I looked up the definition of career because we all talk about it like we know exactly what it is. But do we?
Most of the definitions I found were something along the lines of:
- An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress.
- A field for or pursuit of consecutive, progressive achievement, especially in public, professional or business life.
- An occupation or profession, especially one requiring special training, followed as one’s lifework.
But the one that caught me off guard that I really liked was:
- A path or course, as of the sun through the heavens.
We tend to think that a career is something we go to college for or get some kind of special training. It’s what we do to make money. And, generally, once we pick a career, we tend to stick with it for a very long time whether or not we like it.
The Choice of a Lifetime
I’ll never forget a line from Bee Movie where the main character has just graduated from school and now has to choose a career at the honey factory. The very pleasant sounding tour leader at the honey factory tells all the recent grads that it’s now time to pick a career that they’ll have for the rest of their life. To which the main character responds in horror: “For the rest of my life?!?!?!?”
So many people won’t change paths and find a new career even when their current career isn’t serving them. They don’t want to “waste” their education and all the years they’ve invested in that path. They’ll resign themselves to being comfortably uncomfortable and unhappy for the rest of their life.
If that’s you, my question to you is: Why do you want to be relatively unhappy the rest of your life (the next 30 to 50 years) because of how you have spent the last 10 to 30 years? Why let your past dictate your future? Really, the only thing that dictates your future is the present – your choices right now.
A New Choice
For most of us, we don’t relate the word fun with career. Career is something we have to do (gotta pay the bills, right?) and we might even be pretty good at it.
I’ve spent the last twenty-odd years of my career in corporate finance. I went to college for it. I enjoy it and I’m pretty good at it. But I wouldn’t call it fun.
Although it has paid pretty well, I’m finding that it’s possible to make just as much, if not much more, doing something I really enjoy – something fun – that also helps people (a major bonus!).
And so I let my CPA license lapse this year. That was hard to do. I had put so much into obtaining it and keeping it. But it doesn’t really serve me anymore.
I intensely enjoy writing. Being a finance type, I never thought of myself as a writer (funny how much we limit ourselves by how we define ourselves). Sure, I can write a mean contract, but creative writing – something that people enjoy reading – just wasn’t me. Or so I thought. Until I started writing.
Now I’m looking at all the ways I can make money with my writing, teaching, and coaching in a way that supports my desired lifestyle.
Yes, I have finally discovered lifestyle design. What a concept! Do what you love, help other people and live your life in a way that you love.
Why haven’t we been doing this all along? Obviously, the System was not set up to serve its workers. It was set up to perpetuate itself. And the workers are suffering.
Redefine Yourself
Back to the definition of career: A path or course, as of the sun through the heavens.
This definition is much more open and liberating than what most of us think of when we think career.
Do you love what you do?
Is it fun?
Is it fulfilling?
Are you contributing in a way that satisfies and excites you?
What would you do for a career if it only had to fit this definition: a path or course?
While I’m still in a corporate job, I found one where I can work from home and live the lifestyle I want. I am so grateful for this!
At the same time, I’m working on my writing, blog and business so that I can transition full-time to the new career of my choice.
My years in finance were well spent and taught me how to run a business, understand financial statements, and manage people among many other things. Those years have certainly not been wasted. They provided the platform from which my next phase is being launched.
And I couldn’t be happier.
Do you want to spend the rest of your life doing what you’re doing?
If the answer is yes, then how can you do it even better, with more gusto, in a way that makes you even happier?
If the answer is no, then when will you make a change? Remember that your new choice is also not for the rest of your life. If you make the “wrong” choice, you’re free to make a different choice at any time. Over and over again until you find something you love.
In the meantime, how can you decide to be happier with what you’re doing today?
If there are things about your career that you don’t like, are you resisting them and, in doing so, making yourself unhappy and perpetuating those things? Situations and people are what they are. It’s our resistance to them that creates our own suffering. And resistance is our choice.
Simple Steps
- What do you love about your career?
- Make a list. Maybe you have a long list or maybe “your paycheck” is the only thing on it. Think hard and get creative.
- What do you dislike about your career?
- For each item, is it something you can change? How can you change it? When will you make the change?
- If you can’t change it, can you accept it? Without accepting things and people that you can’t change, you’re sentencing yourself to more unhappiness and suffering.
- How are you resisting each item on this list? If you weren’t resisting the item, if you fully accepted the person or situation the way it is, then it wouldn’t stir up negative emotions for you.
- Can you see yourself doing what you’re doing for the rest of your life?
- If so, how can you do it in a way that makes you even happier?
- If not, what career/passion/lifestyle could you choose that would lead to a positive answer?
- Make a list of possibilities.
- If you don’t know where to start, search the internet for the volumes of free tools to help you identify your passions.
- Take the first step toward this path by:
- Contacting someone you know who is already doing what you’re interested in.
- Finding someone doing it online and learn more about that person.
- Find forums on your passion/career and get involved.
- Read books on the subject.
- Just take a step – any step – to get the ball rolling.
Acknowledging your passions and giving them the breath of life will lead you to places you could never have planned or expected. And you’ll be happier when you give yourself permission to explore.