Twice a week we publish the problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Guardian Money supplement so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy's own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
My wife and I recently decided to wind up a small ceramics business we had bought and run for five years. Despite our best efforts we simply could not make it work. The failure of what should have been a life-defining project has dealt a serious blow to our confidence and finances, and means I should probably return to a more structured environment with reasonable pay.
I am something of a hybrid, being a creative, entrepreneurial and community-minded individual. Partly as a result of this I am struggling to find the direction in which to focus my efforts.
I am 49 and have sought help from various quarters, including networking, paying a career coach and making contact with recruitment companies. My instincts tell me to stick with what I know – making and selling high-end consumer goods – and try to join a team in this area.
However, when I list my interests, without any preconceived ideas, there is a wide range including education, the built environment, design and current affairs.
My formative work experience was helping to create, grow and run a medium-size family business. What feels like an unstructured career also includes periods working for a management consultancy, French toy manufacturer and studying/living in Paris. By accident, I recently discovered a local charity and am also considering whether they may have a part-time role for me to help raise their profile.
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy's and readers' help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or reply personally.
