Author Topic: What Future? (Read 6884 times)

crazychristina · « **on:** December 16, 2009, 16:03 »

It's a long long time since I read Alvin Toffler's Future Shock. I'm pretty sure that's where I first encountered the idea that there is no such thing as a lifelong career anymore. I think he cited that the average person would have five different careers during their lifetime. I'm on my fourth (not counting microstock which isn't at the level of a career yet for me). I must admit I'm pretty surprised at what seems to be the underlying expectation of many microstockers - that they will be still doing this in 10 - 20 years time. Seems unlikely to me.

disorderly · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2009, 16:11 »

I think the important word here is career. I also think Toffler was way off; I know plenty of people whose specific jobs have changed dramatically over the years (I'm certainly one of them) but who haven't changed the industry in which they work more than once or twice. I started out working for a computer company, and only now after thirty years am I wondering if I'll have a job in that industry again.

As for photography, it's something I played with in high school but got passionate about almost twenty-five years later thanks to my first digital camera and the Web. Shooting for stock isn't my career, nor do I expect it ever will be. Photography, on the other hand, just might. I just did my first author shoot, which may well get me a photographer credit on a New York Times bestseller, and my first children's portrait shoot, which we all survived and which I'm likely to try again.

In any event, photography's my passion. And I can easily see myself submitting to micros in ten years, assuming I'm able and they're around to accept my work. Maybe not at the same level as today, but maybe so.

Graffoto · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2009, 17:04 »

I'm with disorderly.
I have been in one industry since 1978.
With one company for 27 years.

Photography was something I grew up doing, studied in college and abandoned right after.

Digital brought me back & I fully intend to make photography my full time second career as soon as I get the rest of my ducks in a row.

cathyslife · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2009, 17:29 »

I have been in graphic design for 30+ years. It has changed drastically in the last 10 years and it wouldn't surprise me to see graphic designers turn into dinosaurs. Photography, I believe, will be around forever. The technology will change, but I think as a art form, it will always require the human element and therefore will be in demand forever. Microstock, not so sure about.

cthoman · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2009, 17:37 »

Yeah, I can't say I've ever changed careers either. I went to school for illustration and have been doing that and graphic design ever since. I've changed jobs several times, but that seems like a necessity nowadays.

lisafx · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2009, 18:00 »

Wow, you guys are in some steady careers. My husband and I have both found new careers in our 40s.

I was a waitress, then secretary, then a parallegal, then a stay-at-home mom (not sure if that one counts as a career) and now a photographer.

Hubby was a retail manager, then an electrician for 22 years, and now a teacher (of electrical theory in a technical college).

So I guess that's 4 or 5 for me already (if you count domestic goddess one

) and three for him.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2009, 18:16 »

I haven't read the book but have noticed the trend toward "mobility." Families are scattered. It takes both parents to make a living. Careers ... hmmmm. That could be a word with which many people are unfamiliar. Does it mean a JOB or is it a POSITION?

I'm sorta old. I look back on the lives of mom and dad. After farming dad went to work in the factories ... building tires. He retired from that before starting his own garage. Not sure he saw working for Firestone as a "career." We called it a JOB back then.

Maybe the book was more about that than careers. I know I've moved around a lot after retiring from a "career" in the Army. But, I learned photography as a part of that career.

Scuse my rambling ... I'm old ... unemployed. uhhhhhh retired.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2009, 21:33 »

Hi CClapper,

Then you go back to cut and paste. When computers came along and changed that great designers that stuck with cut and paste are now in retirement homes if they are lucky that or onto another career. It sounds like you have been very good at adapting. Bravo to you, I think the best thing is to stay fluid and embrace change like an old friend. Thanks for the story. I have also been in only one real career my entire life unless you count being a cable installer a career or driving a fork lift, I look at those more as jobs than careers.

Best,
Jonathan

sharply_done · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2009, 21:41 »

Photography is my third career - my first two were engineer (designing large industrial machinery) and programmer (first doing computer-aided-design type stuff, then databases). Although I thought each of my first two careers were absolutely dreamy when I was doing them, this one's by far the best. Lucky me!

Suljo · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2009, 00:33 »

Quote from: lisafx on December 16, 2009, 18:00

Wow, you guys are in some steady careers. My husband and I have both found new careers in our 40s.

I was a waitress, then secretary, then a parallegal, then a stay-at-home mom (not sure if that one counts as a career) and now a photographer.

Hubby was a retail manager, then an electrician for 22 years, and now a teacher (of electrical theory in a technical college).

