What are the major issues that have kept you from being as successful/happy in your life as you otherwise could be?

[Anonymous]

I mean in terms of success in relationships, career, finance, self-fulfillment - wherever you feel you have come up short.

For me, the big bugaboos have been procrastination and my OCD. When I was younger social discomfort was also a factor but that is largely in the past now.

[HighValue]

Lack of financial resources to finish college like I wanted to. It took many years to get a good enough job to save up enough money to pay my own way through college.

Part of that was due to being denied jobs and promotions based on being a White man where women without the required training or experience were given priority. That happened multiple times, along with not being promoted due to a company wanting to meet diversity requirements, even though I was more experienced, more knowledgeable, and had to teach the new supervisor how to do the job.

[Asker]

What field are you in?

[HighValue]

Education. First it was after school programs, then school bus driver, and finally teaching.

[HighValue]

I am in liberal California though so it is quite common for many of the adults to hate straight White men, especially in the liberal school system.

[Asker]

Isn't it really difficult to get promoted in teaching? I mean, once you are credentialed, the only slots higher are principal and maybe assistant principal, so almost nowhere to go.

[HighValue]

Wanting the promotion was back when I was working in afterschool programs and applied for the site supervisor position.
There are no promotions as a teacher, just pay raises.