In todays podcast episode we respond to an email we recieved from Australia from a listener of the show who is depressed with the life she is leading. Its not the life that she is leading either, but more where she is heading. She is 23 years old, and needs a bit of support....which is where we come in. "I’ve been listening to your podcast for a few months now and I can’t tell you how much I enjoy it. My name is Derek, and I’m 23 years old currently living in Sydney Australia and work at one of the big 4 accounting firms in financial advisory a.k.a the biggest snore of my life. AND for lack of a better description I absolutely hate it. I apologise for the novel of an email you are about to endure but I am hoping that you might get something out of this too. I began working last year in March as a graduate, keen and ready to start my fabulous career of fortune, money, success, rainbows and perfectness. When in actual fact I hadn’t really given this much thought at all I just went to uni, studied business, was good at finance and trusted my parents that this was the right thing to do. In my first week (3 DAYS WAS ALL IT TOOK) I remember being on the train home almost in tears thinking holy shit I’ve fucked up. I have gotten my the past 5 years of my life all wrong and I should be doing something more creative, fun and much more me (I am fun and creative and fabulous and all things not boring) what was I thinking? Looking back now, at my life, personality and everything about me I could not have picked a role less suited to me. (I am no snore! I am a fun bag of greatness that does whatever the hell I want!) BLIMEY CHARLIE (said in your silly British accent) what have I done! Anyways, here I am a year later still in the same job for a selection of crappy reasons: 1. I have begun studying my CA which would take me 3 years to complete (I am now half way through and think wow what a waste this would be I should finish what I started) - FYI my job pays for me to do this and you need 3 years of relevant experience to qualify so quitting would mean I can’t complete this 2. Further from point two everyone (being older people in my life e.g. parents/boyfriends parents) tell me having my CA would be an advantage to my career forever and I never know when it might come in handy 3. I believe that I am learning skills invaluable to me that would help me succeed in any business setting In saying that, I have had a constant battle for the last year that time is ticking away and I’m only taking steps in the wrong direction, prolonging the inevitable (getting out of here) and making my life more miserable than it needs to be. I don’t doubt it will be easy for you to see how much I relate to your podcast i.e. how much corporate land sucks. I reckon 80% of the people in my team hate their jobs and are lying to themselves if they said they don’t. I love the enthusiasm you give me and the confidence to believe I can do my own thing and follow my heart. I refuse to let myself go down the same path I see so many of my colleagues on. I’m young and I know there is something out there better for me, that I would be passionate about, but I am absolutely struggling to decide what that might be. I have ideas coming out of my asshole in terms of business ideas, concepts, ways for other businesses to improve - you name it I’m thinking of it everywhere I look. I recently listened to your podcast where you spoke about dropping down to two episodes per week, and while I was listening to it I thought – what crap!!! All I could hear was excuses because thinks weren’t going perfectly for you and you were going on your wonderful trip to New York and it was all too hard and you thought that was an easy way out. It didn’t sound like the motivational, enthusiastic David I know and love!!!! When I heard that you realised this and you were sticking to three podcasts I thought bloody hell good on you because you just seem to get things right. I always agree with your views