Wow! This is a great thread, very informative!
Should be in the collection of best threads section.
Quote from chunpng:
Quote:
Here's my solutions:
A cushy 9-5 job that pays well enough to cover all the regular expenditures, e.g. mortgage, insurance, etc. I'm an architect for a top home builder. 18 professional staffs in the entire company, $350mm annual closings. I manage my one-man department, no boss, no underlings, little deadline, no politics, zero stress. The best gig I've found so far. Believe me, my previous job was 5+years with Arthur Andersen as a tax manager. This job is the antithesis of AA&Co. A stable job sure reduces financial stress 'big time'.
In my spare time, I do custom architecture for the 'rich' in the Silicon Valley. They don't care how much they spend as long as they have the best/biggest homes. I do my most creative work here, and get to spend their money creating beautiful homes. This is a side business that I love to no end. It earns me 2+ times my regular pay. Pays for all my toys, vacations, retirement plans, and other frivolous spendings. All my clients come to me after seeing my prior work. I don't have marketing materials or a portfolio. The thing about being an architect, I don't face a techno-revolution every 6 months. My body don't wear out, so I don't have to retire at any particular age.
Once in a while, I build homes for myself and family members. Eight total so far. In the Silicon Valley, that creates a ton of equity ($8mm-$10mm).
|
chunpng,
IMHO, I think you have a near-perfect life (nothing is perfect)! I am in my first year of university, working towards becoming an architect. Your post has given me a lot of inspiration.
chunpng, you are my role-model!....no wait, your my hero!!
Btw, any more insightful tips & hints on how to be successful in the architectural field or how you got where you are now would be greatly appreciated!!
Anyways, although I am still quite young, I understand and agree with most of you that wealth cannot be gauged through one's net worth or education/career, but through an individual's self-satisfaction, by doing what they love (some call this work), and by who you surround yourself with (friends, family, associates,etc.). However, there's no deny that financial stability is very benefical, as it offers us a piece of mind and is a kind of "buffer zone". It's so unfortunate seeing sooo many people on campus going about their studies for the sole purpose of only making money or for the sake of fufilling parents' expectations!!
Thank you for the insightful information gathered by all the board members on this thread through the many years of experience and sorry for the long post.
KC