<p>Prestige? What about POTUS? But, not my child…please!</p>
<p>starbright - I love 40% of my job (the actual work) and I don’t like the other 60%, which is politic and general headach of managing people. My work takes up at least 60 hrs a week and that’s before 3 hrs/day for commute. I am currently on a treadmill now I can’t seem to get off. I am going to take on an overseas assignment soon, after that I am going to find a way of slowing down the treadmill and then jumping off it. When I get off the treadmill, I will open up a yarn shop.</p>
<p>I see more and more people leaning toward careers that serve a creative/spiritual need- knitting and crafts would fall in that category, catering or running a food shop, anything to do with plants- music… children, something that speaks to a deep need can be very satisfying and to me that is the " most" prestigious because you are listening to your soul, not to the impression you may make on others.</p>
<p>I don’t think anything could make me feel prouder of my son than I already do. For his being the wonderful person he is. What I want most, and what would make me happiest, is if he finds a career, and a job, that he loves, one where he looks forward to going to work every day. Whatever it is.</p>
<p>And, of course, I’d be overjoyed if he becomes a parent someday. Because he’ll be a wonderful father, and he deserves (if he wants it) the chance to have that in his life. (Plus, I’d get to be a grandma. The greatest remaining ambition in my life!)</p>
<p>In my husband’s line of work, the heavier the equipment, the higher the pay and the prestige. His career has always carried a good amount of prestige not so much because of the pay but because it has glamour attached to it. He graduated from a state school ROTC, joined the navy and left to become an airline captain.
The industry is bleeding, his company has labor problems but he loves what he does. He loves flying, loves going to work, loves the responsibility and the preparation and training.</p>
<p>What’s prestige compared to going to work everyday for 35 years and loving what you do? That’s what I want for my student.</p>
<p>SoozieVT wrote:
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<p>SoozieVt, Aside from technical practice to post a quote-inside-a-quote, I wanted to revisit this idea, in case our conversation helps shed light on other posters’ thoughts as well. Some of this thread is currently working through the intrinsic-vs.-extrinsic motivation discussing other fields as well. </p>
<p>Truly I couldn’t find the right word there for performing artists. Trying to move off of “prestige” I proposed the word “fame” after toying with other motivators for artists, such as: wide audience, critical praise, body of work. And some folks do start out in performing wanting public attention and fame (cough, “American Idol”) without much training or dues-paying early in their performing careers. </p>
<p>My kids I imagine are akin to yours, SV. Mine work towards self-set artisitic goals, developing and deepening their craft, attending to the quality of the venues and ensembles. The 2 college grads have passed the hurdle of being paid for their work. Where they go, eventually, in fortune or fame is impossible to predict, and not their daily preoccupation. Other parents ask me about it, e.g., can they make a living at that? because there are so many levels at which people call themselves an actor, musician or dancer. </p>
<p>These days, my kids are sounding like enterpreneurs. Even according to the IRS they are independent contractors. They are attentive to quality and also have to go out and keep getting new contracts all the time. Their deepest hope is to be able to continue earning their living by doing their passion. I’m hopeful for them.</p>