Your Career: Love, Hate or Tolerate it?

Snot What It Seems

Hi Guys. Sorry I’ve been a little less than prolific on the writing front lately – I’ve been smashed with (a version of) the flu. As I type this I am sliding into day four of sneezing, snot (sorry if you’re eating), headaches, aching teeth (left side), night sweats and general physical exhaustion. Which, of course, all makes for some very creative and inspirational writing.

Not.

I tried to write something over the last two days but I couldn’t hear my creative self over the top of my pounding head. It’s also hard to type and sleep on the keyboard at the same time.

I’m back to about fifty percent today so if my writing is only half as good as normal, you know why.

Anyhoozle…

Last week I was coaching a young lady (23) and we found ourselves talking about her future – as is often the case. We were chatting about where she wanted to be a year from now in regards to the various areas of her life (career, relationships, health, finances, etc.). We hit a road block when it came to her career. While she is sure she doesn’t want to be “doing the same thing” (her current job) a year from now, she is (was) somewhat stressed about identifying – with any level of clarity and certainty – exactly what it is she “should be doing”.

When I suggested that she need not put herself under such pressure and that maybe she could spend some time researching, exploring, investigating, asking questions, talking to people in different fields and educating her self about other possible careers, industries and professions, she was visibly relieved. It seemed like a good idea to her. I suggested that it wasn’t necessary to have the next fifty years of her working life mapped out by this Friday. The news that (when it comes to career) many people (yes, even old people) are constantly assessing, re-assessing and exploring other options came as a surprise to her. 

Qualified (for) but not Passionate (about)

It’s true that sometimes the idea of a certain career doesn’t equate to the reality of it; which is why many people study for years only to discover that their field of expertise and qualification is neither their passion or their future. We all know people who have spent years gaining a degree only to work in a totally unrelated field at the completion of their studies. And that’s okay too. When it comes to careers, there’s no universal right or wrong – only right or wrong for us individually.

A Chill Pill

I’m always amazed when twenty year-olds are anxious and worried because they haven’t figured out the next forty years of their career with absolute certainty. Geeze Louise, chillax will ya? While it’s important that we do (ultimately) find some clarity and direction, it’s also okay to figure it out as we go. It’s also okay to change our mind, learn new things and be stimulated, challenged and fulfilled by different things at different stages of our evolution. What’s to say that your ‘ideal’ career at twenty will float your boat at forty? Or maybe even, at twenty-five?

While I loved training thousands of people every year (as a trainer on the gym floor) back in the day, I’m really glad I don’t do it any more. I’m also aware that my experiences as a trainer, gym owner, conditioning coach and even as a bouncer have, in many ways, shaped me and prepared me to do what I do now. How could I stand in front of audiences and speak with any authority if the only thing I’d ever done was… speak in front of audiences?

A Use-by Date for Jobs

It’s my belief that, for many of us, certain jobs and projects have a use-by date. That is, a time when that particular role doesn’t ‘do it for us’ on an emotional, creative, intellectual, social or personal-growth level. Of course, there will always be times and circumstances where we are bound financially and practically to stay in a less-than-desirable situation (for a period of time) but, even then, it’s possible for us to explore options, ask questions, learn new things and open doors before we make any life or career-changing decisions.

Of course, some people will discover what they want to do at a young age and subsequently be fulfilled, stimulated and happy for the next fifty years. But let’s be honest, they are a very small minority. Most of us will have many jobs, often in a wide range of fields and that’s okay. Normal even. My career has incorporated everything from bouncing in pubs to lecturing at university, working in the media, building my own company and employing hundreds of people. And while I have no desire to be punched in the head for twelve dollars per hour these days, at the time, working in security served a purpose and taught me much about people. As did teaching young adults at college. As did working in my parents’ hardware store when I was a kid.

Never Too Late

Even though there are certain practical and financial limitations which mean we can’t all jump in and out of jobs at will, the great news is that there are many (many, many) people who have “found their purpose” after ten, twenty and even thirty years of surviving a series of crap jobs in crap environments. I didn’t really start writing (prolifically) until I was thirty-six. At that point I had zero training, experience or even understanding of what it took to be a successful writer. Still don’t. I wrote a few articles for a newspaper and decided that writing would be (part of) my future because I loved it and it forced me to develop and learn along the way.

My father started painting professionally at sixty-five after fifty (or so) years of farting around with it (on the side) and not exploiting or exploring his considerable talent. It’s his passion and his gift and he now consistently produces amazing work that people line up to buy.

Being as we spend so much of our lives working, it’s always been my philosophy that we should probably do something we actually enjoy – possibly even love. Call me crazy. Now, of course, I’m not suggesting we all walk in to the boss and resign today and if, per chance, you love your current job, then congrats and stop reading now!

What I am suggesting is that for those of us who don’t enjoy our career then maybe it’s time to ask some better questions. To have some different conversations with different people. To do some research. To study. To get uncomfortable. To take a chance. To find solutions, not problems and to imagine what could be rather than regret and resent what is.