Comments on: The Importance of Paying Your Dues

By: Tanner

Tanner — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:27:43 +0000

I’m currently in the middle of paying my dues, and there’s something incredibly satisfying and empowering about it. I’m finishing up my Bachelor’s degree in electronic journalism – it’s about 15 hours a week, working 30 hours a week as a loan officer at a credit union, and working overnight weekend shifts at a local newsradio station. I never have time for anything but work and school, and to some extent it’s great. When I do climb into a TV or radio journalism position I will feel like I’ve truly earned it. I’ve been able to ride on my natural talents and likeability my entire life. I never knew how good it would feel to actually work for something.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:56:24 +0000

Brett,
Great article. Like many others have said already, this article came at just the right time for me. After leaving the Marine Corps about a year ago, the best paying and best fitting job I could find was a security job at a bank headquarters. It was a little hit on my ego to go from what I did in the Marine Corps to working as a security guard. Nevertheless, I’ve stuck it out for a year now, and was finally promoted to assistant supervisor. I thought that would make me happy, but it hasn’t done anything to improve my happiness in the position I find myself in.

Lately, I’ve been looking very hard for a new job, and I’ll admit that I’ve been looking with an “eye” for a job with a bit more prestige than my current one. With my end goal of federal law enforcement, it’s been difficult for me to find something that lands in between my current job and that one.

Your article was a good reminder that thigns don’t always have to go exactly the way you want them to, and that if you continue to work hard and apply yourself, you’ll likely reach your goals. Oftentimes, if you don’t reach your goals, it’s because you found a new path somewhere along the way and were happy to go in that direction instead.

As a final note, I’m also a member of the 20-something Generation Y, and I have noticed all of the things you mentioned in your article as some of our potential pitfalls. The military in general, and the Marine Corps in particular, seems to expose many of those pitfalls and weaknesses, and either gives a man a good reason to change them, or allows him to fail based on his own merit. Failure is an important experience as well.

By: Chris Hamilton

Chris Hamilton — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:09:01 +0000

I’m admittedly the naive Generation Y’er, or at least I was. I graduated college almost two years ago and luckily enough ended up getting a job in my field. But being the pre-madona I was, I was really unhappy at first because I wanted the big paycheck and all the other things that go with working in my field… I felt entitled to them for whatever reason. I was at the point of giving up and almost joined the military, but I stepped back and thought about it for awhile. Then I kinda realized on my own, everything that this article talks about and rededicated myself to my passion and my work. Now that I’ve realized that I’m lucky enough to be working in a job that’s related to my ultimate goal, and I’ve realized my success will not come overnight… everything is much easier and I’m generally more happy now.

Anywho, great article, I’ll make sure to pass this one along.

By: Tanner

Tanner — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:39:48 +0000

Great article. I’m currently in the process of paying my dues. I’m a full time student, have a full time job in one field, and an overnight-weekend job in my career field. My weekend job is literally at the bottom of the totem pole, but it’s the best place to start.

The great thing about the current mentality of most of Gen Y is that it makes those of us who are willing to work hard look so much better. I’ve never had a boss who wasn’t impressed by what my parents taught me was a “normal” work ethic.

By: willzager

willzager — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:40:28 +0000

Being a Generation Y-er myself this can be hard to read. But it is very true. While I hated it as a kid I now appreciate the discipline my parents gave me. If I wanted something I didn’t NEED, I had to buy it with my own money. If I wanted my own money, I had to work for it.

Sometimes the simplest lessons are the hardest to learn.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:59:59 +0000

I completely agree that a lot of kids feel priviledge these days. I thank my parents for making me work for the “things” I wanted growing up. Video games? buy them yourself. Guitar? buy it yourself. Car? buy it yourself, you get the idea. My parents gave me shelter, food, and clothing. Everything else I had to earn. I think that carries over into my professional life as well.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:11:38 +0000

I think it rather silly to imply that a strong married woman wouldn’t know anthing about manliness.

By: James

James — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:31:44 +0000

This article is largely true – but let us not forget (and I speak from knowledge, having worked as a financial planner) that baby boomers have done their succeeding generations no favors by failing to adequately plan for retirement (or avariciously chosen to work beyond the point where retirement savings have been met), and then have both short-sightedly and greedily continued to work long beyond the point they should have retired. This self-serving behavior is hardly tolerable.

Second, I wonder what purpose is served by having Mrs. McKay write articles giving advice to men. It’s rather like having a man advise women who read Cosmo on the ideal brand of tampon. It makes no damned sense.

By: Nik

Nik — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:30:04 +0000

Unfortunately, the majority of the population has to be stuck in cubicles–or their equivalents–for their whole lives, because actual production/implementation is the most time intensive part of any business process. We can’t all be managers, salespeople, etc . . . probably only 5-15% (complete guess). That’s why we should pay the most productive low-tier workers much better. Those in the cushy jobs rely completely on the skilled people lower on the ladder not advancing, despite their excellent ability.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:38:44 +0000

Be careful who you pay your dues to.

Seems that ‘paying your dues’ has always been part of the American way. Ever since the colonies were first formed everyone had to work up from nothing.
Problem is that a lot of corporations take advantage of the ‘paying your dues’ mentality and never let you stop. People are kept in jobs for decades or until they are smart enough to quit and go elsewhere. Where promotions do exist those are often very long in coming and too far in between.
I’ve seen many Gen-X friends (the older siblings of the Gen-Ys) work at a ‘career’ decade after decade only to realize too late it was only every a job. Keep checking that someone with a little power is pulling for you as you pay your dues or you may end up stuck in a little cubicle for the rest of your Gen-y life — dues or no dues.