I'd really like to advance myself in bowling in any way possible, but the amount of resistance or negativity is astounding, and I have to admit it's nearly turned me into a severely bitter, defensive, pissy hermit.  Now here's a big caveat, a lot of the time I post exactly how I feel on here, BUT that doesn't mean I agree with those feelings or let them have any control or affect how I go about my business, I'm just acknowledging that they're there. 

I'd love to be a Gold level USBC coach, I'd love to become IBPSIA certified in everything (Pro Shop Tech levels 1 and 2, as well as pro shop business), I'd like to continue writing, maybe eventually getting published when I have more experience, I'd like to coach, own my own pro shop, maybe be involved with a bowling center, etc.  But here's the deal, you explain those aspirations to people, and it's, "Eh, that's not that big of a deal, if you know what you're doing, why do you need to pay thousands of dollars for certificates?" or "So what you're doing right now isn't good enough for you?" or "Well that sounds like overkill for our market, you trying to leave?  Too good for us now?" or "But bowling is dying, do you want to put all your eggs in that basket?"

But if I DO remain content, or just keep plugging away, then all the sudden I don't have the drive or the desire . .  My attitude is kind of changing like, "Look, this is what I like, this is what I'm going to do, if it doesn't work out, oh well."  But that sounds like an EXTREMELY ignorant, childish attitude.  But at the same time, it could be the right way to look at it, stop letting everybody else confuse me or push me off track.  My dilemma is which is it?  Sometimes it's wise to step back and take everything into consideration, and other times it's wise to do what you know you need to do and stop listening to everyone.  Normally I have very definitive opinions and feelings one way or the other, but I'm honestly confused out of my mind here.  On one hand, it feels like I ought to just cut my losses, it's already cost me enough, and it's just not worth it, and on the other hand it feels like BECAUSE it's already cost me so much, it would be a horrible decision to give up now and waste all the "dues" I've already paid.  Help me out here. 

I would say go for it and try to get all those goals completed.  Any job or thing you do in life is going to have someone trying to tell you not to or putting you down etc. 

Kind of the same when I first went to the All-Navy stuff, I was told there is no way you are going to make it and its just a waste of time etc and now made the team twice in three years.  Put all comments and people in the rear view and do your thing!!!!

There are always those who "don't understand why" you would do a given thing. And they will give you every excuse  as reason not to do it.

Do what makes YOU happy, ignore the haters.

....I love being a pro shop operator. There are good and bad days, but I enjoy drilling and coaching for people and watching them get better and enjoy the sport....People have told me I'm crazy and they don't get why I want to do it, but I hope to make bowling better, one bowler at a time.

I edited James' quote to highlight the words that I thought were the most important in a great post. In fact, all of the posts were really good.

Bowling is a sport that needs people with passion---something that you seem to have. Think of what you could do as a teacher working with young people. You would never know how far your influence extended. It may sound corny, but when you work with a young bowler and see his / her face light up after one of your tips helped, you would know that you probably added another young person to our sport. It is that "one bowler at a time" that James talked about in his post. Priceless stuff.

Those certifications can be considered you knowing your stuff, and that showing it. My Pro Shop driller has the busiest Pro Shop in Michigan.  He gets people from all over the country using him because he is certified in various things, and he knows what he is doing.  He is happy because he knows he helps everybody enjoy the game more with quality equipment and service, as well as coaching.  He's not the only driller or coach in the Kalamazoo area, but there is no accident the Kalamazoo Metro Bowling Association puts out so many good bowlers, and supports about 8 houses (give or take, hard to keep track.  I moved away about 7 years ago)

Just be happy with what you do, provide good service, and people will notice, and spread the word.  Ignore the destructive negatives, learn from mistakes, be a good listener.  The world is yours to go get.  Go get them.

People adjust lifestyles to income.  If you can be as happy in your profession as you are in your personal life, you've got it made. 

Do what you love, the money will follow.