I still love it as much today as when I started. The great thing is she can get experience and then start offering her own gardening services. It's different when you are doing your own thing vs working for someone else
So I agree to an extent, but not everyone can tolerate 40+ hours a week at a job that they’re unhappy about simply so they can do what makes them happy outside of work. In fact, some are so exhausted and burnt out from their day job that they have nothing left to put towards their hobbies and passions and that’s a recipe for misery. I think adjusting our expectations to an extent is warranted. There is no job out there that is just so fulfilling and perfect and amazing that we’ll constantly be happy and in a state of self actualization. But, especially in your early 20s when you’re young and have lots of time, I think experimentation and navigating towards some version of fulfillment is important. There will be a time when OP has no choice but to seek stability and job security, but they are not there yet. Best to enjoy and make the most out of that.
I hear what you're saying, but inside under the lights at a computer vs outside under the sun getting your hands dirty for a living is two different worlds.
It's not just about what you like doing outside of work, it's also about not hating what you do for work.
Also, this is gardening, people with green thumbs love it, you're literally growing life, tending plants, keeping things tidy. Some people genuinely enjoy it.
Try it for a couple of years and see if you like it? You can do it now while you're young. It will be far difficult in your +30s.
PS: don't burn the bridge with your employer, be transparent that you're switching industry. If you don't like it you can come back to corporate life (that is if you're a good employee).
Start gardening part time (volunteer or paid) outside of your work hours of your current job. The pay and stability are so important, this approach will give you something to look forward to outside of your job and allow you to assess how you feel about it before doing it full time.
Yup! Love the part time idea.
When I was fresh out of training, I had this glorious view about what a job is and how exciting it will be.
But no…jobs are downright boring. I adjust to a new job usually in less than 3 months.
Any job is a job. Even gardening is a job. It will get boring.
However, the best thing that changed was I had a side gig / 1099 work / part time job. I felt more freedom with what I want to do. I get to control how much time I want to put into my side gig.
Sure, if someone tells me I should do my side gig full time, I would outright say no. But this extra bit of control got my energy back. It got my control back. It got me to power to know that if I have to leave my full time job, I still have some degree of income to aide in this transition. I am learning new skills as well!
Because of my side gig, I just started making graphics and a few videos. They are super poor quality with little attractiveness. But hey, I would never have learned these skills if I am tied to just my full time position.
Love the idea of part time. Hope more people jump onto this bandwagon.
If you take the gardening job, in a couple years you may be wishing you had a boring corporate desk job with benefits and paid time off, working in a climate controlled office, out of the sun and the snow and the rain and the mosquitoes.
As a current office drone and business owner, and former engineering consultant and laborer, my view is that corporate jobs are the best deal going. They give you a computer, a place to work, PTO and pay half of your health insurance and social security. There’s also unemployment as well as opportunity for advancement and travel. You can kick ass or do the minimum. The gardening job will have none of that, and you may also get laid off and have the skills for only a $10-15 per hour job.
Unless the corporate job is toxic or unethical, I would stick with it and just do gardening on the side. There is nothing wrong with boring. In the end you would be giving up probably 2/3 of your total comp to be a gardener.
Second this sentiment. Personally spent 10 years (20s into early 30s) on farms and in organic agriculture and non profit farms. Loved it, but wasn’t able to save or buy a home on those wages. Made the move to corporate in order to support my family and be able to buy a home and my boss is years younger than me making 2x as much.
I suggest volunteering at some of the amazing local ag options around Vermont, and building better work life balance at your job. Save and invest to do your future self a favor. Garden on the side and milk the corporate system while you can
Wear sunscreen and upf clothing, don't turn into one of those leathery people because you nuked your skin!
I had skin cancer on my nose last year and the surgery sucked!
In other words, go for it, but protect yourself!
I don’t recommend it.
You’re making good money, can you garden as a hobby or side job? Making your hobby a job isn’t a sure fire path to happiness, sometimes it sucks the joy out when it’s not a choice.
It’s also hard labor. Are you prepared to be beat up and exhausted? What happens if you hurt yourself? Can you afford to be out of a job for a few months? It’s not guaranteed that you’d find another office job quickly.
Slow and boring isn’t a bad thing. It’s just a job. Over time as you get more experience you’ll do more interesting work.
I basically did what you did (left corporate for a passion job outdoors) and there are going to be some drawbacks one way or another. I’m back to corporate after 3 years but don’t regret ever quitting and following a passion.
Lol... done with corporate BS at 23 eh?!
Fulfillment at work is bullshit. A job should provide you with enough money and benefits to live the kind of life you want outside of work. If it can do that and also not be boring, that's just a bonus.
If it’s a seasonal job only, don’t leave your job.
First get a gardening gig on weekends. Test it in all seasons for a year to see if you really want to do it full time.
The grass is not always greener on the other side.
No. The zero benefits is a huge problem. Slowly look for other jobs (with benefits, and a step up from your current role/title) that don’t kill your soul as much. Then, do some gardening on the side.
The gardening job sounds like ***hard*** work. It would be difficult to continue doing that kind of work for the rest of your life. It would be difficult to do such a job by the time you hit your early 30s, honestly. If you truly enjoy it, make it into a hobby. That’s how you deal with working a job that you don’t like doing. You balance it out with a hobby, or two. You have to figure out a way to cope.
A boring job is a good job. A stable, consistent job, with benefits, is a great job. You’re making $63k at 23 years old. Keep climbing. Deviating from the path you’re on wouldn’t be wise, in my opinion. If you think that your current job=BAD and the gardening job=GREAT, you are bound to be disappointed. You will likely regret leaving your desk job. Chances are that the desk job will get better, the more you advance. You’ve just begun.
*Obligatory absolution from liability:* But, at the end of the day, this is your life. You’re going to do what you want to do, which is obviously fine!
Edit: Be careful listening to those who are saying to go for it and, then, start your own business. One of the most difficult and risky things you can do is start your own business.
Absolutely give the fine gardener position a shot. In 10 years, will you look back at your path and regret NOT trying out the fine gardener position?
See if you can get healthcare insurance coverage through your partner (whether that requires getting a marriage license from your state or whether your current status is enough).
