How did you guys figure out what you want to do with your life?
I mean, I like my job well enough. It pays decent, has a good work/life balance. But I would never say I LOVE it. I sell roofing and other building products. I want to do more. However, my new boss has been discouraging myself and my coworker's morale to the point where I'm again thinking "is this worth it?"
I want a job where I can travel. Where what I do means something to me. Where I feel like I'm making an impact.
I have a Bachelor's in business but have yet to put it to use. I just feel like I can do a lot more and be happier.
I'm just curious, those of you who found it, what led you down the path?
I'm a weird case, but I changed my major in college after hearing a recording that made me want to focus on music.
My thought was that I'd pursue music until it became clear that it wouldn't be enough to make me financially comfortable - and at least I could walk away and say I gave it a real effort. Of course, I'm still at it twenty years later and I do get to travel and do something I love. But my story isn't the norm for most folks that study music in college.
I'd say you need to identify something (or a few things) that you know you could be somewhat passionate about doing that has a potential to support you financially - and then formulate a plan to get your foot in the door. Obvious I know, but most folks don't ever take those first steps.
Find what your good at, and get better at it. Most people don't love their job, its just reality. I think its an entirely new idea to think that a job should be a passion. And I am in healthcare, working on a doctorate. The words 'passion' and 'calling' get thrown around alot. The funny thing is the people who say those words tend to be in it for themselves almost completely. Buzzwords, all empty buzzwords.
You can't look for a job to give you personal fulfillment, that has to come from somewhere else. Maybe doing a good job makes you feel better, or focusing or the parts of the job that you can control and do better. Take pride in yourself and the work that you do, rather than the actual profession.
If all else fails start your own business. It might fail, but at least you will have tired, and you can see if thats really something you want to do. There are lots of businesses out there with low barriers of entry (starting a testing center, finger print place, notary public that also accepts mails like a private ups store etc). Painting, sandblasting cars, a food truck, carpet stretching business. None of these require super special skills, but if you do them honestly and well, you will probably survive.
My point is don't over think it. Find your talent and skills, what talents God has given you, and take those and use them. It seems people feel good about themselves when they feel like they are good at what they do (and when I say people, I really mean men). Don't get to caught up in the wishy washy streams of passion, you could end up bounching from place to place without purpose.
It would be much better to make a list of things that are important to you. What you want out of life, who do you want to spend it with, what kind of story you want to be able to tell your kids about how you rose up. Those questions will probably lead you in a better direction when you combine them with your skills. You get a goal, make a plan, and then carry it out. Its what I am doing right now, and even tho it isn't going completely to plan, I am alright. Just decided what is important to you, and do what you need to achieve it.
(06-08-2018, 09:42 PM)HandsomeRob86 Wrote: [ -> ]Find what your good at, and get better at it. Most people don't love their job, its just reality. I think its an entirely new idea to think that a job should be a passion. And I am in healthcare, working on a doctorate. The words 'passion' and 'calling' get thrown around alot. The funny thing is the people who say those words tend to be in it for themselves almost completely. Buzzwords, all empty buzzwords.
You can't look for a job to give you personal fulfillment, that has to come from somewhere else. Maybe doing a good job makes you feel better, or focusing or the parts of the job that you can control and do better. Take pride in yourself and the work that you do, rather than the actual profession.
If all else fails start your own business. It might fail, but at least you will have tired, and you can see if thats really something you want to do. There are lots of businesses out there with low barriers of entry (starting a testing center, finger print place, notary public that also accepts mails like a private ups store etc). Painting, sandblasting cars, a food truck, carpet stretching business. None of these require super special skills, but if you do them honestly and well, you will probably survive.
My point is don't over think it. Find your talent and skills, what talents God has given you, and take those and use them. It seems people feel good about themselves when they feel like they are good at what they do (and when I say people, I really mean men). Don't get to caught up in the wishy washy streams of passion, you could end up bounching from place to place without purpose.
It would be much better to make a list of things that are important to you. What you want out of life, who do you want to spend it with, what kind of story you want to be able to tell your kids about how you rose up. Those questions will probably lead you in a better direction when you combine them with your skills. You get a goal, make a plan, and then carry it out. Its what I am doing right now, and even tho it isn't going completely to plan, I am alright. Just decided what is important to you, and do what you need to achieve it.
Sometimes what you're passionate about and what you're naturally gifted at are one in the same.
I'm sure it's fairly rare, but it's the case for me.
