Ambitions

[Assertn]

So, as I wouldn't expect any of you to know, I've been a bit busy ever since I graduated spring of 2005. I've worked hard and continued to teach myself all the things I've never learned from college and I'm pleased to say that just yesterday I've hit my 5 year goal....in just 18 months! Needless to say, it's a pretty exciting time for me. As a Flash developer, I've spent alot of extra time working on my own personal projects and finding my own ways to contribute to the Flash community. The past few months I've chatted with many huge names in the industry, attended conferences, tech-reviewed O'reilly books, and got involved in name-brand company projects while working under one of the most advanced companies in interactive media.

In just those months, I've already seen my work pay off, as I have just been given the title of Sr. Associate Flash Developer for the Creative Dept of the LA branch at another large media company. Sounds kinda flashy, but it looks like I'll be responsible for pushing the Flash side of the creative dept into the new technologies Adobe has been releasing lately. In addition to acting as the lead architect for any of their large-scale flash projects, I'll also be instructing the new flash team in best OOP practices and Flex 2 / AS 3. I'm definitely looking forward to being in a respectable position that entitles me to the responsibilities that I otherwise usually pick up on my own regardless (plus a very sweet salary increase :)). And even now I'm still making plans for "the next step." For example, my roommate and I are currently planning an outline for a flash book. (Books are great for building one's name ;))

Anyway, I started this thread in hopes to inspire and to allow others to also share their own ambitions. For those who want to know my path, here's a few tips that I followed:

1) Find a passion in a niche of the workforce.
For me, it was flash development. Both fun and relatively untapped.

2) Immerse yourself in the most ideal environment for your job market.
This is the point where I moved out to LA. Huge demand for interactive media here.

3) Find ways of expanding your experience and your name.
In some industries, your name can precede your experience and educational background. Companies love employees with alot of ambition.

4) Know your priorities.
I try to minimize the time that I spend being unproductive. For some this is a common barrier, but if you allow yourself to be motivated and inspired, then this can be second nature. Challenge yourself, or find someone who's better than you to challenge you to reach their level.

5) Know how much you're worth.
Keep your monster profile updated. Listen to recruiters. Talk to your coworkers about salaries. Don't be afraid to put in your two weeks notice, and don't be afraid to haggle. Of course, personal leverage is definitely proportional to the amount of demand for your profession or status.

6) Network
Friends in high places are great, but friends that can mutually benefit each other to reach high places together are even better.

[Stoopider]

Hey thats great to hear everythings working out for you Assertn. :)

[Assassin]

Congrats on the promotion man. Sr. Associate Flash Developer is a pretty flashy title (no pun intended) for someone who joined the industry so recently. Im glad you've managed to reach your goals so quickly. Best of luck with future ambitions, we're all rooting for you ;)

[SK]

I am unsure of the value of your chosen course in life. My ambition is to reach a point of inconsequence, which is a consequence in itself, so beyond whatever that is is my ambition, which is circular :confused:

[Stoopider]

I am unsure of the value of your chosen course in life. My ambition is to reach a point of inconsequence, which is a consequence in itself, so beyond whatever that is is my ambition, which is circular :confused:

Soooooooooooooooooo.... Your going back to Kindergarten now I presume? :D

[Assertn]

Thanks for the support guys =]

Erm.....and thanks for the post SK

[Lefty]

I hope to have your kinda luck when i venture forth into the film industry next year after school. Congrats man.

[samsonlonghair]

Congratulations on the promotion Assertn. I wish you the best of luck.

Not that anyone has any reason to listen to me, but I'd like to suggest an ammendum to tip 1. Don't get trapped in your niche. Always remember to diversify. A niche is a good way to climb up to the top fast, and it's a good way to fall fast. When Adobe bought-out Macromedia it made serious waves in the graphic design community - waves of which we still have yet to see the result.

A man in a niche has a chance to become rich, but a jack-of-all-trades will never starve.

[Stoopider]

A man in a niche has a chance to become rich, but a jack-of-all-trades will never starve.

Brilliant quote. :) I guess we have to keep an eye out for opportunity whereever this RPG of life takes us.

[Winged Dancer]

Congrats Assertn! Lately I've had to meet so many people who have been embittered by life that it's so very nice to hear of someone who has managed to fulfill his goals. Seriously, congratulations.

Goes to show that a little planning and hard work will help much more than the "I go where life takes me! (but that just means I'm a lazy dolt)" philosophy of the embittered people I mentioned before.

[Stoopider]

Lol. it's next to the 'bitching' thread.

[masamuneehs]

ambition huh? that's a pretty strong one...

in all honesty, i see myself more as a "hopeful, wishful" kind of person. I have ideas and hopes and dreams, but they've yet to be consolidated into something more cold and concrete. essentially i fail at

4) Know your priorities.

but I really don't want to let go off those dreams yet, since I know I won't be able to do them all, but am not sure which to go after...

well, i would rather live a life that I could be content with rather than meet societal utility quotas, so i'm not sweating this ambitious thing yet. and congrats assertn

[UChessmaster]

4) Know your priorities.
I try to minimize the time that I spend being unproductive. For some this is a common barrier, but if you allow yourself to be motivated and inspired, then this can be second nature. Challenge yourself, or find someone who's better than you to challenge you to reach their level.

This one is my weak point >_>, i spend too much time doing nothing...

[SK]

I try to maximize unproductive time and minimize the time I will be forced to be "productive." This usually results in getting few hours of sleep, but sleeping is boring, so I personally don't mind it.

[Assertn]

Congratulations on the promotion Assertn. I wish you the best of luck.

