Christy

@Rebecca & Tiffany – Thanks for the kind words, you both know how much I love your blogs and respect what you are doing for your generation – I’m just glad to help!

@Christy – branching out on your own can definitely be done while holding down the 9 to 5. I actually encourage it because, while the business may not grow as quickly as you’d like, it allows you to gain insight that can help you make ‘course corrections’ to your ultimate business plan so you can be certain it’s a winner BEFORE you quit the day job. My advice on how to achieve this? Think small. I find that a lot of young professionals who want to become entrepreneurs put too much pressure on themselves to have a substantial and impressive business plan. Being an entrepreneur begins the day you provide your first ‘deliverable’ to someone. Suddenly, after a few of those, you’ve got traction – and the motivation and confidence to take bigger steps towards your goal embraces you.

@Rory – I can relate to the ‘stuck’ feelings and the fear of messing up the career path with a change. I call it the Golden Handcuff Effect, and it’s holding millions of folks back from finding greater career satisfaction. Quick advice: Lillypadding to a new career is the best way to transition without major loss of income, perks, etc. It involves applying your strongest skill sets to a job that puts you in a new field of interest, thus allowing you to gain access to a new set of contacts and job opportunities down the line. To start brainstorming jobs that would enable you to do this, be sure to check out the FREE Career Interests Game found on the alumni page of the University of Missouri’s career center site: http://www.career.missouri. edu – it is an amazing tool!

@ Neha – before you go back for the MBA, definitely consider a certificate program from one of the top b-schools instead. They are significantly cheaper, are real eye-catchers on resumes, and give you a taste of what you will be doing in school so that you can see if you want to specialize in a particular area. Plus, many companies don’t mind paying a portion or all of the expense – check with HR. They love to see employees who are thinking about becoming managers and may have a program they’d recommend as well that is in sync with the company’s management philosophies.

However, I know that I want something else and feel that by following my heart I am screwing my career forever. I really want to enter the management field and so am planning to get a MBA soon. Lucky for you that you still love to code. I already want to run away from it!