The Question: You have a close friend/relative who is determined to turn his/her life around for the better. His/her current situation is going nowhere fast, and s/he expresses a burning desire to start living and not just surviving. S/he tells you s/he wants to pursue a job opportunity that s/he can take advantage of right away, but this opportunity will ultimately put him/her in harm’s way (e.g., police officer, 12a-7a convenience store manager, military, cellphone tower technician, etc.). What is your response?

My 2 Cents: I am not going to advise anyone to put themselves in harm’s way, if I can help it. The truth be told, almost no occupation is safe anymore. With people going off the “deep end” and returning to places from which they were fired to kill or maim those who are still there, it could be argued that leaving your home in the morning is putting yourself in harm’s way. We could even go one step further and say that choosing to open your eyes in the morning is putting yourself in harm’s way, because we know people and/or have heard of people being hurt or killed right in their own homes.

Having said that, I wouldn’t discourage a close friend/relative from pursuing whatever career path s/he deems is in his/her best interest, but I wouldn’t be the person saying “Yes, do it!” People must make their own decisions about long-lasting, life-changing issues. I’d supply as much information as I could about his/her current choice and any other choices that may appeal to him/her based on the profession s/he is considering. If s/he asks me to drive him/her here or there to pursue the opporunity, I’d do it. If s/he asked me to help him/her study for a test that is required for the occupation, I’d do that also. Whatever I could do to support my close/friend relative, I’d do it. However, I wouldn’t be the person saying they should or shouldn’t do this or that.

There are people who just don’t want to make their own decisions, and they look to others to tell them what they think and want. This sometimes backfires, and the person comes back to say, “If I hadn’t listened to you, I’d be so-and-so now. It’s all your fault.” They need someone else to blame for their failure, and it’s easier to project the failure back on the person who made the decision, since he/she wouldn’t make it for him/herself. On the flip side of the same coin, and especially when thinking about telling someone to take a so-called dangerous job, what happens if s/he does actually lose his/her life? If, God forbid, a tragedy did befall him/her, I don’t want to be the person sitting around thinking, “If I’d never told him/her to do this thing, they’d still be alive today. It’s my fault.”

I’d make sure my close friend/relative had the information and tools to make a decision, and then I’d leave my close friend/relative to actually make the decision him/herself.

Just FYI: Do Cell-Tower Climbers Have the Nation’s Deadliest Job?

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Take a few moments to check out the tweets from Twitter on this subject:

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ishadowaddict I will tell them to take the job. If our time has expired on Earth…then we must go. You should never run from opportunity.

Pettra88 Just do it!! The Lord will shelter you.

ImABlackPoem do what makes u happy, do what helps others. tlk 2 God ALWAYS

PROTECTED TWEETER i wish them the best and pray for their safety

2StarChar I say go for it! “There’s nothing to fear but fear itself”

PROTECTED TWEETER I’d coach him/her as to what his/her expectations are that are driving these changes & motivations.

rishaholmes I would suggest looking into more or better educaton.

21Daryl do what you love and follow your passion.

MsJayye I’d say go for it knowing they’d thought this change through before signing on the dotted line.

NancyWelker Everything comes with risk. Take the job!

acmeek Take the job. They’re at risk with a “going nowhere fast” lifestyle anyway. May as well feel a sense of ac

PROTECTED TWEETER My response would be to support them if thta’s what they really wanna do & make sure they have my contact info to reach me.

NightShade10 I believe that whatever/wherever their heart is should be where they should go – love what you do n never work a day in ur life

antonio_09 I’d have to be supportive, just because the job is risky does not mean they shouldn’t take a chance

shargrove Advise them that a career should be a passion, something you’d do for free, direct them to career counselor for help

jolene1020 Tell her to go for it, you can’t live in fear, you have to have faith.

Quintessence_T times ar too tuff right now—id say… “bro/sis–go for it!”

BLKMGK Make sure he/she is aware of all the potential dangers and wish them luck.

SGTMcClain I would say for them to do it… to get ahead in life sometimes you have to take risks

Hadji4ever I would make sure my friend understands the risks involved but In the end I would be supportive of my friend’s choice.

tclarkusa I’d tell them to go for it! Opportunities require risk.

jluntzreport I would say go for it. You only live once

atane I would first try to see if there are alternatives to the dangerous career they want, if not, I would still support them.

sunshine625 Id be supportive & tell them 2 go for it!!

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