Not that anyone has any reason to listen to me, but I'd like to suggest an ammendum to tip 1. Don't get trapped in your niche. Always remember to diversify. A niche is a good way to climb up to the top fast, and it's a good way to fall fast. When Adobe bought-out Macromedia it made serious waves in the graphic design community - waves of which we still have yet to see the result.

A man in a niche has a chance to become rich, but a jack-of-all-trades will never starve.

I agree with this to a point....however I'd be more inclined to say Be willing to expand your niche.

In my case, for example, I've done some thorough work on AS 3 and Flex 2...both technologies that have only been publicly released for a few months now. Alot of developers tend to be intimidated and stay in AS 2 or even AS 1, but unfortunately for them, they won't get to say the buzz words that are all the rage in the industry right now.

Flash still has untapped potential, and is still expanding. The best thing to do is to keep up with it. If something else comes along that might overthrow it, then start to learn that.
Another nice thing with computer science, is you tend to pick up a few other relevant trades along the way.

One thing I can say though....over time there will be a greater diversification in skillsets for rich internet applications and interactive media, as things start to get more and more advanced. Projects are becoming too complex for one man to both design and program, and if you're not good enough to choose a side, then you're going to be in trouble...

@Masamuneehs and UChessmaster:
During college was when I first started to spend my time alot more productively. Soon after it came to the point where I actually feel kinda guilty whenever I "waste the day." Unfortunately the downside to this is I hate making plans that would involve alot of my time.

@Leftty: I recall you mentioning before that you've got some big plans of your own. Perhaps I'll see you in LA someday =]

Glad to see this the positive response for this thread so far

[Animeniax]

At the risk of getting warned, banned, or neg-repped, I decided to revive this thread and see if we can get it as productive as the bitching thread is unproductive.

As a lot of us are techies, social networking is a tough nut to crack. I've found that with my anti-social tendencies, no matter how good I am at something, I always seem to lose out to the social butterfly with no technical skill. So what do you do?

My ambitions: learn guitar, learn how to read/write the three Japanese writing systems, get my college degree.

[Abdula]

At the risk of getting warned, banned, or neg-repped, I decided to revive this thread and see if we can get it as productive as the bitching thread is unproductive.

As a lot of us are techies, social networking is a tough nut to crack. I've found that with my anti-social tendencies, no matter how good I am at something, I always seem to lose out to the social butterfly with no technical skill. So what do you do?

My ambitions: learn guitar, learn how to read/write the three Japanese writing systems, get my college degree.

I know what you mean about anti-social tendencies but despite that people still seem to like me, I just find myself incapable of caring about them and what they want or think of me.

I can mirror your last two goals, but I have a couple musicians in my family who have tried to teach me guitar but its not an instrument I'm interested in but I would like to find one though, liked piano but lost interest in that as well, as you can see its a recurring problem.

Its hard for me to have any long term goals as I'm expected to die very young, I'm surprised I made it to 20 , was actually planning to sign a DNR but now I have a few positive influences in my life now so reneged on that. Looking to choose a field to study now anything that can challenge me enough to hold my interest, or whatever my body permits to do. I don't need to be particularly successful just need something that would keep my girlfriend contented when I finally decide to marry her. I was thinking computer sciences, medicine or psychology as they are all things I have an affinity for.

[DB_Hunter]

My ambitions: learn guitar, learn how to read/write the three Japanese writing systems, get my college degree.

None of these require social skills. I would suggest you drop these ambitions asap.

[itadakimasu]

ambitions?

make lots of money and retire before i'm 40.

short term ambitions? increase my salary by at least 33% in the next few months

[masamuneehs]

strangely enough, I share some 'ambitions' with animeniax.

i've decided that one of the things I really want is to travel. I don't care if the job itself isn't great, or if i don't live in luxury, but i want to see the world. And i think starting with Japan would be a great first step.

So, I've been listening to "Learn Japanese" tapes and software recently. The three alphabets are quite tough, but I'm finally getting a semi-decent grasp of the hirigana letters...

[Assertn]

ambitions?

make lots of money and retire before i'm 40.

short term ambitions? increase my salary by at least 33% in the next few months
Retire at 40 eh?

Well first of all....you need to figure out how long you are going to live till. If you plan to die on your 80th birthday, then that means you need enough money to last you 40 years. If you start(ed) saving for retirement at age 20, then that leaves you 20 years to accumulate that money. If you intend to maintain the same cost of living during retirement as during your working years, then you need to earn 3x your cost of living, so you can save 2x your cost of living.

Of course, you can buff these numbers with investments, but its still not an easy task....especially since I believe many find it hard to even save the recommended amount, which is about 10% of their paycheck (let alone 66%).
Why do you think a lot of rich people still work into their 50s-60s?

For the record, I usually aim to save at least 55% of my net paycheck.


Edit: Oh, I suppose I should update my goals...since it's been almost a year when I created this thread....

I'll say that my next goal is to achieve a net worth of $1M in 10 years

[Animeniax]

I know what you mean about anti-social tendencies but despite that people still seem to like me, I just find myself incapable of caring about them and what they want or think of me.

I can mirror your last two goals, but I have a couple musicians in my family who have tried to teach me guitar but its not an instrument I'm interested in but I would like to find one though, liked piano but lost interest in that as well, as you can see its a recurring problem.

Its hard for me to have any long term goals as I'm expected to die very young, I'm surprised I made it to 20 , was actually planning to sign a DNR but now I have a few positive influences in my life now so reneged on that. Looking to choose a field to study now anything that can challenge me enough to hold my interest, or whatever my body permits to do. I don't need to be particularly successful just need something that would keep my girlfriend contented when I finally decide to marry her. I was thinking computer sciences, medicine or psychology as they are all things I have an affinity for.Wow, you sound like me, except for the short lifespan part. I doubt you want to discuss it in a public forum, but I hope you beat whatever ails you, and get a chance to accomplish your goals. I'm not musically inclined at all, but I'm going to seriously work at learning the guitar. I hear it just takes a lot of practice. I plan to major in CS with a minor in one of psych/sociology/philosophy and/or Japanese.

