Careers and Living

Abstract

Although there are hundreds of work patterns, the vast proportion of the population is concerned chiefly with meeting immediate needs for survival—food, clothing, shelter, and health care. At the other end of the spectrum are some for whom these basic requirements are readily available and who are free to choose the patterns of work and living that offer the greatest opportunity for happiness, glory, luxuries, and other amenities. People in this category have the chance to select what seems to be the most appealing career, to become well prepared for it, and to pursue it in an excellent manner. The extent of choice and the chance for success are influenced both by external factors—geographic, environmental, social, political, and cultural—as well as by internal factors—the mental and physical abilities of the individual. Therefore, work patterns and accomplishments differ markedly. In this chapter, I present only a few considerations concerning the careers of individuals who are blessed with relatively good capacities and opportunities to use them. For convenience, I mention chiefly men, but the same principles apply to careers for women.