I love what I do. I was the kid in the 70s & 80s that took apart anything electronic in an attempt to figure out how that stuff worked. In my high school years, I started playing guitar in a starry eyed attempt at fame in that field. When it became apparent that wasn't going to work out, I decided to get a degree in electronic engineering. At least I would be able to repair my own musical equipment, I figured. It then became a career, and I love it. On top of that, I still play music and I build custom effects pedals as a hobby. I've gotten to the point where I wish I had more time in each day.
But yes, do what you love. No reason to do anything but, really.
(06-08-2018, 10:00 PM)NYC4jags Wrote: [ -> ] (06-08-2018, 09:42 PM)HandsomeRob86 Wrote: [ -> ]Find what your good at, and get better at it. Most people don't love their job, its just reality. I think its an entirely new idea to think that a job should be a passion. And I am in healthcare, working on a doctorate. The words 'passion' and 'calling' get thrown around alot. The funny thing is the people who say those words tend to be in it for themselves almost completely. Buzzwords, all empty buzzwords.
You can't look for a job to give you personal fulfillment, that has to come from somewhere else. Maybe doing a good job makes you feel better, or focusing or the parts of the job that you can control and do better. Take pride in yourself and the work that you do, rather than the actual profession.
If all else fails start your own business. It might fail, but at least you will have tired, and you can see if thats really something you want to do. There are lots of businesses out there with low barriers of entry (starting a testing center, finger print place, notary public that also accepts mails like a private ups store etc). Painting, sandblasting cars, a food truck, carpet stretching business. None of these require super special skills, but if you do them honestly and well, you will probably survive.
My point is don't over think it. Find your talent and skills, what talents God has given you, and take those and use them. It seems people feel good about themselves when they feel like they are good at what they do (and when I say people, I really mean men). Don't get to caught up in the wishy washy streams of passion, you could end up bounching from place to place without purpose.
It would be much better to make a list of things that are important to you. What you want out of life, who do you want to spend it with, what kind of story you want to be able to tell your kids about how you rose up. Those questions will probably lead you in a better direction when you combine them with your skills. You get a goal, make a plan, and then carry it out. Its what I am doing right now, and even tho it isn't going completely to plan, I am alright. Just decided what is important to you, and do what you need to achieve it.
Sometimes what you're passionate about and what you're naturally gifted at are one in the same.
I'm sure it's fairly rare, but it's the case for me.
I didn't say its impossible, but I still remember talking with my father before I went to college years ago about this. He told me that 90% of people don't like their job, and most people will never find one that makes them happy. I have had about 8 professional level jobs since then, and by and large I agree. Most people aren't super happy at what they do. Most employers aren't that great to work for. My bosses have stunk at least half the time. As have a lot of supervisors I worked directly under.
I want to believe that there's a great job out there for everyone, where you get it, and your fulfilled. Then you work there till your retired. I wanted it bad enough to work in 8 different hospitals in 8 years (some of that as short term travel contracts, but 5 of them were actual permanent positions). So I feel confident saying I have tried to find a 'job' that made me happy. But they never did. Some were better than others, but none of them ever filled the gap. So I made an exit plan. I stopped chasing the 'unicorn' job of the 10% and instead decided what was of overriding importance to me.
Personally, I wanted to be an expert, I wanted the option to start my own business, to practice independently. And I wanted no direct supervisors, and minimal bureaucracy above me. No more cattiness and gossiping. I also wanted to be able to spend weekends and holidays with my family more often. I don't need every weekend off, but I don't want to be working every other weekend, and basically every major holiday (or the day after). Those things were what led me where I am now.
So yeah, passion is nice and all, but this idea that your job has to be a calling or a passion is really bogus. Your job has to be tolerable, hopefully enjoyable, but there is no requirement that your job must be your life. If it is and your good with that, more power to you. But the rest of us, we still have to have jobs too, and not everyone's passion can become a job. But everyone has a skill that they can develop that is useful.
Work to live, not the other way around. Life is too short to devote 75% of it to a job that will just keep plodding along without you.
My dad asked me to help him dig some levees because his back was sore.
What a dirty [BLEEP] trick
(06-08-2018, 07:07 PM)imtheblkranger Wrote: [ -> ]How did you guys figure out what you want to do with your life?
I mean, I like my job well enough. It pays decent, has a good work/life balance. But I would never say I LOVE it. I sell roofing and other building products. I want to do more. However, my new boss has been discouraging myself and my coworker's morale to the point where I'm again thinking "is this worth it?"