@DB_Hunter: I meant ambitions at the workplace, which do require social skills.

@masamuneehs: I've traveled a bit, it's fun and really opens your eyes to the world beyond the US and A. I wish people would remember that they are the foreigner when they visit other countries, and that they need to respect the local customs. Americans are really bad about that.

Japan is a great place to start. Foreign country, but safe and with enough English speakers and signs so you can find your way. And if you get lost, there's less chance you'll end up in a shallow grave, unlike in some 3rd world countries. I'm practicing the Japanese writing systems right now. You have to learn by repetition, like school kids. Just write them over and over until it sticks.

@bbaucom: Everyone wants to retire early, but I'd get bored out of my mind if I didn't have a job. You miss out on so much without a workplace, like social interaction and continued learning. Depends on the job of course.

[KitKat]

I'm practicing the Japanese writing systems right now. You have to learn by repetition, like school kids. Just write them over and over until it sticks.
Yeah, I've been learning Russian and though the cyrillic alphabet wasn't very difficult to learn, I found cyrillic cursive writing to be disproportionally difficult. It really is like being back in grade 1 again, spending hours just making lines of letters (or words, as would be the case for Japanese). Best of luck with the language learning! Being bilingual is such a useful skill. I'm hoping to be fluent in Russian within a couple years, but we'll see if I continue having room for it in my class schedule.

[Animeniax]

Best of luck with the language learning! Being bilingual is such a useful skill. I'm hoping to be fluent in Russian within a couple years, but we'll see if I continue having room for it in my class schedule.
Wow, Russian? Is that your family's cultural background? Languages like Arabic, Russian and Chinese are too complex and foreign to me, I wouldn't know where to begin. Strangely Japanese isn't that difficult a language, just the multiple writing systems make it harder. I plan to take Japanese courses in college. Should be fun. Ja ne.

[Psyke]

I thought most people in the world are bilingual? I might be wrong though....

Anyway writing a personal vision statement is one of the ways to get your priorities in life sorted out. It should be a statement where you can do self reflection upon, and provide the guiding principles especially in possible life changing decisions.

[Animeniax]

Most Americans can't even speak English properly, never mind another language. I think more and more people across the world are learning English as a second language. It's kind of saddening in a way. In a few hundred years, a country like Japan might use English as a primary language as often as their own. When I visit Japan, I'm happy to find areas with no romaji signs and no English signs, even though I tend to get lost that way.

Hanging around with the right sort of people also helps you get your goals in focus. I hang around with a bunch of slackers and tech nerds in my current work situation. When I was at home for Christmas I was around my brother and sister and their friends, who are all doctors and lawyers, and talking to them led me to want to go back to school to finish my degree and become a professional.

[mage]

I thought most people in the world are bilingual? I might be wrong though....

never been to USA eh?

[Abdula]

I hang around with a bunch of slackers and tech nerds in my current work situation. When I was at home for Christmas I was around my brother and sister and their friends, who are all doctors and lawyers, and talking to them led me to want to go back to school to finish my degree and become a professional.

Yeah same thing happened to me, I've never considered myself to be someone who was influenced by other people, but I was talking to one of my friends recently who is currently working on getting her law degree, which got me interested in what my other friends were doing and they all are having successful lives for the most part some are even married and have kids but then again they are all much older than me. I decided to at least give this life thing one more try.

I don't mind discussing anything, its just that talking about it takes me to a very dark place and I'm really trying to maintain the flow of positive energy right now.

[XanBcoo]

My goals are almost always short-term. I feel I can actually accomplish a list of precise short-term goals pretty efficiently. It's worked for me the last few semesters at least. I make a list of 10 things I want to change about my life before the next school year and I work at that. It's probably not as good as having a "big picture" goal, but it's better than just floating around. It helps keep me productive, if nothing else.

A few things I'd like to accomplish soon are 1.) Studying abroad in Spain before I graduate, 2.) Find a direction I want my Linguistics and Spanish degree to take me in; looking at career options/internships, and 3.) Find a band to play with and improve my bass playing.


I thought most people in the world are bilingual? I might be wrong though....
I spent the better half of my life thinking it was extraordinary to be bilingual, not knowing just how multilingual the rest of the world was.

I'm not musically inclined at all, but I'm going to seriously work at learning the guitar. I hear it just takes a lot of practice.
If you really are a total beginner, I'd suggest finding a good teacher and taking lessons. Only practice can make you a great player, but I've been told it's 100 times more beneficial to have a teacher when you're first staring out. Having someone there to correct the little mistakes and explain to you the music theory behind what you're learning means you can improve much more quickly and easily.

One of my best friends just started taking lessons, and his teacher told him "My goal is to teach you to teach yourself."

[KitKat]

Wow, Russian? Is that your family's cultural background? Languages like Arabic, Russian and Chinese are too complex and foreign to me, I wouldn't know where to begin. Strangely Japanese isn't that difficult a language, just the multiple writing systems make it harder. I plan to take Japanese courses in college. Should be fun. Ja ne.

