How many years would you spend trying?
 

Some lines of work just don't pay off right away. Like, if you want to be an artist, a photographer, a writer, unless you are super lucky, there many be years before you actually make a decent living doing what you like to do.

My question being, how many years of your youth would you spend investing in a career that you like but you know your hard work may never pay off? When will you call it quits and get a real job?

:)

In addition to all the years I've spent in school so far?:D

When I complete my education goals I'll take anything that's palatable when I graduate.

PEople in those fields have told me that you should look to invest no-less than 5 full-time years before considering throwing in the towel.

Some people do make it faster and it isn't always luck (luck = preparation and oportunity) a lot of times they assess their fields more intellegently or are better networkers.

how much time?
 

Absolutely no less than 5 years.

My husband is in one of those creative fields. I've known him for 6 years (last 2, we've been married), and let's just say that he felt pressure from my career as a teacher (!!)

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying that this time, he makes it. I'll let you all know in a couple of months - maybe Sept. I don't want to jinx it! ;)

Let's see - he finished his B.A. in 1992...so that's about 10 years. Though the field he's in now was not around back then - the technology wasn't developed...

I say don't ever give up.

I'm still working on developing my small business. I realize it's not going to happen right away so I'm doing a little at a time. Right now I've got a full time job to help pay the bills but someday I will accomplish my goal.

My cousin just turned 28 and he finally got his dream job last year...a children's book illustrator.

I am a creative writing major and if you think long and hard there are a number of occupations that require writing. I would like to write for the entertainment industry be it magazines, television or movies. However I don’t think I would feel like a quitter if I were to become that cool English teacher everyone likes.

I was a creative writing major with the same goal for a full time job. It took me 8 years to get there. I am still working on my novel in addtion to my day job of writing about entertainment industry.

I started out in advertising as a copywriter--which is a pretty fun start for a creative writing major. After that I worked various entertainment industry jobs, making contacts until someone would give me a shot.

Even now, with 100 plus articles under my belt, I worry about having to get another job at some point... just because I have this one, the next one is by no mean guaranteed.

I know some writers and actors who've been trying to make it for 10 years. I do believe that you can't really ever give up if you truly believe in yourself and your dream. I know that I will never stop writing, even if I never publish my novel or sell a screenplay.

24 HOURS
 

spend 1 day, post-graduation. overnight success. that sounds like the best way. if it doesn't work out after a day, you should just give up and go live in someone's basement until the local McDonald's fires you.

It was unbelievable.

A job opened in my "dream" career before I graduated from college. I dropped out of school, took it, and finished my degree twenty-one years later. I only needed 14 quarter hours, but just never got around to it.

I had worked for the company (TV station) in two other capacities during summer vacations -- and on weekends, which helped.

Also, the guy who hired me (and had been my boss in one of the other positions) is a Delt from the same school, but several years older.

7 to 10 years! :D Good luck!