I don't hate my job. I hate the person I am at my job, I have no passion for my company's mission, and I feel like I am missing out on something better.
I don't intend anything I say in regards to jobs or callings as advice, just as a data point. When I took the safe route 11 years ago, I never imagined what I was risking.
At this point, I regret not believing in myself and not having the courage to try - even if it meant failing - much earlier in my life. I settled for a sort of half-life, in which I am happy in my personal life but not in my career or in my greater contribution to the world. For me, that's just not sustainable for another 30 years.
That shows some remarkable insight. Yes, the job is what it is; the company is what it is. You aren't a match. The question is what are you going to do now? Having a family I don't have the luxury of picking up and doing something else on a whim. My plan extends over a few years with small steps along the way. People in "mid-career" can still change but they need to be patient, have more of a plan, and have a spouse who is supportive.
I don't intend anything I say in regards to jobs or callings as advice, just as a data point. When I took the safe route 11 years ago, I never imagined what I was risking.
At this point, I regret not believing in myself and not having the courage to try - even if it meant failing - much earlier in my life. I settled for a sort of half-life, in which I am happy in my personal life but not in my career or in my greater contribution to the world. For me, that's just not sustainable for another 30 years.