No, my background is purely English/Irish/Scottish.....mostly Canadian though, back several generations. I became interested in learning Russian a few years back when I visited the country of Azerbaijan. Now that I've started grad school in linguistics, I wanted to study it a bit more seriously, and I'm considering working in language development and literacy programs in the former Soviet Union with an organization known as SIL (http://www.sil.org/). I had a really good discussion the other day with a lady who has been working there and it was really good to get an idea of what's involved. Just to give you an idea, she said that in that area there are 157 distinct languages. Language workers there start out learning Russian before they go, since that's the trade language of the entire region, and they learn the national language of whatever country they are working in, and lastly learn the local language of the people group they're working with. I still have a couple years yet to decide, but I'm definitely planning on doing linguistics work overseas for a while. And then, probably come back to engineering at some point.

[Mr Squiggles]

My plan is to finish my studies with a bachelor of design in either character design or illustrative design. And although concept art would be my ideal kind of career, I don't want to limit myself to that.

EDIT: 300th post. SPARTAAAAA!

[masamuneehs]

Lol @ Squiggles' sparta post

So, I've been unemployed for awhile now, since graduating (I don't count temp work), and it's made me really sit down and think about what I want out of life. I'm not the kind of person who has "a plan" and sticks to it, nor am I the type to fall madly in love with one career path or industry.

But one thing I've come to learn about myself is that I don't care too much for money or going around saying "I completed my 5 year goal in just 1 year!" (not a shot at you Assertn) or "I make $XX,XXX a year!" because I think you can still be a failure of a person and be rich.

What I want is to be able to have an impact on people's lives. It's what drew me to Government / Poli Sci in the first place. But after seeing how dirty it is, and how much it's usually about helping yourself and your other rich fuck buddies, I don't think I could get involved on that gravy train.

One of the things I find I really enjoy is working with kids. The potential and energy they have makes me feel like helping them can really turn out to be something good outside of myself. I've always really liked tutoring and teaching at day camps, and so...

so i've applied for a few teaching positions, among the deluge of resumes and cover letters I've sent out to all sorts of companies and groups.

Today I finally got a reply that I'll actually go on.

So, I'm proud to say that I'll be teaching kids. It's not a glamorous job, but it's something I know I'll like and will give me enough monetary breathing room to really start out on my own. Also, the position is one where I'll have small class sizes, and an absurd amount of material support that I can use to teach with. No scrounging for supplies like in some bad school districts...

The one thing I'm slightly worried about is teaching very young kids. I've babysat, but the idea that I'm going to be teaching all ranges from infants to high schoolers (and even some 'pre-natal' classes with the moms... seriously, what the hell is that about?) So that's got me a bit worried, but I'm sure I'll be able to handle...

.
.
.
... did i mention the job is in Japan? Cuz that's kinda important. Yeah, Japan.

Banzai, mother fuckers!


One of my ambitions is traveling. I want to see the world. I think it all started when I was a kid, and all my friends went to this 'Teen Travel' summer camp where they'd go somewhere cool every day... but my family didn't have enough money to send me because that was when my dad got real sick. Ever since then i've tried to travel as much as I can, even though I've wound up spending all my life in my hometown and at school in the state of New York (not counting the semester abroad, which cost me a pretty penny, but was so worth any amount of coin I could ever have). So, yeah, that jives well with finally getting the chance to learn Japanese AND make money AND do something I'll like.

[Abdula]

Congrats and good luck.

[Deadfire]

My Ambition was to do something with my life. After High school I went to college to get a Degree. After I finished it I found myself lost. Lost in that I lacked a direction for me to apply my degree as well problems in jobs and money. I made it a goal to get my life in order and have a purpose.

A few months ago you can all remember what I did. I joined the Canadian Armed Forces. I Worked tireless during my 14 weeks of basic. It took everything I had to finish it. However I completed it and with that I start my career....sort of

My Ambition is still the same more or less, my goal is to complete my Trade's course and serve my country. The next Milestone is my current posting, which for lack of a explanation (to avoid a lengthy post) awaiting training company. It's just another thing I have to apply myself too

Here is to hoping :p

[XanBcoo]

So, I'm proud to say that I'll be teaching kids. It's not a glamorous job, but it's something I know I'll like and will give me enough monetary breathing room to really start out on my own. Also, the position is one where I'll have small class sizes, and an absurd amount of material support that I can use to teach with. No scrounging for supplies like in some bad school districts...
Oh wow, cool coincidence Masa. Shortly after I made my post, about Tuesday of last week, I started to seriously consider teaching as a work option. I'd really love to hear updates about your experiences doing this. It's not something I see myself doing for the rest of my life, but I'd love to try it out at some point.

Congrats on landing that job.

[Psyke]

... did i mention the job is in Japan? Cuz that's kinda important. Yeah, Japan.


Congratulations! It sounds great to be able to work in Japan. You'll definately learn the language much easier and faster, through daily conversation with the native speakers. So, when is the interview or is it confirmed already?

[David75]

Well, I'm a little ahead in time but not that advanced... depends on how you see it.

So I have a degree in Engineering bla bla...
I've been working since the end of 2000.
I had different experiences, good and bad ones.
I'm married, with no children and won't have children (wife can't, no reason found) and don't want to adopt. As of yet I do not want children as I do not have enough energy for looking decently after myself...

In fact the main problem with my life in the past 5 years (or more it seems) has been health. Not very bad problem, just no energy at all... and it doesn't help when you're starting your carreer. It took a lot of time to find the cause that is so silly I would cry if I wasn't a man... Silly because of the system that do not recognize the effects and do not
do the prescriptions as they should when it's easy and cheap! Rather they send you in
appropriate places with inapropriate prescriptions that are very expensive, are dangerous for your health in the long term and solve nothing...

Why this seemingly out of topic digression? Well because it totally changes your ambitions.
I have my basic needs taken care of. I have a roof, a wife, I eat well and so on.
Yet I'm empty, with no ambitions due to a lack of energy to support any actions towards
these.
I was very ambitious, not a day dreamer. But when energy started to lack, I had stress
depression and so on... before I could accept my state and lower my self mind torture regarding ambitions.

