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Ali Spittel
Ali Spittel

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What do you want to be when you grow up?

Top comments (77)

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georgecoldham profile image
George • Edited

I want to be working for passion, not for survival.

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claudiobernasconi profile image
Claudio Bernasconi

I am with you. I have a great job, a big enough salary, flexible schedule, yet I want to do something that is truly mine and that I am 100% in charge. It is unique to me, but this is what makes it a passion for me.

Everyone should have the gut to express their personal view of success.

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georgecoldham profile image
George

Honestly, my realistic dream is to own a house in an area I like with a dog(s) and family. Ideally working 2/3days a week optionally remotely with all major expenses paid off.

I want to have the time and money to be able to follow my interests. And if I have to still work a bit to get that, then fine.

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alexantra profile image
Alex Antra

This resonates too deeply

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brob profile image
Bryan Robinson

I want to be educating people on the topics I care most about.

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aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

this this this this this

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peterwitham profile image
Peter Witham

We need so many people thinking this way around the World on every topic that affects future generations.

Amen.

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tamouse profile image
Tamara Temple

don't wait, begin now

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brob profile image
Bryan Robinson

That’s the plan! Writing articles; making videos; released my first course early this year :D

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mortoray profile image
edA‑qa mort‑ora‑y

I want to be what I am now...

...but perhaps making enough money to survive. :)

To summarize, I'm a writer, programmer, cook, interviewer, poet, musician, masseur, coach, speaker, and more. I've got a million projects on the go at all times. I traded stability for chaos, and I love it, except for the financial part now.

I don't mix with grown up careers well. :)

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aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

That is so freaking cool -- sounds like a dream to be able to combine all of your interests! I'm sure you'll figure out the income part -- you are so talented at so much!

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remondev profile image
Remon

Really
How can one be all this things

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mortoray profile image
edA‑qa mort‑ora‑y

You try to juggle. Many things will fall and break. But you keep adding more. Eventually some things will stay in the air.

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laurieontech profile image
Laurie

I want to be a person who is present for the ones that I love. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. There are so many elements to that goal: health, financial stability, work-life balance, etc.

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murtezayesil profile image
Ali Murteza Yesil

I also want to be who I am suppose to be. Though my description of "who I suppose to be" is different from what people expect of me.
I want to be close to my family, friends and who I see important.

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bertilmuth profile image
Bertil Muth

I can relate to that very much. And it’s not easy to balance the factors, I feel.

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ben profile image
Ben Halpern

To point to a semi-fictional archetype I would be happy to aspire to:

Brad Pitt's character in The Big Short.

This is probably odd because it is really a sad story full of sad people and Pitt's character may be the most honestly sad of all (sad in terms of emotions).

Hopefully I can accomplish this while staying happy and optimistic, but that character really understood how the world worked, he lived in a beautiful mountainous location and was there for mentees when they needed him (even if he was a bit grumpy along the way).

When designing my situation, I think about that character. I can tell I am going in that direction and I hope I can continue to achieve the good parts of that situation.

Along these lines, I really appreciated this post:

We humans must find a certain contentment in whatever situation we find ourselves in, but in terms of situations to position one's self to be in. This is my line of thinking. 🙂

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yaser profile image
Yaser Al-Najjar

Loved that article, really thoughtful... Thanks Ben!

Would you mind sharing the results of the last six months of your experience after commenting on the article?

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panditapan profile image
Pandita

When I was around 12-13 I always imagined myself at 25 with my own apartment, at the pool with a margarita. I'm 26 and I don't have any of that ; ----;

But I still want to grow up into that image, but with the added bonus that the pool and apartment are in my personal island. B3

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ssimontis profile image
Scott Simontis

I'm about to turn 28 and am in same position...no house, credit is a dumpster fire (but have a subprime auto loan on a badass sports car!) and I'm watching all my friends get married and settle down with kids and I am nowhere near any of that...I just keep hoping one of my random startup ideas finally pans out and I can sell out and live a more stable life...maybe next year

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sandeepbalachandran profile image
Sandeep Balachandran

I just wanna simply sit somewhere watching my family having fun

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vgrovestine profile image
Vincent Grovestine

What did I want to be (before the harsh realities of life)?

...A meteorologist. (Damn you university calculus for crushing the dream!)

Today, what do I want to be when I "grow up" (aka retire)?

I'd like to buy a mini-excavator and dig holes for pocket money! :)

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peterwitham profile image
Peter Witham

I love this idea, maybe call it 'caffeine commit'

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letmypeoplecode profile image
Greg Bulmash 🥑

Idris Elba

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therealkhitty profile image
Mary Thompson

lmao XD

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gabriela profile image
Gabi

I want to enjoy a more balanced life and have more saying in what i put my time and energy into. That means, being part of a team that creates and sustains something actually useful and having my free time and enjoying life more.

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tamouse profile image
Tamara Temple

to be honest, i no longer know. i think it's because i am a grown-up. after 4+ decades at this, i figure this is what i am as an adult. i guess the next thing is to figure out what i want to do when i retire. i sure will miss this, though

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niorad profile image
Antonio Radovcic

Astronaut

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rixcy profile image
Rick Booth

A Unicorn.

Nah, I wish..

Probably either freelancing and having a month or two off a year to travel, or managing a small team of developers using the latest tech.

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jandersonconstantino profile image
Janderson Constantino

I want to be working traveling for other countries.