Wisconsin Builder


You can’t buy happiness

By Caley Clinton • Feb 1st, 2010 • Category: Form and Function

By the time I graduated high school, I knew I could make money as a writer. But I knew it wouldn’t be a lot of money.

So, tempted by the dream of landing a well-paying job at a Fortune 500 company, I ignored those natural talents when choosing a college major. I saw a clear writing path in front of me, but still took a side trip through the business school brambles, much to my regret.

I pictured myself as an international businesswoman, and I signed up for a Murderer’s Row of economics, calculus and French. Writing, by design, was not part of that picture, particularly because I remembered well the words of my recovering journalist mother: “Whatever you do, don’t be a journalist. You won’t make any money.”

My dream turned into a nightmare. I was in way over my head. I couldn’t tell the difference between explicit and implicit costs, but I could see clearly that my chances of climbing the ranks at JP Morgan were disappearing, if they ever existed at all.

So I swallowed my pride, admitted my detour was a mistake and retraced my steps. I switched my major to English, joined the school newspaper and picked up where I’d left off with writing. It was a good decision. It felt right.

Too often, people ignore their talents, forcing themselves on an uphill career path that never levels off. The smart ones admit their errors and change courses.

Two successful women featured in this month’s issue took similar career detours. While I chased money, they went after individuality.

Carmen Fosick of Elmstar Electric Corp., Kaukauna, was determined to avoid the family business. She studied math in college with plans to become an actuary, but later realized Elmstar, founded by her father, was where she belonged.

Bassett Mechanical Services’ new CEO, Kim Basset-Heitzmann, started out as a speech pathologist, intent on finding a career outside the company founded by her great uncle. Her decision to backtrack was tough because she already had been through years of schooling to earn her master’s degree in speech pathology.

She then faced earning a second graduate degree in construction management.

Talking to Bassett-Heitzmann for this month’s Burning Questions feature, I was surprised to find she had no regrets about switching careers. Though I love my work as a journalist, there were certainly days early on in my career where I wished I’d landed a more lucrative job in the business sector. Bassett-Heitzmann, however, said she never looked back.

Now, several years into my chosen profession, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I am thankful every day to have found a job doing what I love.

I’ll take career satisfaction over a miserable millionaire existence any day. Well, most days at least.

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Caley Clinton is the editor of Wisconsin Builder magazine. You can follow Caley and Wisconsin Builder magazine on Twitter for daily links, news and more.
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