No pity, I'm not here for that, plus I'm on the way of finding the appropriate course of
actions to regain energy and become who I am to be... Part of the problem is solved, and it wasn't a one variable one, but multivariable one... so it's a bit though to find solutions, moreover when 80% of docs are incompetent...

What will I want with my new life?
A bit more room to live, my flat is a bit tiny. Maybe a passive house, well built.
I would like to restart learning languages and maths/physics were I was good.
Anyways I'm passively starting to understand spoken japanese thanks to the many
fansubs I see.
I would like to find jobs where motivation is automatic, with confortable incomes and
possibly starting early in the day and have long evenings for familly life and social life
outside work

On a last note, for a dream rather than an ambition, I would love to voice acting in anime
for french accent characters (I know, very small niche). I would also love to help anime
and manga guys with their writing in french when needed. Again a small niche I know.

thanks for reading

[masamuneehs]

So, when is the interview or is it confirmed already?

I'd start training in the U.S. in April, so there's still a good amount of time in between. I've already gone through all the interviews (I have the contract sitting on my desk, but I have one last potential job chance to consider before I send it in) and so there's really not much to do except say 'Yes' and start getting more frequent temp work so I can have savings for when I go. They also haven't strictly told me where I'd be working, but I think that's just a formality until I accept the offer.

and thanks for all the well wishes!

@David75
Lack of energy has generally been a huge problem for me as well. I tend to sleep a lot, stay up late, and squander lots of the day. Even if I wake up early, I'm generally unmotivated for good stretchs. I can get alot done in a short time, but I can't consistently spend energy like that.

...thinking about that point... I'll probably have to find some super crazy Japanese energy drink thing to keep me going during those days... I'll work with the kids for about 4-6 hours a day (as part of a 8-hour day), so I might need some kind of "boost" to keep me going every now and then

[Animeniax]

No offense, but the yellow don't typically like the darker shades, if you get my meaning. The Japanese don't even like other shades of yellow! I imagine you're going to be teaching ESL. Do you even speak enough Japanese to be able to interact with these people?

Keep in mind, I'm Asian, and you see how well we get along. I'm really not trying to be a dick, it's just a pleasant by-product of this reality check.

[masamuneehs]

lol, if they want to make something of my race, they're perfectly allowed to.

in return, i just don't need to tolerate their shit.

besides, i really can't realistically expect that everyone I meet in Japan is going to have a problem with my being there. Those that do aren't even worth squat, and I'll gladly pass them by. Life's too short and the world too big to get bogged down in stupid crap with people you won't be able to gel with anyway.

My class is in English. I don't need to speak any Japanese to the students (in fact, I won't, because all it would possibly do is give them something to laugh at me at, since I'm not anywhere near skilled enough in the language). I've even heard that people working for this company don't ever need to speak Japanese ever. Obviously, I think those people are wastes for going to another country and not attempting to learn the language, but...

[Animeniax]

I don't want to poop on your dream, but a reality check is in order. The problem with what you're saying is, that's pretty much 95% of Asia (unless you have money), and 99% of Japanese (regardless of money). So around 99 out of every 100 Japanese you meet will look down on you or treat you like dirt. It's shitty, but reality. They won't openly show their displeasure at you being among them, they'll just quietly avoid you and ostracize you until you leave on your own, or stare at you like the oddity you are. The kids might be fine with you, but their parents may or may not, and instead demand the company use another teacher for their kid.

Going to another country to work and thinking you won't need to speak any of the local language is very naive of you. Even if you're teaching English, what do you do if the kids don't understand something unless it's explained in terms they already know? To do that, you'll have to speak their language. You might want to invest in Rosetta Stone language software. You might also want to learn all 3 kana syllabaries. Good luck, I guess.

[Abdula]

Damn. Is taking to wind out of peoples sails your hobby or is just a by product of your glowing personality. I don't think Masa is anywhere near that naive, but being black I have to agree with you Asians despise us, I wish I knew why because we certainly haven't done anything to them.

[Animeniax]

Only when that wind takes someone in the direction of a typhoon... well, mostly.

When I mentioned to my family that I planned to move to Japan in the future, my sister asked me if I realized what it would really be like. I was shocked she thought I would be so naive as to not know that it wouldn't be like in anime or J-dramas, but she has a point, since a lot of gaijin don't realize that, then end up hating the Japanese because of their own misconceptions. Some of the stuff masa is saying smacks of rationalization and justification, like he's trying to convince himself at all costs that everything will be ok, he just has to get there and it will all work itself out. If he at least spoke the language, he'd be that much more able to make this work.

Asians don't like anyone, especially other Asians, so don't take it too hard. They tend to be more accepting of lighter shades, but they'll avoid them just the same for the most part.

[Assertn]

Asians don't like anyone, especially other Asians, so don't take it too hard. They tend to be more accepting of lighter shades, but they'll avoid them just the same for the most part.
My tall caucasian friend was quite popular there. Apparently they thought he was Leonardo Dicaprio too (he happened to be blonde). If it wasn't for the fact that he had a girlfriend already and that most of the girls were underage, he probably could've had a decent amount of action there.

[Animeniax]

My tall caucasian friend was quite popular there. Apparently they thought he was Leonardo Dicaprio too (he happened to be blonde). If it wasn't for the fact that he had a girlfriend already and that most of the girls were underage, he probably could've had a decent amount of action there.
Good for your friend. Too bad about that pesky underage thing. Did he enjoy being ostracized by everyone else?

