h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A Career in Everything

Posted Aug 12, 1999

We often hear or read of people talking about somebody's 'interesting career', ie. scientist, traveller, writer - the easily identifiable single-purpose paths that seem to provide security and a solid shape to life. But what of those who seek new directions through either redundancy, disability or the simple feeling that life is too short to devote to one spectrum? Don’t get me wrong - I’m not trying to say that the former is boring or wrong, but that I believe that life is as strong and possibly becomes more exciting through the idea of change as a natural and virtually inevitable occurrence, and that you can turn this to your advantage instead of fearing it. A woman said to me the other day, ‘Oh, my work isn’t very interesting’, and then went on to tell me that she’d owned a pub, a restaurant, worked in the Alps, been a hairdresser, and so on. Now that to me is fantastic - there’s got to be so many tales and memories from all that - so much more than if she had just worked in one place for all those years.

This feeling comes very much from my own experience. I am 34, and at present have my own business as a carpenter, but I also occasionally write music for tv and radio, as well as a bit of freelance radio journalism, amongst other smaller pursuits (like bashing out rambling thoughts onto nice sites like this one); my time is in my own hands, and I’m never really tied to one task (a real bonus as I probably have the lowest boredom threshold on the planet); I’m not money driven (though my work keeps me in pennies), so I can take time out when I feel like it - yesterday was a good example, as four of us strolled up to Hampstead Heath to watch the 96% eclipse; time seems to be more at my bidding, than say, when I was working in an office (not to be discounted of course - it’s still an experience, but I mention it as so many people I’ve spoken to fear nothing more than redundancy from that seemingly secure position - there’s no such thing as a secure position in anyone’s life, and offices in particular seem to breed this falsehood).

Anyway, I’ve not always been happy this way, and it has not all been my own doing - serendipity plays a big role too, but I am definitely one of those who remains open to new ideas, and never likes the feeling of a closed door. Yet I don’t think that getting to this point in life has been an easy process; I’ve made loads of mistakes, reached lots of dead-ends, but the experiences gained, and the extraordinary spread of people met on the way has been totally inspiring, particularly when it comes back to other creative work, like writing music. Most important, I’ve learned not to fear change, and now understand that there is no such thing as an empty experience. As a meagre attempt at illustrating this point, here are some of the various jobs I’ve chosen or ended up doing (in no particular order), and fragments of memories from each:

Aircraft Cleaner - Gatwick Airport
Most of the people I worked with were ex-cons (I still giggle at the thought of people worrying over ‘high security’). There was a beautiful Chinese stewardess who was sweet on me, and every time that we cleaned the Jumbo Jet she’d fly in on, she’d come over to me with presents. I never knew her name.

Supervisor - Cranks Vegetarian Restaurant
Started out as a co-operative - lovely food, all cooked and baked on the premises, before it was taken over by Guiness and started arriving in sealed plastic bags from elsewhere. A magnet for travelling workers and alternative thinkers; my view of the world was broadened by the people I worked with - particularly the laughing Frenchman Fabrice, who sadly died very quickly from cancer.

Journalist, Bosnia - for BBC Radio 3
I was going to look for work at the Pavarotti Music Centre in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and marched into Broadcasting House to see if they’d be interested in a short report. I marched out with recording gear, and no idea of how I was going to do it. I came back and presented a 20 minute programme, the recording of which took me through the most fascinating and emotional week of my life.

Mechanic - for an ex-Hell’s Angel - Sussex
A ten hour day for £10 per day. Best fun was working on an old ‘James Bond’ Aston Martin, and getting the boss to weld an extra foot into the front forks of my Lambretta!

Gardener - Royal Parks, West Kensington
This was such a pleasant six months over one summer. The young Prince William played around us often (with nurse and scary bodyguard with visible firearm), as we were busy planting the Sunken Garden next to the royal couple’s house. I also saved a young moorhen chick from drowning in the ornamental pond, and watched it grow into a feisty youngster.

Other work has included:

Piano Teacher
Market seller
Printer
Barman
Labourer
Website designer
Picture Researcher
Festival Security Personnel
Sound Engineer

I mentioned money earlier, and I believe this is a huge drag for people - I’m not talking of the shortage of it in this instance (though that is a different truth), but the slavish feeling that when one gets more, or is even able to reach a comfortable plateau, there is a huge urge to, as Einstein put it, ‘Expand to fill’: the bigger house/car etc. These acquisitions are hollow, and lead nowhere, except to more expense, and hence greater pressures. This need also forces us to stay in one job, instead of feeling that change could actually be good for us.

There is another aspect of life that also crucially affects us all - that of education, either straight through from school to early 20’s via University, or those who miss out altogether through any number of reasons. I had no clue at 16 what I wanted to do, and the word CAREER was being shouted from the rooftops at all of us. Instead, I experienced the real world, and went back at 28 to study music at degree level. Not only was I more prepared to work, I really wanted to be there, because I knew what I desired most. So it is almost entirely down to early failure that I have been lucky enough to experience more, and know where I truly want to be. It’s hard to bring all these thoughts together coherently - but why not let those so-called mistakes and mishaps be your guide - they are your experience, and the only way, surely, that you truly learn about life.

SERENDIPITY - what a lovely idea!

Steve Day

 

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