So I guess that's 4 or 5 for me already (if you count domestic goddess one ) and three for him.

Lisa I love you story
I came to this story like simple DTP operator and see in the 15 years that lot of misqualifyed peoples present they selfs as Photographer or designer.
From that to now situation is not changed at all.
Old farthers in my souround just dont belive in Yuris story of succes, while they position with they years will be as Jonathan story which is also too good.
But they are even incapable to sign up to Shutterstok or Dream...
it is "under they knees" of their EGO.
Actually they are on Dream because of no review process 7/10
Sorry Jonathan for quoted youre name, you are my hero...

Fran · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2009, 03:31 »

When I was 8 and someone asked me what I wanted to do in the future I always answered "Videogames".
I've been making videogames since I started working ten years ago, and I'm still doing it: this is my career and I hopefully will never change it.
Photography has been my passion for the last couple of years, but being me, it means that I try to do it as good as I possibly can.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2009, 16:16 »

Hi Suljo,

You can use my name anytime you wish, this is an open forum and that's why I post here, to hopefully enlighten and empower people to believe in following their dreams and learn from others how to fulfill my own dreams. We only get one turn on this ride try to enjoy as much of it as you can, life is pretty darn cool : ) Thank you very much for the kind words.

Best,
Jonathan

RT · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2009, 16:19 »

Quote from: Jonathan Ross on December 17, 2009, 16:16

........ I post here, to hopefully enlighten and empower people to believe in following their dreams and learn from others how to fulfill my own dreams. We only get one turn on this ride try to enjoy as much of it as you can, life is pretty darn cool : )

You've missed your forte in life, you should be writing song lyrics or politicians speeches, you just missed out on MJ's epitaph otherwise it would have be a good attempt.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2009, 16:33 »

Quote from: RT on December 17, 2009, 16:19

You've missed your forte in life, you should be writing song lyrics or politicians speeches, you just missed out on MJ's epitaph otherwise it would have be a good attempt.

Or selling Amway

.

crazychristina · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2009, 16:37 »

Have a good Christmas all (or similar festival for non-Christians).

etienjones · « **Reply #15 on:** December 17, 2009, 16:54 »

For myself its alittle different. After getting a science degree from university (1971) I took a personal vow to poverty and art (painting), and have been sucessful in both. For the last year I have been using a camera to satisfy my obsession with imagery, but unlike most of you here I have no love affair with the camera. It seems like a very imperfect machine. There is one great advantage in Photography . . . . . . . you don't have the fear and anxiety of the dreaded white canvas!

E

madelaide · « **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2009, 18:48 »

Quote from: sharply_done on December 16, 2009, 21:41

Photography is my third career - my first two were engineer (designing large industrial machinery) and programmer (first doing computer-aided-design type stuff, then databases).

Mechanical like me, Sharply?

sharply_done · « **Reply #17 on:** December 17, 2009, 18:50 »

Quote from: madelaide on December 17, 2009, 18:48

Mechanical like me, Sharply?

Yep, but I'm so far away from it right now that I couldn't size a shaft or design a drive train if my life depended on it.

madelaide · « **Reply #18 on:** December 17, 2009, 19:19 »

Quote from: sharply_done on December 17, 2009, 18:50

Yep, but I'm so far away from it right now that I couldn't size a shaft or design a drive train if my life depended on it.

I probably can't either, as I won't remember the formula for momentum of inertia.

I work in thermal design though, so my world is different.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2009, 01:43 »

Song writer, Amway. Oh stop! You two flatter me so. I just have to tell you boys I am married, so don't think those compliments will get you very far with this fella.

Hugs,
Jonathan

mwp1969 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 18, 2009, 02:16 »

U.S. Naval Intelligence, Chess Coach, Aerospace & Commercial Airline Flight Operations. Studied Architecture & CAD early on but later finished out a degree in Business & Information Systems ...

-Mark
http://markwpayne.wordpress.com

RacePhoto · « **Reply #21 on:** December 18, 2009, 14:55 »

Does unemployed and homeless person count as a career? Yeah, talk about a turn in life and situations...

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Author Topic: What Future? (Read 6884 times)

crazychristina

disorderly

Graffoto

cathyslife

cthoman

lisafx

WarrenPrice

Jonathan Ross

sharply_done

Suljo

Fran

Jonathan Ross

RT

Sean Locke Photography

crazychristina

etienjones

madelaide

sharply_done

madelaide

Jonathan Ross

mwp1969

RacePhoto

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