White guys usually fare better there, but masa is black and gay. Adults and elitists (75% of the population) will still avoid whitey like the plague. Sho ga nai.

[Abdula]

Some of the stuff masa is saying smacks of rationalization and justification, like he's trying to convince himself at all costs that everything will be ok, he just has to get there and it will all work itself out.


Um, the same could be said of everybody else, rationalization and convincing oneself that everything will be okay is normal human behavior. Everyone does it to some extent, its a good survival technique.


White guys usually fare better there, but masa is black and gay.

You make it sound like its throwing a lamb to the wolves. Even if it is, I think you should offer him a bit more encouragement I mean there is no reward without risk, and there is no guarantee that he will have a bad or good experience that is just life.

[Animeniax]

Yeah but we''re talking about masa here. He's tried to have me banned 20 times now, so all's fair in this war.

At some point rationalization and justification becomes self-delusion, and that's when it's a problem. I've talked to other foreigners who've tried Japan because they love anime, and now they hate the Japanese because things didn't work out like they expected. And somehow it's the Japanese people's fault for not being as cute and friendly and non-human as the ones in the anime.

He should go into this venture knowing all of the possibilities and arguably a pessimistic attitude. That way, when it's better than he expected, he'll be happy. The alternative is a jaded, bitter view and crushing defeat.

[Mizuchi]

@kitkat: I speak fluent russian so if you have any questions you can ask me and i would be happy to help you out.

@animeniax and psyke: Do you guys speak fluent or atleast good japanese? I started learning japanese about a week ago and surprisingly it hasnt been very hard at all. Im loving the two tenses thing, unlike spanish where theres like 15+. Anyways, I dont really have a teacher, just me and my friend are trying to teach ourselves using various books and rosetta stone (im not really liking the rosetta stone method of teaching...). Anyways, it's a bit hard without a teacher seeing as how I have questions that i have to figure out for myself, so do any of you have an AIM or Yahoo screen name so I may ask for help? I too plan on visiting Japan on college breaks, though i am still in highschool.

[Abdula]

Yeah but we''re talking about masa here. He's tried to have me banned 20 times now, so all's fair in this war.

At some point rationalization and justification becomes self-delusion, and that's when it's a problem. I've talked to other foreigners who've tried Japan because they love anime, and now they hate the Japanese because things didn't work out like they expected. And somehow it's the Japanese people's fault for not being as cute and friendly and non-human as the ones in the anime.

He should go into this venture knowing all of the possibilities and arguably a pessimistic attitude. That way, when it's better than he expected, he'll be happy. The alternative is a jaded, bitter view and crushing defeat.

I know what you mean I go into almost every situation expecting the worst and I'm rarely disappointed but that is just me. I always plan for every 'conceivable' outcome but again that is just me. As he said he is still months away from going there so I don't think he has really starting planning or anything yet.

I know what you mean about foreigners expecting something from a country based solely off of previous misconceptions but thats just ignorance. Secondly the average anime fan is about as intelligent as the average nascar fan so talking about them is saying much.

So its a de facto war huh, Lol. Its not like he tried to ban you without just cause.:)

[Animeniax]

Oh, you want some too abdula??

@Mizuchi: Man, sometimes I think there should be an age restriction here. I feel shitty talking smack to high schoolers and making a tough time in their lives worse. Sorry for any previous and future crap I might send your way, Mizuchi. Same goes to Lucifus and anyone else who aren't as old and pathetic as the rest of us. I think there's a good article on msnbc.com about adults being cyber-bullies to teens. assertn needs to read it, as do a lot of us older folks.

No, my Japanese is not fluent, I do know a bunch of conversational one liners and simple expressions though. I'm going back to university next fall and taking Japanese classes, probably as a minor, so hopefully I'll be fluent in a couple years before moving to Japan. I'm currently practicing the kana systems on my own.

[Abdula]

Sure why not. Its not like I have anything else to do here besides posting in the Naruto and Bleach threads.

What would your proposed age restriction be and from what do you consider one to be a part of what you call the older folks.

I think some people might take offense to the fact you equate everyone who is a bit on the older side to being pathetic.:)

[Psyke]

@animeniax and psyke: Do you guys speak fluent or atleast good japanese? I started learning japanese about a week ago and surprisingly it hasnt been very hard at all. Im loving the two tenses thing, unlike spanish where theres like 15+. Anyways, I dont really have a teacher, just me and my friend are trying to teach ourselves using various books and rosetta stone (im not really liking the rosetta stone method of teaching...). Anyways, it's a bit hard without a teacher seeing as how I have questions that i have to figure out for myself, so do any of you have an AIM or Yahoo screen name so I may ask for help? I too plan on visiting Japan on college breaks, though i am still in highschool.

I just took my Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level 3 yesterday. Was supposed to clear it last year but I was in Australia on a work related trip. But I continued my studies and will be clearing level 2 (which takes 2 years of study) next year along with my classmates. Probably won't be taking level 1, which according to my sensei is difficult even for some native speakers.

Anyway, I'm not good yet, because I rarely have the chance to practice it. But I don't really have any big problems with reading, although I will still need the dictionary for new vocab. It's still hard to learn any new langauge, but being able to speak Chinese plays a important role, as in I have a much easier time with Kanji than other people.

I used to believe that I don't need to attend classes to learn Japanese, but I was wrong. I reached a point where I couldn't progress anymore, and decided to join a school. But my self study was rewarded, as I skipped 2 levels. So, join a school if you're really interested.

[Animeniax]

I think some people might take offense to the fact you equate everyone who is a bit on the older side to being pathetic.:)I meant the older ones (like assertn and masa, and sadly, myself) who talk down to the younger, more impressionable ones. I guess that's the risk of being online.

