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Missing Out
Dear Dave,
I’ve only got a high school education, and I’m stuck in a dead-end job. I’ve always been a hard worker,
so the 70-hour weeks don’t bother me. However, I do miss getting to spend time with my kids. I feel like I’
m missing out on their lives. Do you have any advice on how to change my situation?
Scott
Dear Scott,
I think you’ve already solved a lot of the problem by realizing that you’re like a mouse stuck in a wheel. You
know you’re not getting anywhere, and you’re ready for things to change. Identifying the problem is a huge
step in solving the problem.
Now, mechanically and logistically, how do you make the change when you’re handcuffed to a job that works
you 70 hours a week? You’ve got a family to feed, so you can’t just quit your job. But you can talk to your
boss, and see if the company will back down on your hours a little bit. Let them know what’s happening with
your family, and that you’d like to take some classes and improve yourself and your value in the workplace.
But before you do any of that, you’ve got to have a definite direction in mind. The idea of making more money
and working less isn’t the answer. You need an in-depth, detailed game plan for where you want to be in the
next three to five years and how to get there. It may involve going back to school for some classes, or even
getting a full-blown degree. If you identify your long-term goal in detail, it will lead you to some of the short-
term goals that will help you arrive at your final destination.
The best book I’ve ever read on this kind of thing is 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller. He’s my all-
time favorite career coach. He’ll lay out the steps to discovering what it is you really love to do and how to get
there.
God bless you, Scott!
—Dave
* Don't miss Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover LIVE! event – simulcasting at host locations throughout
the country on September 19 from Atlanta. For more information visit www.daveramsey.com.
*For more financial advice, plus special offers to our readers, please visit www.davesays.org.
I’ve only got a high school education, and I’m stuck in a dead-end job. I’ve always been a hard worker,
so the 70-hour weeks don’t bother me. However, I do miss getting to spend time with my kids. I feel like I’
m missing out on their lives. Do you have any advice on how to change my situation?
Scott
Dear Scott,
I think you’ve already solved a lot of the problem by realizing that you’re like a mouse stuck in a wheel. You
know you’re not getting anywhere, and you’re ready for things to change. Identifying the problem is a huge
step in solving the problem.
Now, mechanically and logistically, how do you make the change when you’re handcuffed to a job that works
you 70 hours a week? You’ve got a family to feed, so you can’t just quit your job. But you can talk to your
boss, and see if the company will back down on your hours a little bit. Let them know what’s happening with
your family, and that you’d like to take some classes and improve yourself and your value in the workplace.
But before you do any of that, you’ve got to have a definite direction in mind. The idea of making more money
and working less isn’t the answer. You need an in-depth, detailed game plan for where you want to be in the
next three to five years and how to get there. It may involve going back to school for some classes, or even
getting a full-blown degree. If you identify your long-term goal in detail, it will lead you to some of the short-
term goals that will help you arrive at your final destination.
The best book I’ve ever read on this kind of thing is 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller. He’s my all-
time favorite career coach. He’ll lay out the steps to discovering what it is you really love to do and how to get
there.
God bless you, Scott!
—Dave
* Don't miss Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover LIVE! event – simulcasting at host locations throughout
the country on September 19 from Atlanta. For more information visit www.daveramsey.com.
*For more financial advice, plus special offers to our readers, please visit www.davesays.org.
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Dave Says