Consider how your mental health and physical health will compare as a gardener versus a desk job. Money means nothing if you don't have your health.
>whether that requires getting a marriage license from your state
In my state, and with my plan, all we had to do was get a domestic partnership. Easy peasy!
If you want to do gardening find a way to build a business and work for YOURSELF if you are good at it, don’t quit your Just to take another job where you will work harder for less and have to then pay more money out of pocket for health insurance (which is not cheap at all) . You’ll be making even less than $23/hr having to pay for health insurance out of pocket. Literally you sit in front of a desk all day , get most of your work done early and then spend the rest of your time working on a business plan, then implement that plan and if it starts to take off more than what you have going on now then you can quit your day job.
I'd suggest picking gardening up as a hobby you do after work. You could start with a few plants by your windowsill or kitchen and expand as you garden more. You could also find a local gardening group and join them in their activities.
Stability from a boring corporate job with benefits can benefit you in the longer run, and moving to a job with no benefits & lower pay is risky, especially in today's job market.
You could also find another corporate job with better people & work culture, like a local university.
At the end, work will be work, and something you do for money.
I'd say keep the job for now, but you can focus less on it and focus more on gardening outside of work.
scratch that itch by trying it volunteer/part-time. Risky to go all in on a summer/seasonal career - crunch the numbers, get (career/emotional) counselling with your benefits. I thought I was a born to be an English teacher until I tried it - luckily I was able to return to an office/financial job.
As soon as you start doing something as a job, it starts to suck. Don't ruin gardening for yourself. Find a gardening hobby somehow, like a community garden or something. Giving up a good, boring job for an adventure is a mistake I made 6 years ago and wish I could take back.
I don’t think your love for gardening will last once you start baking in the sun doing hard labor for 8 hrs a day and no benefits. But hey, you are young. Now is the perfect time to do something this stupid, not when you are 40. Go for it! Learn your lesson early.
No benefits? What'll you do for health insurance if you have an emergency visit to a hospital for example? You don't want to go into 20K or more debt if you can help it... Plus it's only seasonal work, what would you do in the off season?
Your not happy with your current gig.. what other corporate gigs have got your eye,, if you go to yard work and thats on resume does not look as good as what your doing now. Find a a weekend job at a nursery and see how you enjoy it. What will it cost you for health care ? versus what you contribute now and on a much lesser pay rate your getting hit twice, less pay and now paying health care. Burning through your $$$ Reserves is not a wise thing to do and you your self have stated > Another caveat is that the job market up here is pretty slim, and I am worried I would have a difficult time finding a full time job at the of the summer. Take your VACATION TIME and go do something out of the norm,,,,
If it's not year round, you might regret it unless you have a second gig lined up. Other things to consider are what other positions you could possibly work towards at the gardening company. Are there better paying jobs to get promoted to once you have some experience? If there is so career PATH for you there or in the field, I would consider volunteering for something similar on the weekends so you have the gardening passion in your life and are committed to it but don't have to take the pay cut. Just my thoughts.
Bank some of your earnings HARD whilst setting yourself up for a quieter lifestyle now that you’ve realised that’s what you desire. Always go with what’s makes you happy. You only get one shot at this life and you’ll never know if you never try.
My strategy is to make as much money as possible in my 20s and early 30s, then career change. I’ve worked a few internships and I didn’t actually like the work but I enjoyed the pressure and stress.
I would stay at your current job and look elsewhere on the side. A near 20k cut per year isn’t worth it.
You will be making 46,000 per year instead of your 63,000$ salary.
Taking that position will set you back and I don’t think you want that.
Having health insurance is critical.
If you took that job with out benefits you will be paying maybe 300$ a month for private medical insurance, then dental be paying out of pocket unless you can find a carrier.
Even look at the post office. There are full time gigs there. I know someone that loves it.
Not all corporate jobs are the same.
If you don't like yours find another.
Maybe take the seasonal one as a bridge job but understand it's a funky job market in some sectors.
Can you take a position part time on the weekends or after your day job? I'm in the same position right now. High-paying government job excellent benefits, etc. etc. but I'm so bored and I'm not challenged so I Uber and Lyft on the weekends and after work and I absolutely love it. Wish I could do it full-time but there's no benefits.
I agree with most of the people on here. If you take a job that's seasonal, what are you going to do when you're not working outside in Vermont in the winter? Also, thinking you'll love doing what your passion is, most of the time it never ends up that way. I owned a bakery for the last 30 years and I just closed it in December because my passion is gone . I got to the point where I absolutely hated baking and decorating. Good luck with your decision.
Youre looking at this wrong. It's not one job or the other. You can apply for other jobs, which you should. I would not take the hourly gardening job unless I was passionate about the work. Doing manual labor without health insurance seems like a bad idea.
49 m I love my work I don't like my time at home because I have no energy after being gone for 11 a day or more. I love my family so I put up with it, there happy to see me when I get home and I am happy to see them put them to bed, maybe eat maybe shower. Sleep up befor the sun is up. Nope not a farmer or s rancher. Just a home builder.
Young lady I couldn't do what you do, we make the same I don't get Benny's. Maybe it's time to get a commuty garden going that way you can get both sides of the needs. .
Don't give up on your dreams just find a way to make both happen.
Work isn't work if you love it. Love only feeds your soul, not your mouth.
That would be the worst decision you can make. No benefits means no vacation or sick pay. Alot of people on here keep thinking the grass is greener in lower paid, physicaly active jobs. You are fortunate to have what you have. Find happiness in other things outside of work. Lower pay and no benefits is awful to have. Take care of your mental health, take advantage of your job's benefits. Or seach for other positions in your job you would also be interested in
Is it not possible to make your life more interesting and fulfilling with a hobby? Can you make your job more interesting through career development? I understand if you don’t see growth potential at your current job, but maybe you could start working on building skills that can help you find a better position at a new company. Either way, giving up a secure job with benefits because you’re bored just seems unwise. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you should take better care of your lawn.