@Psyke: does your wife practice/speak Japanese? Did you learn just because or do you plan to move to Japan someday?

[Psyke]

@Psyke: does your wife practice/speak Japanese? Did you learn just because or do you plan to move to Japan someday?

Nope she doesn't. She only understands very basic words like kawaii and sayonara.... that's about it. I learn Japanese because I like Japanese stuff. I hope that makes sense. :o

[Abdula]

Yeah it makes sense. Everybody here loves Japanese stuff its an anime forum after all.

[Assertn]

I think there's a good article on msnbc.com about adults being cyber-bullies to teens. assertn needs to read it, as do a lot of us older folks.
lol what?

The effect of me ridiculing someone is caused by their posting habits, which, coincidentally, is often at a quality level directly proportional to age. If anything, I'm more likely to have prolonged conflicts with older members, because they are more inclined to maintain a front.

[Animeniax]

Yeah it makes sense. Everybody here loves Japanese stuff its an anime forum after all.Kind of a broad generalization there. Anime is one (minor) facet of Japanese culture that we love. To be honest, I could do without anime, though I give it credit for introducing me to Japanese culture. I think a lot of people would not like the people or culture, especially if they think it's like in anime.

[masamuneehs]

next post unrelated to Ambitions gets a ban. This off-topic shit ends here.

[Animeniax]

One of my ambitions is to educate otakus that Japan is not the cutesy wonderland that they see in anime. I want to curb the rash of gaijin visiting and moving to Japan, then becoming disillusioned with the people and culture because it's not what they unfairly expected.

I'd also like to educate people that English is not the only language in the world, and that if they move and work in a foreign country, they'd better learn the local language and customs, or they're in for some rough times.

I realize these are very ambitious ambitions, and most otakus won't want to hear it because they are socially unaware miscreants, but I think it's worth the effort and energy.

[Animeniax]

I'm trying to figure out what I want to study when I go back to university. I was thinking I'd go with the old standby of Computer Sciences, but I don't plan to work as a programmer since I think it's boring and I don't have the knack for it. So my ambition to go back to school to get my degree is on hold until I figure out what I want to study.

Maybe linguistics or sociology, but I don't think there's any money in those fields until way down the road. I plan to stay in IT, but move into the engineering side or management, so all I need is a degree, and it doesn't seem to matter in what.

[Turkish-S]

I want to get married and have 4-5 children before i'm 40. i'm currently studying Communication & Multimedia Design and will probably get my diploma in the next 4 years. And i will probably get married 1 year after i get it.

[Assertn]

I want to get married and have 4-5 children before i'm 40. i'm currently studying Communication & Multimedia Design and will probably get my diploma in the next 4 years. And i will probably get married 1 year after i get it.

So then you'll have 4-5 friends and none of them can say no to being your friend. :)

I wouldn't really consider getting married to being an ambition. Getting married should be a result of being in love, not a goal premeditated before you even find someone. Getting married in the face of adversity from family members, maybe. Having children in the face of impotence, yeah I can see it. Those factors aside, marriage/children often represent a hurdle of personal ambition when there's still plenty of personal growth to be had.

My ambition is to have no kids so I can offset a family that decides to have more than 2 kids.

[XanBcoo]

marriage/children often represent a hurdle of personal ambition when there's still plenty of personal growth to be had.

Odd how in popular culture "marriage" is represented as the ultimate goal of a relationship. Nothing about the troubles and trials of married life. I mean, I'd love to be married someday, but people don't seem to understand exactly what you just said.

Just "marriage = victory!"


Maybe linguistics or sociology, but I don't think there's any money in those fields
:( :( :(

[Animeniax]

Odd how in popular culture "marriage" is represented as the ultimate goal of a relationship. Nothing about the troubles and trials of married life. I mean, I'd love to be married someday, but people don't seem to understand exactly what you just said.

Just "marriage = victory!"
I think you can still have plenty of personal growth when you're in a marriage. Then you can grow together or have someone to even you out or pull you back when your growth takes you in the wrong direction.


:( :( :(
You left out the "until way down the road". There is money to be made in either field, which is not the ultimate goal, but necessary for the journey. It's just further down the road in these fields. Are you a linguistics or sociology major?

[XanBcoo]

You left out the "until way down the road". There is money to be made in either field, which is not the ultimate goal, but necessary for the journey. It's just further down the road in these fields. Are you a linguistics or sociology major?
I left it out as a joke. I'm just really worried about what I'm gonna do with my Linguistics degree and people keep giving me flack.

Edit: and obviously I agree about the marriage thing. Just sayin'...popular culture and all...Just look at any "romantic movie". It always ends just as the guy and girl get together. Rarely anything afterwards.

[Assertn]

I figured it was obvious.
Why do you think they call it "settling down"?

Having a family is the point where you stop developing your own potential and start developing others' potential. That's fine and all, but the better off you yourself are when you make the transition, the more you'll be able to help others.

[Animeniax]

I disagree both with it being obvious and that it means you stop developing as a person. I'm Asian, so marriage means something different to me than it might to you. I think the best marriages are the ones where both parties have their own interests and continue to develop as individuals, with plenty of overlap in interests (otherwise why marry?).

[itadakimasu]

I'm getting married on the 5th of January. No, she isn't pregnant! jajaja. A couple years ago I really couldn't see myself getting married but it seems like a natural progression of things and is pretty exciting and stressful at the same time.

Current ambition : Use my 3-4 week break between classes to study and take my first certification test (microsoft 70-290) I just don't think I'm ready for my ccna even though i've taken all the classes... there is too much studying to do and I have too much going on right now to do that much studying. The microsoft one though, I've been able to apply alot of the stuff from my class into my job and It is alot easier to process.

