Comments on: Don’t Get Ahead, Start Ahead http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/ A premiere personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:42:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ron http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-105230 Ron Tue, 29 May 2007 13:37:15 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-105230 I think a significant point is being missed. Your biggest financial asset is your ability to make money. For sure, a balance between doing something you love and getting paid well for it is nice, but if you have to choose, go for the money. When I started my career 25 years ago, I made $11,700 per year. I stayed in my profession but I moved to places that paid better, kept my work record clean and sought promotion. Now I make $80,000 per year. As I got older, I realized that I had two choices if I wanted to be financially successful. Treat my time as if it were something someone should pay me well for in this profession or look to do something else. Ron I think a significant point is being missed. Your biggest financial asset is your ability to make money. For sure, a balance between doing something you love and getting paid well for it is nice, but if you have to choose, go for the money.

When I started my career 25 years ago, I made $11,700 per year. I stayed in my profession but I moved to places that paid better, kept my work record clean and sought promotion. Now I make $80,000 per year.

As I got older, I realized that I had two choices if I wanted to be financially successful. Treat my time as if it were something someone should pay me well for in this profession or look to do something else.

Ron

]]> By: » This Week in the Archives: Be Your Own Boss, Graduation, and The Long Tail on Consumerism Commentary: A Personal Finance Blog http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-104796 » This Week in the Archives: Be Your Own Boss, Graduation, and The Long Tail on Consumerism Commentary: A Personal Finance Blog Mon, 28 May 2007 14:56:17 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-104796 [...] May 26: Don’t Get Ahead, Start Ahead [...] [...] May 26: Don’t Get Ahead, Start Ahead [...]

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-9388 Flexo Sun, 28 May 2006 08:11:31 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-9388 A $160k straight out of undergrad is not too common, I'd have to say. Investment banking? Consulting for McKinsey with Chelsea Clinton? There aren't many corporate jobs that do that sort of thing. Statistically, anomalies like that disppear, but it's interesting to look at examples like that. A $160k straight out of undergrad is not too common, I’d have to say. Investment banking? Consulting for McKinsey with Chelsea Clinton? There aren’t many corporate jobs that do that sort of thing. Statistically, anomalies like that disppear, but it’s interesting to look at examples like that.

]]> By: Making Our Way http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-9303 Making Our Way Sun, 28 May 2006 01:36:55 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-9303 Hmm... actually, I feel your income is determined more by competency and experience. Granted a starter job in a rare skillset / specialized position may give more of a lift off. My first job out of college paid about $160k (in the early 90s). I did pretty well until I changed jobs (started a business) and saw my pay drop $100k. It took a very long time for my pay to come back to where it was. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it. Then again, the experience of starting a company is pretty invaluable. So my career look something more like a U than an upward slope. Have a great day! makingourway Hmm… actually, I feel your income is determined more by competency and experience. Granted a starter job in a rare skillset / specialized position may give more of a lift off.

My first job out of college paid about $160k (in the early 90s). I did pretty well until I changed jobs (started a business) and saw my pay drop $100k. It took a very long time for my pay to come back to where it was. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it. Then again, the experience of starting a company is pretty invaluable.

So my career look something more like a U than an upward slope.

Have a great day!
makingourway

]]> By: Ravi http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-9270 Ravi Sun, 28 May 2006 00:23:39 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-9270 Hi Flexo, This is a very nice article -- since I also felt that I'm stuck in a low paying job in a laid back organization. Hi Flexo,

This is a very nice article — since I also felt that I’m stuck in a low paying job in a laid back organization.

]]> By: Lanna http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-8361 Lanna Fri, 26 May 2006 18:07:08 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-8361 Based on my own experiences, I'm not sure I totally agree. This has been my salary in the past 4 years as a web designer... 2002 - $27,000/yr base salary at a small web development agency. 2004 - $47,000/yr base salary at Texas grocery chain. 2005 - $30/hr as a contractor at a respected financial institution (translates roughly to $57,000-$62,000/yr salary in consideration of overtime). 2006 - $65,000/yr base salary at same company as a full-time employee. So, in about four years of starting out in this profession, I have more than doubled my salary. Of course, If I had staid in the same job that I started in, I'd probably still be stuck at something like #34,000. But I was motivated in improving my work situation (in more ways than money) and sometimes the best way to do that is by getting a new job. Based on my own experiences, I’m not sure I totally agree.

This has been my salary in the past 4 years as a web designer…
2002 – $27,000/yr base salary at a small web development agency.
2004 – $47,000/yr base salary at Texas grocery chain.
2005 – $30/hr as a contractor at a respected financial institution (translates roughly to $57,000-$62,000/yr salary in consideration of overtime).
2006 – $65,000/yr base salary at same company as a full-time employee.

So, in about four years of starting out in this profession, I have more than doubled my salary. Of course, If I had staid in the same job that I started in, I’d probably still be stuck at something like #34,000. But I was motivated in improving my work situation (in more ways than money) and sometimes the best way to do that is by getting a new job.

]]> By: The Personal Finance Weblog http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-8310 The Personal Finance Weblog Fri, 26 May 2006 15:21:28 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-8310 Other Voices: Links for 5/26/06... I know your head's already off to Memorial Day weekend, but here's some reading if you can't concentrate but still have to sit there as if you're working... 1. You're getting a break on your phone bill soon -- beginning...... Other Voices: Links for 5/26/06…

I know your head's already off to Memorial Day weekend, but here's some reading if you can't concentrate but still have to sit there as if you're working… 1. You're getting a break on your phone bill soon — beginning……

]]> By: Dus10 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-8272 Dus10 Fri, 26 May 2006 14:17:01 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/05/26/dont-get-ahead-start-ahead/#comment-8272 I think that the idea is pretty sound. If you start out low and expect to gradually improve your career position, you will probably not get that far. Most people that fall into that circle are not that motivated, and they tend to expect too much for little effort... almost a sense of entitlement. During 2001/2002 I got stuck in a few low-paying jobs, and it probably kept me from earning more from 2003-2005. I have corrected that, now, I believe by leap frogging a couple of pay grades (for a lack of a better term). Now, I am just hoping to leap frog a few again to get to where I want to be in a couple of years. I think that the idea is pretty sound. If you start out low and expect to gradually improve your career position, you will probably not get that far. Most people that fall into that circle are not that motivated, and they tend to expect too much for little effort… almost a sense of entitlement.

During 2001/2002 I got stuck in a few low-paying jobs, and it probably kept me from earning more from 2003-2005. I have corrected that, now, I believe by leap frogging a couple of pay grades (for a lack of a better term). Now, I am just hoping to leap frog a few again to get to where I want to be in a couple of years.

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