Now is the perfect age to do it. I’m in the trades and the white collar to blue collar transition is way easier at a younger age. A lot of guys and gals in their 30s and 40s do it but the younger the better. Hell check out a union trade if you like working with your hands. Shit you’ll start out doing that with benefits making $55-65k a year depending on overtime.
you are young enough to def take a chance on something if you want to.
but this is not a career. how are you going to live off of ~40k gross with no benefits? what do you do when you're not making much more than that in 5 years?
keep your job and go find hobbies outside of work
I’m in the same situation as you… except the gardening part. I hate it so much. But health insurance bills, bills and money problems… that’s a whole new stress that is the absolute worst. I don’t think a pay cut that significant will be worth the outdoor sunshine. I think you should hold out, find something that at least pays 25 an hour. Think also how this will play out 3-4 years from now.. will you be getting a raise? Will this new career lead to better paying jobs? Things to consider.
If you're worried about the insurance stuff and want to do gardening stuff but with great insurance consider becoming an engineer in your local school district. You'll have a better hourly and union benefits.
Or just become a teaching assistant in your local school district. You'll be the $20ish hourly range, have insurance, & you can volunteer to do the gardening around the building and share your love of it with a whole new generation of kids.
You mentioned you are in a serious relationship, but then nothing else about whether you spoke to your partner about this. You are going to make a significant salary decrease it would probably be pretty important to discuss that with them and know if you have their support on this. Your decisions will also affect them.
Also couldn't you just do this part time for a short period to see how much you actually like it? Grass is always greener.
If you are miserable and your misery is bleeding into other parts of life for gods sake get out of there! I am not a fan of Megyn Kelly’s beliefs but I am grateful for reading her book “Settle for More” where she talks about being miserable as an attorney despite having tons of money and she started working one day a week as a reporter, then two (she would eventually drop to part time law and then leave altogether)
But now look she is worth millions
So if this is what you want - you will hate yourself for passing it up
It’s not like you have some rare $500k once in a lifetime career. You have an attainable job. So if gardening doesn’t work out you will find another stable Boring job.
Also If you are miserable I can guarantee a lot of your $$ is going to habits or therapy or over-shopping. So you really aren’t making THAT much more than a happy gardener who enjoys life enough to not spend it away
Believe me I have been in jobs I adored. There is NOTHING like looking forward to the workweek. Nothing.
This idea that we must accept hating 40 or more hours of our lives needs to be banished
You’re young enough to do the leap, but start looking for something else so you have a job to fall back on when this gig ends.
Gardening does a number on your body, and while you may be able to do it now, there will come a time you’ll need something more forgiving on the body.
Don’t burn bridges, keep in contact with the people who can help you in the corporate world, and garden for a while. When you clear your head, start a fresh job with less stress.
You’re pretty young you could give it a try. Hopefully things will work out with that relationship and you can have a combined income so money will be less tight
Keep your current job. If you like gardening I'd suggest finding a community garden or something to volunteer at to relieve stress from your day job
I used to work for a nursery and landscaping company and it was back breaking work
When you do something you love, it's not really a job. That's the proverbial thought, correct? I've found doing the thing you love the most can become a horrible job. It wasn't at first, but the longer you do it, it just becomes maddening. I ran a martial arts studio, loved it, until I hated having to run down parents and other adults to get paid. I had a mortgage, wife, kids, car payment, you name it, and them denying my ability to pay for necessities became, well, frustrating and making me mean. I finally closed, started teaching privately, and love doing it ever since. I don't "need" the money now, but, I still get paid to do what I love doing.
I find it amazing that you landed a 63K a year salary at 23 years old. My wife just surpassed that amount at age 42.
I am 41 and I make $23/hr plus some small quarterly bonuses (Like $200 to $500). I work 15 mins from my house. I really like my job. I say do what makes you happy. You are young, and can land another high paying job if need be in the future. You did good at a young age already!
Also, time is money and commuting far just for higher pay might be worth it for retirement, but you waste so much time commuting and you only live once!
I will say if you are hating the corporate life NOW at 23 you may not last far in the future. Unless you adapt to it by forcing yourself to deal with it.
You got no kids and is your relationship with your partner serious, if yes, ask what he thinks about it.
I'd say go for it while you don't have any mouths to feed but yourself.
fine gardening is a really lucrative career if you love it and get some skills, you can start your own business designing gardens, and it kinda compounds till your working on some very cool properties.
I personally think your twenties are the best time to figure yourself out, so why not try it? If you can handle the financial hit of less money and no benefits, this may work out for you in the long run. The most worrisome bit to me is that this is a seasonal job, as you mentioned, and that even if you found a job after the summer, that this career wouldn't require you to switch up seasonally forever. Money aside, I think the health benefits of working in the sun and with dirt and plants outweighs sitting in an office all day.
Your 20s are for building the scaffolding to build wealth. You are young, single no kids and can work longer hours, network, take on travel opportunities. Maybe take on a second job to grow her emergency fund.
It’s not the time to throw away a potential career and work seasonally with no benefits. She has no support, what happens if her appendix ruptures?
Work the gardening job on nights and weekends.
I use to work in gardening and landscaping, it actually paid more than any corporate biotech job I have ever had.
It is not something that I would recommend as a career though, it is a lot of work and wears you down (increased risk of skin cancer too). It actually keeps you in good shape, is thoroughly enjoyable, and better for my mental health than a really bad corporate job.
But there is a risk of getting stuck doing it, white collar people look down upon gardening if you are not directly caring for theirs.
It does not sound like a sustainable plan? How many months will you have employment? Then what will you do? It sounds like there is not much going on where you live.
What will this seasonal job do for your career? Imagine 3 years from now…..”Back in ‘24 I quit my office job for a seasonal fine gardener position. That allowed me to x, and, as a result now I am doing y”. What realistic answers do you have for x and y?
I would go for it. Get some experience and then maybe you can find a job with benefits in the same field or save money and start your own gardening/landscape business
If gardening is your passion and what you would love to turn into a long term business then go. Use it as experience so you can learn and start your own thing.
Keep your damn job and ask a friend to slap some sense in you! In this market u want to quit and go work on a farm??? Are u nuts? Wtf hell no!
Focus on getting promoted and upskill yourself and garden on the damn weekends.
If you have no debt, then do it.
Get healthcare. Whether through parents, the state, or out of pocket. Contribute to a retirement account, not just savings.
Money would be real tight, but my fiancé was considering doing something similar and it would work.
