Career Move

I know that, most times, I feel pretty right that my life is headed in the right direction. That I'm in school studying what I want to be studying, and that because I have so much fun learning, clearly I'm on the right track. Pretty idealistic, I know, and recently that ideology has been thrown a curve ball.

Unfortunately, I've had to do a lot of driving lately. I say "unfortunately" not because I don't like driving (I really enjoy it, actually), but rather because it has been draining so much of my time, especially my fun time: chilling, reading books and blogs, and writing.

While cruising the streets on my way to some irrelevant location, I noticed a brand new Toyota Camry drive past me. As I watched it speed ahead, I tried to figure out what was different about this brand new model, compared to its predecessor.

Here it is, 2007, and this car hardly looks different from the model of ten years ago. The only real differences are that the chassis has gotten larger, and now the "curvaceous" look is in, rather than the old boxy look.

It struck me that designing new models for cars could very well be one of the single most rewarding careers of all time. And what a cinch! Look at last year's model and add two curves to the back, add one or two more plastic cup holders, and maybe change the shape of the plastic that covers the headlights.

And let's not forget that with every new model that comes out and looks almost exactly like the old one, you'd get to crush everyone's dreams!!! Yes, we all dream of futuristic cars that are sleek, sexy, and can possibly even fly. Indeed, like the guy who shattered everyone's hope for a cool new futuristic vehicle (read: one that either hovers or flies) by patenting and selling that worthless P.O.S. known as Segway, so too could one completely spoil ideas of a really cool look for things in our now (I'm referring to "the future," that time is now, it is ours!).

Also consider how, rather than each year hoping and waiting that things somehow change drastically, and everything suddenly looks cool, you could cease that agonizing waiting game and instead take part in the system that disappoints. What better way to beat that waiting game by becoming a part of that force that holds it back?

Finally, the biggest bonus of the job would be that you really only have to work once a year, to get that year's design all set and ready for production. You could still work year-round, and just bill the company for hours worked in "creativity and collaboration" on up and coming models. Of course, you'll get paid for the time, when in fact you were just scheming to make similar changes as you did to the previous model. It's a piece of cake.

Yep, that'd be the life. Seriously.