I want a job where I can travel. Where what I do means something to me. Where I feel like I'm making an impact.
I have a Bachelor's in business but have yet to put it to use. I just feel like I can do a lot more and be happier.
I'm just curious, those of you who found it, what led you down the path?
For me, I guess it was just meant to be. When I was younger I had some unrealistic goals quite honestly (becoming an author, which I had zero talent for). During my time in the military, I had two jobs, one of which I hated intensely. Almost by default, I decided to pursue the other one after I got my DD-214. I was lucky in that I turned out to have a knack for it AND liked the profession as a civilian.
I think finding your niche is equal parts luck, talent, hard work, and realistic goal setting.
(06-08-2018, 11:48 PM)flsprtsgod Wrote: [ -> ]Work to live, not the other way around. Life is too short to devote 75% of it to a job that will just keep plodding along without you.
This. I've seen many people throughout the years needlessly anguish over their occupations. They get wrapped around the axle about labels and identities, which is unnecessary stress, in my opinion. I've always viewed it simply as a means to support the important part of my life.
I started just answering phones, sweeping floors and changing oils at a small shop nearly 12 years ago. Along the way I figured out I was pretty good at fixing cars and really good at getting people to pay for it. It's not a calling but I'm really good at it. Went and got a BA in business so I better understand the finance and business side of it. Fast foward a decade and I make a really good living running a decent size shop.
My point is my passions and my work are two different things. I fix cars to earn a living sure I'm invested in it after a decade in the industry but im not a gear head that eats lives and dreams cars. My passion is self sufficient living. I spend my free time working towards that. My wife and I want a property that runs completely free of any dependency for food water power ect....
Don't confuse your passion with your work. It's great when the two line up but it's also rare.
We had to take aptitude test when I was in HS (Maybe they still do that, no clue). Electronics Technician showed up as a least likely field. The Navy disagreed. 30 years later I am now a Field Engineer traveling across the country and deemed an expert by my peers. To summerize, I didn't pick my career, it picked me.
For me, my dad was pretty much my hero growing up. He did 25 years in the British Army and saw so many places and did so many things. He then joined the Ambulance Service as an EMT. He served 17 years doing that. He's now 60 and has been retired 2 years, mortgage and debt free.
I thought that if I could be half the man my dad has been, I'd be doing ok.. so I applied for both the Ambulance Service (EMT) and the British Army with a view to join the Royal Army Medical Corps. Once I'd completed all of the preliminary assessments, I'd see who came back to me first and I would take their job.
It turned out to be the Ambulance Service. Funnily enough, The British Army came back to me 2 days later offering my course dates, but I'd already committed to the Ambulance Service.
So, here I am, 15 years into my career. I joined when I was 18. I love so many aspects of the job, I'm now an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. So rather than taking emergency calls, I'm responsible for which calls my resources respond to first. It's an immense amount of responsibility and you have to have a really strong personality, but this job has brought that out of me. I'm incredibly proud of what I do and, aside from the occasional 'down day', I seldom resent it.
I'm actually looking at a new career path within the Ambulance Service as an Educator. Basically I'd be teaching the new staff to do the job I've been doing over the last few years, auditing their progress and re-training where required. Reason for this is because you can pretty much choose your hours depending on what you have going on elsewhere, the work/life balance is better and, after 15 years, the 12 hour day/night/weekend/public holiday shifts are taking their toll..
That's my story..
I hate what I'm doing but I make plenty hating it.
Then again, at 62, I think I'm just starting to hate work in general.
I fell into it due to nepotism. Mostly off my dead grandfather's reputation roughly three years later after said death. I am actually a 4th generation employee for this company family wise. My great great grandfather helped build it up with steel, bolts and ties and my great grandfather was a mechanical engineer. My grandfather ended up being an engineer and then I had to work my way up from the bottom of the latter for three years with feast or famine like hours before finally landing the current gig I've now had here for eight years. Just came up on ten years already for this company.
I wouldn't say it's my calling though. I enjoy the hours and the pay. It can be grueling at times mentally. We have a lot going on at the moment with new faces and new ideas but if my run ends here soon that may be all the excuse I need to take a chance elsewhere and pursue something I would actually enjoy doing day in and day out. Just depends on how it all plays out. It's really out of my hands and there's no sense in working myself up until that bridge is there before me and awaiting me to cross it.
Calling wise I have always enjoyed writing, sculpting, drawing, painting, music, fishing and gaming and the Jaguars. Maybe I can delve further into one or two of those fields and turn it into a form of living.