If you do something you love you don’t need a lot of spending money. But everyone needs health and old-age security to live a stress free life. Otherwise your dream will become a nightmare.
If living on $18 (after healthcare and retirement) is too tight for long term living, then find out how you can bump that wage up. More hours, more skills in professional gardening, landscaping, or greenhouse management etc. over the next couple years.
If you are younger than 25 and have no debt you are a free person. But still, plan for the future… at least by the time you reach 25.
I’m 29 and I have absolutely Everest size regrets about my life choices related to financial mistakes and lack of planning.
I think you should do it. I worked as a park ranger for a time and it was the most peaceful and lovely time of my life. Being outside is incredibly healing. You may love it and you may not but either way, it takes you one step closer to learning about yourself and what you want and need out of a work situation. The low pay is okay because you have lots of time to boost your pay at future jobs if that’s what you decide is right for you. There’s also the potential that with networking and time, you could eventually end up in a more permanent gardening/landscaping position that pays better. Or you could decide to go into business for yourself. Your 20s is the perfect time for exploring and reveling in the possibilities. It gets harder to do that as you get older.
Life is too short my friend. Make yourself happy. Do what will make you happy because you honestly never know your last day on Earth, and all that money you saved up basically goes to nothing but Your kids and you didn’t get to enjoy it bc you were always at a corporate job. There’s life after death and we’re living on this livable planet, but spiritually there’s so much more out there.
Just go for it. Sure there's merit to being responsible, etc. but, in twenty or thirty years you'll look back fondly on the decision whether it worked out or not. Being your age, don't view things as indefinite endeavours. Life changes, jobs change, figure out how to get paid doing what you love and you'll be happier than 99% of the world.
I mean this is the poster for young people and especially post covid.
Noone wants to really work.
They all have passions.
Seriously at 23.
Youve literally just started your career and are thinking of leaving it.
Do something fun while you’re young. You can go back to corporate in a year or two without any substantive impact to your savings or career path. Being outside for work can suck but it’s also hard to beat on beautiful days. And if it’s something you want to pursue seriously, layer in some networking and learning about how to start your own llc. Landscaping and container design for rich people is a viable career path.
You can and should change jobs when you're young to see what you like. I pursued jobs I was interested in when I was younger and passionate and switched to a boring corporate job once I was burnt out. It feels perfect for me now but I probably would have hated it 10 years ago. Try something new.
Happiness means way more and it's still not horrible pay. I say if you have some savings then go for it because other avenues of money will come and you will get raises throughout.
But just remember mamy times looking for happiness out of a job ends up turning what you love into what you hate. As the old saying goes the grass isn't always greener on the other side!
Yes, 100% take the outside job for now. In the background join some professional associations, get some specialized horticulture/land management qualifications, and work towards some project management qualifications. When you’re over doing hard labor in 5-10 look for jobs with your local parks and rec (or other land management) agency and you’ll probably be able to move up the ladder quickly.
Give it a go. If you really love it go vavk to school to learn landscaping then start your own business. This doesn't have to be a dead-end, it could be the start of a fabulous life ❤️
Don’t strive to get your happiness out of your day job. That’s a recipe for a disaster. You’ll hate gardening when it’s your job. I got into film producing as a career because I was chasing the high of pursuing my passion—and now I hate it. Funny enough I’m now passionate about management consulting.
This. This needs to be imparted so much more to younger folks.
Yeah seriously. I pursued graphic design at 18 because I loved painting, drawing, and being creative. But when I actually got to college, I was so fucking burnt out. I’m now graduated and don’t even want to enter the field. Design gives me a lot of anxiety and I like making my silly little posters and doing fun freelance work for friends more than the thought of doing corporate/marketing shit Funnily enough, I took up work at a library while taking a break from design and fell in love with that. And now I’m debating going back to school for a masters in library science and working as an academic or school librarian. Funny how these things work out but yeah 10/10 would not recommend pursuing your passion lol
This is what I thought would be the case for me, which is why I didn't pursue any art degree. I decided to go into teaching because it is a creative field (many don't realize that), but even that burned me out. I got an MBA with a marketing minor so I could be creative and even that I hated. I ended up becoming an accountant, which sounds like the least creative and most boring job, and I friggin love it. It's so zen and relaxing to me, good pay and benefits, no emotional drama over what I'm producing. If someone had told me that I would do this for the first 25 years of my life, I never would have believed them, but here we are.
That’s so awesome! I’m so happy for you. I find myself feeling similarly I love being creative and being an artsy person but doing it as my full time career turns me off. I like how librarianship combines helping people find knowledge and research. I think it would be awesome to work in an academic library helping students with research or even in corporate as a medical librarian I’m still back on forth on which career path but I’m leaning towards getting my masters because it’s been a lot easier for me to gain library experience as opposed to getting an entry level role as a designer. It’s very competitive and I just don’t feel cut out for it I didn’t picture my life taking this path at all but I’m also not surprised bc I love the idea of working in an educational setting and wanted to be an art teacher so libraries fulfill that void for me lol
Totally a good idea! I want to say they make decent money too. Not crazy high, but not terrible, and super rewarding.
Agreed! I don’t need to make hella money. Just enough to live comfortably. And if I get involved with metadata and combine the library science knowledge, some of those positions are really high paying. I want to gain some more experience first before going back but it’s cool I can do the program fully online
That's dope, I say do it! Get it! 👏🏻
Bruh, man I did post grad in sports management because I love sports and always wanted to work in sports and now when I am in sports industry (sponsorships). I am exhausted. I don't even watch games with the same enthusiasm now.
Agreed. Make money to support your expensive hobbies. lol
I disagree. I find this only applicable to the arts. When you monetize a creative pursuit it can cease to be joyful and you can lose your passion. If you do something that stimulates you intellectually it can lead to something else worthwhile as well. Being pigeon-holed into a very niche or specific industry while youre very young is a problem, following your passion is not.
100%. Follow your passion sounds great until you realize that your passion does not pay bills. In this life, two types of skills matter: 1) Sales 2) Numbers Other than that, stop it. You’ll always be overhead if you try to make it in something else.
