I'm 33, married with 2 kids, and looking for a way to make a career for myself where I can use the skills I've learned to do something that I'm passionate about. I have a college degree in Radio/TV and I've worked in sales since I graduated in 2007. I've sold everything from breathalyzers, to hardware and hoses in the oilfield, to industrial chemicals. I've found success in most everything but I have not found the job that I love doing. I want to make a career change but I don't want to put my family in a financial bind. Has anyone gone through something similar? Anyone got any constructive advice? Thanks.

I sold my soul for a $20 co-pay. Most days, I wish I could just build wooden picket fences for a living. Good luck.

It is a gamble, but staying put is a gamble as well. If you already know what career you want, you are ahead of where I was at 33. Good luck

Sales it's where it's at man. I sell packaging for a manufacturer. I've been with them for 12 years and the growth has been phenomenal. Am I passionate about packaging? More than I thought I'd be but I sell customer service, packaging is just the vehicle. Sales for a good, really big, small company is what I suggest. Good luck man.

Mudshark, I hear ya man. And I'm afraid of taking the first thing that comes along that has just a little bit better pay and benefits and falling into the same trap I'm in now.

Sales jobs need no cap and unlimited room for growth. From there it's on you to understand the market and potential. If there's a cap, walk. We have sales guys that can't populate a spreadsheet clearing some serious coin.

Gixxer1k what packaging company? Some of my current customers are in the packaging industry.

The hard part about looking for a sales job is finding one with a base salary that is financially feasible for me to pay bills on. I understand that it's common practice for companies to give their salesmen lower base salaries because they will "make it up with commissions", but that's not always the case. The job I'm in now was sold to me as one thing and then when I got here the market and customer base was something completely different and I was fighting an up hill battle the whole time because the company either didn't know enough about the market and its customer base in this region or didn't care.

Sent you a pm. In the meantime if anyone needs boxes, foam or wood packaging, including cases, holler at me!

its a sacrifice, but well worth it if your heart is in it. best thing i have done for myself and my family. 4 years of tough times, though. I doubled my income, work 3 days a week, and absolutely love what I do! i get as much Overtime as I want, which comes in handy to make extra money for vacations! I do xrays and CT scans in the eastern dallas/forney areas.

Skeeter that's what I'm talking about! If I could make a living only working 3 days a week that would leave plenty of time for my family and fishing.

I gave up a lucrative career and started doing what I wanted for a change. They call it RETIREMENT.

Get into a community college or go to nursing school for 2 years, get your associates degree and become a Registered Nurse.

You can change careers at 33. It's harder to do in your 60's. Not impossible but harder.

I'm thinking of becoming a hydroponic grower.

Do it if it's what you want. I (we) did it. It's scary, very scary. But with the best woman in the world standing at my side it was all okay. Not talking job change. At 36 with 3 kids said goodbye forever to New England and what I have to admit were only jobs, moved half way across country to start a real professional career 1. 20 years later, empty nest, moved on to career 2. Lord willing I'll retire in a few years at 70 and take up new residence on the Gulf Coast. Love Oklahoma, truly think Okla is a Gift from God, but mild as it is it's just too damm cold in the winter for these old bones.

Give it all up, buy a bass boat and "Go Pro"

Fish the Bass or FLW for a couple of seasons...........