[Assertn]

I disagree both with it being obvious and that it means you stop developing as a person. I'm Asian, so marriage means something different to me than it might to you. I think the best marriages are the ones where both parties have their own interests and continue to develop as individuals, with plenty of overlap in interests (otherwise why marry?).
Well, I can see where you're going, however I still think you have a few more opportunities when you position yourself such that you can get up and change your life at any time.

For example, would I have been able to pick up my life and move to the other end of the country 2 years ago if I was already married? I don't think I'd be nearly as far along as I am now if I had to compromise an alternative.

[joker-kun]

I agree with both Assertn and Animaniax (surprisingly). Probably more so with the latter, but I understand fully what you mean Assertn, and specifically to what you're saying you're right.

Anyway, my (very) short term ambition:

Get accepted to university in March/April. Go to university in september.
Join some sort of self defencer or martial arts thinger.

In the next few years:
Get my degree. (In Criminology)
Get the different certificates I need to get (i.e. first aid, swimming, etc.); simple enough.

Long term:
Join the military for a 3 year term.
Get my job as a police officer.
Try out for our national security/ anti-terrorism force (JTF2). Who knows if I'll ever make it though. The fail rate is like 75% and you need to be in INSANE shape to get in.

So there's a few things i'm sure none of you care about. ;)

[Abdula]

Those are some nice ambitions, difficult and challenging yet achievable. Unlike some of us who just have random goals or ambitions about who, what or where we want to be, that we always talk about but never attempt to achieve. Your ambitions are nice and each one is a step that will assist you in achieving another. I wish my future was that clear cut, heck I wish I knew what direction my future who go in or if I will have one altogether.

My ambition is pretty simple. I want change, I detest my life and I abhor the person I have become and how I have allowed myself to become disillusion and have put up walls around everyone in my life. My ambition although its a bit vague is simply to become a better person and to allow myself to be vulnerable. I intend to change every single aspect of my life and that will be the only goal I will be working towards henceforth until I'm satisfied that I have done enough.

[Animeniax]

Well, I can see where you're going, however I still think you have a few more opportunities when you position yourself such that you can get up and change your life at any time.

For example, would I have been able to pick up my life and move to the other end of the country 2 years ago if I was already married? I don't think I'd be nearly as far along as I am now if I had to compromise an alternative.
Yeah you have to make some tough decisions when you're married, but I think that's part of what marriage is about. One or the other or both will have to compromise for the sake of the whole, or so that one or the other can accomplish their goals, again for the sake of the both of them (hopefully). I think it's definitely going to be tougher, as ambitions often take time and a lot of energy that could otherwise be used on the relationship, and can tax a relationship to the breaking point. At least that's how it is in the soap operas I watch.

[Abdula]

Wow you watch soaps. My respect for you has been utterly obliterated. Are you saying that you haven't ever been in a relationship or you simply aren't in one now.

Relationships take a lot of work but it can work if both people respect and acknowledge each other enough to sacrifice for each other and help each other to achieve their goals. In the end thats the true test of a relationship or love for that matter, whether are not you are willing to compromise, sacrifice and give of yourself for someone else. At that point you will find out whether there was anything there or if the relationship was simply one of convenience. However there is only so much most people are willing or can be expected to sacrifice.

[Animeniax]

No, the soaps comment was a joke. I didn't want to sound like a relationship expert or something girly. I do watch a lot of J-dramas, but those aren't really anything like American soap operas. But at least now our mutual respect for each other is at the same level.

[Terracosmo]

That's strange, could have sworn I replied to this topic. Or at least one similar to this.

Ambitions:

1. Become able to live on my drumming skills (by freelancing/playing in my band etc). Not as in "I want to get rich by playing rock musicz!!!" but as in earning enough to pay the bills by simultaneously doing what I think is the coolest thing in the world.
2. Conceiving a daughter named Luna.
3. Dipping mint chocolates in Vanilla Coke for potential taste orgasm

That's basically it. I'm a simple man with simple needs!

[Mr Squiggles]

In the Last couple months, I've been working a LOT harder than used to, But what surprises the most is not so much the fact that I'm working so much (Normally I'm major slacker/procrastinator), but the fact that I'm actually enjoying all the hard work, a lot. There's something inherently magical about seeing your large amounts of efforts pay off. I think I can honestly say that attending art school was one of the best decisions of my life.

Oh shit, does this mean I'm finally starting to grow up? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :p

But anyways, my ambition for this spring and summer now that my classes are going to be over is to bust out my dust covered tablet and learn how to paint using photoshop.
Longer term, my geeky goal is to one day become an illustrator or a concept artist for companies such as games workshop and Wizards of the Coast. I know i've got a long ways to go skill-wise, but it wouldn't be much of an ambition if it were easy to accomplish, now would it?

[Buffalobiian]

But anyways, my ambition for this spring and summer now that my classes are going to be over is to bust out my dust covered tablet and learn how to paint using photoshop.
Longer term, my geeky goal is to one day become an illustrator or a concept artist for companies such as games workshop and Wizards of the Coast. I know i've got a long ways to go skill-wise, but it wouldn't be much of an ambition if it were easy to accomplish, now would it?

So true. I really hope you succeed. I actually admire? people who have aspirations or any sort of goal, since I myself have been wondering without much of one for a few years now. Ever since high school, or even before, I'm just gotten into doing what's thrown at me. Uni was a very big decision for me, since it was the first real choice I had to make, but now that that's behind me, I still have a few more years while I mindlessly meet my deadlines. Setting goals is one of the few ways you can actually improve and build yourself. I wish I had more direction in my life.