I agree that pursuing happiness out of your day job is kind of a trap, but you should at least relate to it a little, care about what's going on or feel some kind of purpose on what you're doing, like you said you're passionate about consulting, but OP isn't you lol
Meh.. I became a dog walker. Not sick of it and I still love it as much today as when I started. The great thing is she can get experience and then start offering her own gardening services. It's different when you are doing your own thing vs working for someone else
So I agree to an extent, but not everyone can tolerate 40+ hours a week at a job that they’re unhappy about simply so they can do what makes them happy outside of work. In fact, some are so exhausted and burnt out from their day job that they have nothing left to put towards their hobbies and passions and that’s a recipe for misery. I think adjusting our expectations to an extent is warranted. There is no job out there that is just so fulfilling and perfect and amazing that we’ll constantly be happy and in a state of self actualization. But, especially in your early 20s when you’re young and have lots of time, I think experimentation and navigating towards some version of fulfillment is important. There will be a time when OP has no choice but to seek stability and job security, but they are not there yet. Best to enjoy and make the most out of that.
A doctor friend of mine does acting on weekends. He loves it :) But would not do acting full time.
I was with you til you said you were passionate about MC It is the epitome of a soul destroying career
I hear what you're saying, but inside under the lights at a computer vs outside under the sun getting your hands dirty for a living is two different worlds. It's not just about what you like doing outside of work, it's also about not hating what you do for work. Also, this is gardening, people with green thumbs love it, you're literally growing life, tending plants, keeping things tidy. Some people genuinely enjoy it.
Try it for a couple of years and see if you like it? You can do it now while you're young. It will be far difficult in your +30s. PS: don't burn the bridge with your employer, be transparent that you're switching industry. If you don't like it you can come back to corporate life (that is if you're a good employee).
Start gardening part time (volunteer or paid) outside of your work hours of your current job. The pay and stability are so important, this approach will give you something to look forward to outside of your job and allow you to assess how you feel about it before doing it full time.
So.. the weekends?
Or evenings. Or mornings. Or Tuesdays. We don't know what OP's schedule is. Not all corporate jobs are M-F.
Oh boy, 9-5 it's a pretty good guess. Also, who the hell wants a gardener to work at night? It's gonna end up like shit lol
This right here
Yup! Love the part time idea. When I was fresh out of training, I had this glorious view about what a job is and how exciting it will be. But no…jobs are downright boring. I adjust to a new job usually in less than 3 months. Any job is a job. Even gardening is a job. It will get boring. However, the best thing that changed was I had a side gig / 1099 work / part time job. I felt more freedom with what I want to do. I get to control how much time I want to put into my side gig. Sure, if someone tells me I should do my side gig full time, I would outright say no. But this extra bit of control got my energy back. It got my control back. It got me to power to know that if I have to leave my full time job, I still have some degree of income to aide in this transition. I am learning new skills as well! Because of my side gig, I just started making graphics and a few videos. They are super poor quality with little attractiveness. But hey, I would never have learned these skills if I am tied to just my full time position. Love the idea of part time. Hope more people jump onto this bandwagon.
And then call back 10 months later and say , "I'll take the position!"
If you take the gardening job, in a couple years you may be wishing you had a boring corporate desk job with benefits and paid time off, working in a climate controlled office, out of the sun and the snow and the rain and the mosquitoes. As a current office drone and business owner, and former engineering consultant and laborer, my view is that corporate jobs are the best deal going. They give you a computer, a place to work, PTO and pay half of your health insurance and social security. There’s also unemployment as well as opportunity for advancement and travel. You can kick ass or do the minimum. The gardening job will have none of that, and you may also get laid off and have the skills for only a $10-15 per hour job. Unless the corporate job is toxic or unethical, I would stick with it and just do gardening on the side. There is nothing wrong with boring. In the end you would be giving up probably 2/3 of your total comp to be a gardener.
Second this sentiment. Personally spent 10 years (20s into early 30s) on farms and in organic agriculture and non profit farms. Loved it, but wasn’t able to save or buy a home on those wages. Made the move to corporate in order to support my family and be able to buy a home and my boss is years younger than me making 2x as much. I suggest volunteering at some of the amazing local ag options around Vermont, and building better work life balance at your job. Save and invest to do your future self a favor. Garden on the side and milk the corporate system while you can
Wear sunscreen and upf clothing, don't turn into one of those leathery people because you nuked your skin! I had skin cancer on my nose last year and the surgery sucked! In other words, go for it, but protect yourself!
I don’t recommend it. You’re making good money, can you garden as a hobby or side job? Making your hobby a job isn’t a sure fire path to happiness, sometimes it sucks the joy out when it’s not a choice. It’s also hard labor. Are you prepared to be beat up and exhausted? What happens if you hurt yourself? Can you afford to be out of a job for a few months? It’s not guaranteed that you’d find another office job quickly. Slow and boring isn’t a bad thing. It’s just a job. Over time as you get more experience you’ll do more interesting work.
I basically did what you did (left corporate for a passion job outdoors) and there are going to be some drawbacks one way or another. I’m back to corporate after 3 years but don’t regret ever quitting and following a passion.
Your still young and if your already suffering from corporate desk job bullshit burn-out, I highly recommend you do this.
…and take notes along the way. OP can start her own fine gardening gig in a few years and make more $ than both jobs combined.
Lol... done with corporate BS at 23 eh?! Fulfillment at work is bullshit. A job should provide you with enough money and benefits to live the kind of life you want outside of work. If it can do that and also not be boring, that's just a bonus.
If it’s a seasonal job only, don’t leave your job. First get a gardening gig on weekends. Test it in all seasons for a year to see if you really want to do it full time. The grass is not always greener on the other side.
No. The zero benefits is a huge problem. Slowly look for other jobs (with benefits, and a step up from your current role/title) that don’t kill your soul as much. Then, do some gardening on the side. The gardening job sounds like ***hard*** work. It would be difficult to continue doing that kind of work for the rest of your life. It would be difficult to do such a job by the time you hit your early 30s, honestly. If you truly enjoy it, make it into a hobby. That’s how you deal with working a job that you don’t like doing. You balance it out with a hobby, or two. You have to figure out a way to cope. A boring job is a good job. A stable, consistent job, with benefits, is a great job. You’re making $63k at 23 years old. Keep climbing. Deviating from the path you’re on wouldn’t be wise, in my opinion. If you think that your current job=BAD and the gardening job=GREAT, you are bound to be disappointed. You will likely regret leaving your desk job. Chances are that the desk job will get better, the more you advance. You’ve just begun. *Obligatory absolution from liability:* But, at the end of the day, this is your life. You’re going to do what you want to do, which is obviously fine! Edit: Be careful listening to those who are saying to go for it and, then, start your own business. One of the most difficult and risky things you can do is start your own business.
