three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter

This is a safe topic for me to discuss because I am mere weeks away from my 65th birthday; so there is no danger of me ever doing any of them. There is no time left to train or apply for any of these jobs, before I hit retirement age. So who would hire me, even if I was any good at it?

My first choice would be to become a barrister. I like the idea of fighting for people and the cut-and-thrust of legal argument. It always looks dramatic on TV, and I love the whole concept of producing the twist that reveals the baddie or saves the day. In reality, it is probably more tedious and run-of-the-mill than the average courtroom drama depicts. 

Besides, I suspect I would be less dashing and save the day with a knowing stare and flourish of a closing argument, and more a crumpled, late, can’t find the file Rumpole of the Bailey type. So maybe that has always been more of a daydream.

I would seriously have liked to be a therapist. To be able to help people unravel hurt and walk alongside them seems a good use of anyone’s time. I imagine it takes years of training and a lot more patience than I have access to. 

It seems inappropriate to tell people to pull themselves together or to try not to whine so much. Maybe you learn the professional version of those statements and manage your frustration and boredom better than I have ever been able to. 

If a meeting runs longer than an hour and is presented by someone with a voice that drones, I am in danger of taking a nap. Perhaps there is a bit of a gap between my interest and my ability to actually be a therapist. 

The thing I think is more realistic and possible is to own my own café. We have a small chain of cafés in our local area that are close to perfection. They are just about to open their seventh edition. They started with a small one in a station and have them in parks, stations, and high streets. 

I love cafés, the vibe, the food, the constant coffee, the music, the sense of community. The little chain that I admire has it all, and I have watched them develop over the years and like the effortless chill they bring to each place.

I would add one thing to my rendition, and that is that in each venue, I would train and develop three people who would gradually be awarded on a sliding scale a part profit share in half of each venue. There has never been a better model for a business than the people who work there having a stake in it. It lends itself to training each other and creates a sense of family and security. 

I just need to find amazing bakers and cheerful staff and great locations. Oh, and some finance. I mean, how hard can it be?