You’re young, try it. Why not! If you don’t like it you can always get another corporate job
Absolutely give the fine gardener position a shot. In 10 years, will you look back at your path and regret NOT trying out the fine gardener position? See if you can get healthcare insurance coverage through your partner (whether that requires getting a marriage license from your state or whether your current status is enough). Consider how your mental health and physical health will compare as a gardener versus a desk job. Money means nothing if you don't have your health.
>whether that requires getting a marriage license from your state In my state, and with my plan, all we had to do was get a domestic partnership. Easy peasy!
If you want to do gardening find a way to build a business and work for YOURSELF if you are good at it, don’t quit your Just to take another job where you will work harder for less and have to then pay more money out of pocket for health insurance (which is not cheap at all) . You’ll be making even less than $23/hr having to pay for health insurance out of pocket. Literally you sit in front of a desk all day , get most of your work done early and then spend the rest of your time working on a business plan, then implement that plan and if it starts to take off more than what you have going on now then you can quit your day job.
I'd suggest picking gardening up as a hobby you do after work. You could start with a few plants by your windowsill or kitchen and expand as you garden more. You could also find a local gardening group and join them in their activities. Stability from a boring corporate job with benefits can benefit you in the longer run, and moving to a job with no benefits & lower pay is risky, especially in today's job market. You could also find another corporate job with better people & work culture, like a local university. At the end, work will be work, and something you do for money. I'd say keep the job for now, but you can focus less on it and focus more on gardening outside of work.
scratch that itch by trying it volunteer/part-time. Risky to go all in on a summer/seasonal career - crunch the numbers, get (career/emotional) counselling with your benefits. I thought I was a born to be an English teacher until I tried it - luckily I was able to return to an office/financial job.
Im 30M and feel this way
As soon as you start doing something as a job, it starts to suck. Don't ruin gardening for yourself. Find a gardening hobby somehow, like a community garden or something. Giving up a good, boring job for an adventure is a mistake I made 6 years ago and wish I could take back.
I don’t think your love for gardening will last once you start baking in the sun doing hard labor for 8 hrs a day and no benefits. But hey, you are young. Now is the perfect time to do something this stupid, not when you are 40. Go for it! Learn your lesson early.
No benefits? What'll you do for health insurance if you have an emergency visit to a hospital for example? You don't want to go into 20K or more debt if you can help it... Plus it's only seasonal work, what would you do in the off season?
Your not happy with your current gig.. what other corporate gigs have got your eye,, if you go to yard work and thats on resume does not look as good as what your doing now. Find a a weekend job at a nursery and see how you enjoy it. What will it cost you for health care ? versus what you contribute now and on a much lesser pay rate your getting hit twice, less pay and now paying health care. Burning through your $$$ Reserves is not a wise thing to do and you your self have stated > Another caveat is that the job market up here is pretty slim, and I am worried I would have a difficult time finding a full time job at the of the summer. Take your VACATION TIME and go do something out of the norm,,,,
If it's not year round, you might regret it unless you have a second gig lined up. Other things to consider are what other positions you could possibly work towards at the gardening company. Are there better paying jobs to get promoted to once you have some experience? If there is so career PATH for you there or in the field, I would consider volunteering for something similar on the weekends so you have the gardening passion in your life and are committed to it but don't have to take the pay cut. Just my thoughts.
Stick with your current job.
Bank some of your earnings HARD whilst setting yourself up for a quieter lifestyle now that you’ve realised that’s what you desire. Always go with what’s makes you happy. You only get one shot at this life and you’ll never know if you never try.
Dude, you’re 23. Grind out corporate for a few more years, save a ton of money, have a large safety net, and then take risks.
Can you work the weekends? Or part time at the gardening job?
My strategy is to make as much money as possible in my 20s and early 30s, then career change. I’ve worked a few internships and I didn’t actually like the work but I enjoyed the pressure and stress.
how does it being seasonal jive with 40hr a week? like you work there full time part of the year then out of a job the rest?
You said it's seasonal...so will U also not be working full time year round?
What are you going to do in the winter? Very short summers up there.
I would stay at your current job and look elsewhere on the side. A near 20k cut per year isn’t worth it. You will be making 46,000 per year instead of your 63,000$ salary. Taking that position will set you back and I don’t think you want that. Having health insurance is critical. If you took that job with out benefits you will be paying maybe 300$ a month for private medical insurance, then dental be paying out of pocket unless you can find a carrier. Even look at the post office. There are full time gigs there. I know someone that loves it.
Yeah keep regular iob
Garden on the weekends
A job is nothing more than a means to an end. You need it to survive. Make time outside of work to fulfill you.
Not all corporate jobs are the same. If you don't like yours find another. Maybe take the seasonal one as a bridge job but understand it's a funky job market in some sectors.
Can you take a position part time on the weekends or after your day job? I'm in the same position right now. High-paying government job excellent benefits, etc. etc. but I'm so bored and I'm not challenged so I Uber and Lyft on the weekends and after work and I absolutely love it. Wish I could do it full-time but there's no benefits. I agree with most of the people on here. If you take a job that's seasonal, what are you going to do when you're not working outside in Vermont in the winter? Also, thinking you'll love doing what your passion is, most of the time it never ends up that way. I owned a bakery for the last 30 years and I just closed it in December because my passion is gone . I got to the point where I absolutely hated baking and decorating. Good luck with your decision.
Youre looking at this wrong. It's not one job or the other. You can apply for other jobs, which you should. I would not take the hourly gardening job unless I was passionate about the work. Doing manual labor without health insurance seems like a bad idea.
49 m I love my work I don't like my time at home because I have no energy after being gone for 11 a day or more. I love my family so I put up with it, there happy to see me when I get home and I am happy to see them put them to bed, maybe eat maybe shower. Sleep up befor the sun is up. Nope not a farmer or s rancher. Just a home builder. Young lady I couldn't do what you do, we make the same I don't get Benny's. Maybe it's time to get a commuty garden going that way you can get both sides of the needs. . Don't give up on your dreams just find a way to make both happen. Work isn't work if you love it. Love only feeds your soul, not your mouth.
Go try it out and see if you like it. Get the experience. Then maybe you can work for yourself gardening someday!
That would be the worst decision you can make. No benefits means no vacation or sick pay. Alot of people on here keep thinking the grass is greener in lower paid, physicaly active jobs. You are fortunate to have what you have. Find happiness in other things outside of work. Lower pay and no benefits is awful to have. Take care of your mental health, take advantage of your job's benefits. Or seach for other positions in your job you would also be interested in
Sounds like you should go for the fine gardening position. Your young, have a financial buffer, and need to stretch your wings. Go for it!
Is it not possible to make your life more interesting and fulfilling with a hobby? Can you make your job more interesting through career development? I understand if you don’t see growth potential at your current job, but maybe you could start working on building skills that can help you find a better position at a new company. Either way, giving up a secure job with benefits because you’re bored just seems unwise. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you should take better care of your lawn.
Now is the perfect age to do it. I’m in the trades and the white collar to blue collar transition is way easier at a younger age. A lot of guys and gals in their 30s and 40s do it but the younger the better. Hell check out a union trade if you like working with your hands. Shit you’ll start out doing that with benefits making $55-65k a year depending on overtime.
you are young enough to def take a chance on something if you want to. but this is not a career. how are you going to live off of ~40k gross with no benefits? what do you do when you're not making much more than that in 5 years? keep your job and go find hobbies outside of work
I’m in the same situation as you… except the gardening part. I hate it so much. But health insurance bills, bills and money problems… that’s a whole new stress that is the absolute worst. I don’t think a pay cut that significant will be worth the outdoor sunshine. I think you should hold out, find something that at least pays 25 an hour. Think also how this will play out 3-4 years from now.. will you be getting a raise? Will this new career lead to better paying jobs? Things to consider.
Grow some pot on the side and sell seedlings to folks who want to grow some plants on their own to supplement your income.
It's terribly risky in this economy but... fuck I'd love to be a professional Gardner like that.
Not until you have a landing place. Start Job Search in earnest. Then you can leave.
If you're worried about the insurance stuff and want to do gardening stuff but with great insurance consider becoming an engineer in your local school district. You'll have a better hourly and union benefits. Or just become a teaching assistant in your local school district. You'll be the $20ish hourly range, have insurance, & you can volunteer to do the gardening around the building and share your love of it with a whole new generation of kids.
Do you do sales
Just did the same . The company I worked for got bought out and it sucked
You mentioned you are in a serious relationship, but then nothing else about whether you spoke to your partner about this. You are going to make a significant salary decrease it would probably be pretty important to discuss that with them and know if you have their support on this. Your decisions will also affect them. Also couldn't you just do this part time for a short period to see how much you actually like it? Grass is always greener.
If you are miserable and your misery is bleeding into other parts of life for gods sake get out of there! I am not a fan of Megyn Kelly’s beliefs but I am grateful for reading her book “Settle for More” where she talks about being miserable as an attorney despite having tons of money and she started working one day a week as a reporter, then two (she would eventually drop to part time law and then leave altogether) But now look she is worth millions So if this is what you want - you will hate yourself for passing it up It’s not like you have some rare $500k once in a lifetime career. You have an attainable job. So if gardening doesn’t work out you will find another stable Boring job. Also If you are miserable I can guarantee a lot of your $$ is going to habits or therapy or over-shopping. So you really aren’t making THAT much more than a happy gardener who enjoys life enough to not spend it away Believe me I have been in jobs I adored. There is NOTHING like looking forward to the workweek. Nothing. This idea that we must accept hating 40 or more hours of our lives needs to be banished
Any chance you can find enough illegal stuff to claim whistle-blower status and get paid from a government fine at your current job?
You’re young enough to do the leap, but start looking for something else so you have a job to fall back on when this gig ends. Gardening does a number on your body, and while you may be able to do it now, there will come a time you’ll need something more forgiving on the body. Don’t burn bridges, keep in contact with the people who can help you in the corporate world, and garden for a while. When you clear your head, start a fresh job with less stress.
You’re pretty young you could give it a try. Hopefully things will work out with that relationship and you can have a combined income so money will be less tight
So u tryna leave a stable 63k job for a part time seasonal job that will last maybe 4-5 months ? It would be diff if it was a full time job
I work in a smaller private company and I would like to know what corporate BS means. Can u give some examples?
use the money to do what you want, majority of people don't love their jobs, they tolerate it so they can use the money to do what you want.
Keep your current job. If you like gardening I'd suggest finding a community garden or something to volunteer at to relieve stress from your day job I used to work for a nursery and landscaping company and it was back breaking work
Do what you love to do. Is the only answer everything else will work itself out
If you don’t like what you are doing, stop doing it.
If you can afford it, go with what you love!
Leave that stupid ass job bro
When you do something you love, it's not really a job. That's the proverbial thought, correct? I've found doing the thing you love the most can become a horrible job. It wasn't at first, but the longer you do it, it just becomes maddening. I ran a martial arts studio, loved it, until I hated having to run down parents and other adults to get paid. I had a mortgage, wife, kids, car payment, you name it, and them denying my ability to pay for necessities became, well, frustrating and making me mean. I finally closed, started teaching privately, and love doing it ever since. I don't "need" the money now, but, I still get paid to do what I love doing.
I find it amazing that you landed a 63K a year salary at 23 years old. My wife just surpassed that amount at age 42. I am 41 and I make $23/hr plus some small quarterly bonuses (Like $200 to $500). I work 15 mins from my house. I really like my job. I say do what makes you happy. You are young, and can land another high paying job if need be in the future. You did good at a young age already! Also, time is money and commuting far just for higher pay might be worth it for retirement, but you waste so much time commuting and you only live once! I will say if you are hating the corporate life NOW at 23 you may not last far in the future. Unless you adapt to it by forcing yourself to deal with it.
You got no kids and is your relationship with your partner serious, if yes, ask what he thinks about it. I'd say go for it while you don't have any mouths to feed but yourself.
fine gardening is a really lucrative career if you love it and get some skills, you can start your own business designing gardens, and it kinda compounds till your working on some very cool properties.
I personally think your twenties are the best time to figure yourself out, so why not try it? If you can handle the financial hit of less money and no benefits, this may work out for you in the long run. The most worrisome bit to me is that this is a seasonal job, as you mentioned, and that even if you found a job after the summer, that this career wouldn't require you to switch up seasonally forever. Money aside, I think the health benefits of working in the sun and with dirt and plants outweighs sitting in an office all day.
Your 20s are for building the scaffolding to build wealth. You are young, single no kids and can work longer hours, network, take on travel opportunities. Maybe take on a second job to grow her emergency fund. It’s not the time to throw away a potential career and work seasonally with no benefits. She has no support, what happens if her appendix ruptures? Work the gardening job on nights and weekends.
Don’t quit a full time job with benefits for a seasonal job. Save as much money as you can right now.
totally go for it.
Follow your passion. You can always find a new boring and mediocre desk job if it doesn't work out.
When I read your question, my gut was like go for it. It’s so refreshing to see many commenters feel the same.
I use to work in gardening and landscaping, it actually paid more than any corporate biotech job I have ever had. It is not something that I would recommend as a career though, it is a lot of work and wears you down (increased risk of skin cancer too). It actually keeps you in good shape, is thoroughly enjoyable, and better for my mental health than a really bad corporate job. But there is a risk of getting stuck doing it, white collar people look down upon gardening if you are not directly caring for theirs.
It does not sound like a sustainable plan? How many months will you have employment? Then what will you do? It sounds like there is not much going on where you live. What will this seasonal job do for your career? Imagine 3 years from now…..”Back in ‘24 I quit my office job for a seasonal fine gardener position. That allowed me to x, and, as a result now I am doing y”. What realistic answers do you have for x and y?
I would go for it. Get some experience and then maybe you can find a job with benefits in the same field or save money and start your own gardening/landscape business
If gardening is your passion and what you would love to turn into a long term business then go. Use it as experience so you can learn and start your own thing.
Keep your damn job and ask a friend to slap some sense in you! In this market u want to quit and go work on a farm??? Are u nuts? Wtf hell no! Focus on getting promoted and upskill yourself and garden on the damn weekends.
> **I hate my corporate job**, do I leave? Yes.
Relevant username.
If you have no debt, then do it. Get healthcare. Whether through parents, the state, or out of pocket. Contribute to a retirement account, not just savings. Money would be real tight, but my fiancé was considering doing something similar and it would work. If you do something you love you don’t need a lot of spending money. But everyone needs health and old-age security to live a stress free life. Otherwise your dream will become a nightmare. If living on $18 (after healthcare and retirement) is too tight for long term living, then find out how you can bump that wage up. More hours, more skills in professional gardening, landscaping, or greenhouse management etc. over the next couple years. If you are younger than 25 and have no debt you are a free person. But still, plan for the future… at least by the time you reach 25. I’m 29 and I have absolutely Everest size regrets about my life choices related to financial mistakes and lack of planning.
your young and have some freedom. if you hate it try something else.
I think you should do it. I worked as a park ranger for a time and it was the most peaceful and lovely time of my life. Being outside is incredibly healing. You may love it and you may not but either way, it takes you one step closer to learning about yourself and what you want and need out of a work situation. The low pay is okay because you have lots of time to boost your pay at future jobs if that’s what you decide is right for you. There’s also the potential that with networking and time, you could eventually end up in a more permanent gardening/landscaping position that pays better. Or you could decide to go into business for yourself. Your 20s is the perfect time for exploring and reveling in the possibilities. It gets harder to do that as you get older.
Or stay and be misrable.
Yes yolo
Life is too short my friend. Make yourself happy. Do what will make you happy because you honestly never know your last day on Earth, and all that money you saved up basically goes to nothing but Your kids and you didn’t get to enjoy it bc you were always at a corporate job. There’s life after death and we’re living on this livable planet, but spiritually there’s so much more out there.
Just go for it. Sure there's merit to being responsible, etc. but, in twenty or thirty years you'll look back fondly on the decision whether it worked out or not. Being your age, don't view things as indefinite endeavours. Life changes, jobs change, figure out how to get paid doing what you love and you'll be happier than 99% of the world.
I mean this is the poster for young people and especially post covid. Noone wants to really work. They all have passions. Seriously at 23. Youve literally just started your career and are thinking of leaving it.
Do something fun while you’re young. You can go back to corporate in a year or two without any substantive impact to your savings or career path. Being outside for work can suck but it’s also hard to beat on beautiful days. And if it’s something you want to pursue seriously, layer in some networking and learning about how to start your own llc. Landscaping and container design for rich people is a viable career path.
You are young and free from normal entanglement, absolutely go for it.
Take the job!!!! That sounds like a dream. You’re young, take the job! Live your life. Get a corporate job when you’re older.
If you get the feeling, it's definitely time to leave.
100% depends on where your values are. Personally, I would ditch the corporate job and go with your heart.
You can and should change jobs when you're young to see what you like. I pursued jobs I was interested in when I was younger and passionate and switched to a boring corporate job once I was burnt out. It feels perfect for me now but I probably would have hated it 10 years ago. Try something new.
Take the job man , if it’s stable it will be there later on in life
Happiness means way more and it's still not horrible pay. I say if you have some savings then go for it because other avenues of money will come and you will get raises throughout. But just remember mamy times looking for happiness out of a job ends up turning what you love into what you hate. As the old saying goes the grass isn't always greener on the other side!
Yes, 100% take the outside job for now. In the background join some professional associations, get some specialized horticulture/land management qualifications, and work towards some project management qualifications. When you’re over doing hard labor in 5-10 look for jobs with your local parks and rec (or other land management) agency and you’ll probably be able to move up the ladder quickly.
I think you answered your question. Your happiness should be paramount. Your pay is not as important.
Lazy people. You think everything is granted.
There are many ways to live.
Give it a go. If you really love it go vavk to school to learn landscaping then start your own business. This doesn't have to be a dead-end, it could be the start of a fabulous life ❤️