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Zorica Vukovic
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What should you do with your life?
December 1, 2004 - 07:43 AM
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"Ever find yourself wondering if you've found your passion in life?
Are you truly content in your career and your life, or have you just settled because you've hit a few stumbling blocks and have convinced yourself that you don't have the time or money to pursue what you really want to do?
Po Bronson, author of The New York Times Bestseller What Should I Do with My Life? explored this ultimate question with a diverse group of people, young and old, each sharing how they successfully found their true calling. How did they do it? They courageously pushed their fears aside and dared to be honest with themselves in pursuit of their passion. Most of the 900 people he interviewed were searching for "a place where they can be content, grow roots a little, and make an impact."
Here are five points to ponder from Bronson's book to help you figure out your path in life:
1. From your fears come misconceptions.
The uncertainty of exploring your passion can lead to irrational fears and unlikely conclusions. Many are afraid that pursuing their passion will put them in the poorhouse. Others fear that the path to their true calling may lead them in some irreversible direction or limit their future options... Get rid of the fear factor and pursue your dreams.
2. Don't wait for clarity.
Many people wait and hope that their calling will come to them in the form of an epiphany. Don't wait for a "big moment" or a sign. Sometimes the obstacle isn't that you don't know what makes you happy, rather it's hard to imagine that what you love could be a profession. It's possible to bridge these two worlds together with a little hustle, training and determination. Having an epiphany is great, but so often they tell you something you already know in your heart.
3. If you aren't happy, don't stay.
Bronson's book is filled with stories of real life examples of people who left jobs that compromised their values, consumed far too much of their lives, were no longer interesting, or created feelings of constant fatigue or insomnia. They were doctors, lawyers and investment bankers who left the jobs that were dragging them down and have found happiness as a massage therapist, bakery owner or catfish farmer. It's not selfish to deny what will make you happy. Life will evolve naturally if you listen to your inner self and pursue what you truly enjoy.
4. Experience speaks for itself.
Real wisdom is found in experience, yet people too often ignore the strong message of their experience. They fail to embrace their experience because they believed their calling was to be figured out intellectually. If you have no idea where to start, there's some insight waiting for you in the experiences you've already had.
For some that may mean changing sides like the oil company geologist who was morally troubled by his environmental clean-up work. He took a county government job to fight the very same company he used to work for. For others it means finding a career in doing what they love more than anything. Bronson shares a story of a college grad who had held 16 jobs in eight years. His true passion was golf and he really wanted to use his love of the sport to help others play better. He had even designed a golf swing trainer and putter grip. With a little nudge and using his sales experience, he took a job selling golf equipment and has already pitched his ideas to the United States Golf Association (USGA) and demonstrated his grip prototype at a couple of golf expos.
5. Never give up.
It's okay and even normal to take many years before pursuing or discovering your calling. It's possible to have more than one purpose in life, and you can do them together or sequentially. It really doesn't matter as long as you are focused and pursuing them versus chasing other unimportant things like a job title that will impress people you don't really care about, a top-paying job that is uninspiring or a dream that is someone else's (your parents', your spouse's) and not your own."
Po Bronson is the author of The New York Times Bestseller "What Should I Do with My Life?" Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com.
From: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/MSN/CareerAdvice/429.htm?cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=361014b1f4584862a1c530f07ca4272a-155218786-r6-1
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Robert Ndubuisi McMaris
Joined: Aug 12, 2004
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RE: WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WITH YOUR LIFE?
December 3, 2004 - 11:38 AM
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A cord in me was touched when I read PO's write up on subject above. I was so touched because I've been a victim of miscarried career. I trained as a Secretary and got a job in the banking industry. The job keeps me indoors all through the day. It also locks me out of the social world. Secretaries in the banking industry in Nigeria are on contracts and relegated. They don't grow alongside other colleagues. There's no job enrichment, and often they are used to cover the dirty deals of their bosses. Hurdles and hurdles are placed on them to frustrate their efforts at moving into mainstream banking and the pay is nothing to write home about.
After many years, I felt tired to continue as there is little or no difference from one bank to another. My lifestyle has changed due to lots of injustices and undercuttings in the industry, in our country and humanity in general.
Today I want to be a crusader, a social worker, a writer and a developer of the younger minds. But I need training and money to sustain these.
Po, please advise me on the way forward.
Any other advice is also welcome.
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Orok
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wonderful
February 21, 2005 - 12:38 PM
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its great to see that i'm not the only one who wonders about the job i am doing and if thats really what i want to do.Unlike ndubuisi, i am a lawyer working in one of the best paying firms in lagos and am having the time of my life. the pieces of time and practice are fitting in together for me like i never thought it would...however, i always wanted to be a dancer/choreographer and to be paid to finish a novel that istarted four years ago but had to stop when my career life picked up.we all need money but i know that is the least of my problems...my issue is...where can i find the courage to leave what i am enjoying for what i love?i'm yet to find any book or write up with an answer...
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Martin Tairo
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wonderful
March 31, 2005 - 08:53 AM
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Originally posted by xakt79
its great to see that i'm not the only one who wonders about the job i am doing and if thats really what i want to do.Unlike ndubuisi, i am a lawyer working in one of the best paying firms in lagos and am having the time of my life. the pieces of time and practice are fitting in together for me like i never thought it would...however, i always wanted to be a dancer/choreographer and to be paid to finish a novel that istarted four years ago but had to stop when my career life picked up.we all need money but i know that is the least of my problems...my issue is...where can i find the courage to leave what i am enjoying for what i love?i'm yet to find any book or write up with an answer...
We are in a funny situation where we have to work for money rather than career satisfaction. This happens especially in Africa. Is there anyone out there who left a well paying job for one that satisfies his or her career?
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Laura Steiner
Joined: Jul 10, 2005
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Re: What should you do with your life?
July 26, 2005 - 11:38 AM
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As a young person, just finished school and looking for that first job this struck a chord with me. I spent the last 4 years at school- First at University getting a degree, second for a year at college doing a post-graduate certificate in Public Relations. I thought I wanted to do Public Relations, but it ended up, I left the program feeling less than happy with my choice. I'm going to take some positive from it: that I learned first what I did not want to do, and second some transferable skills. I also learned the power of the written words. The fact is, I do love to write, and I think I'm good at it. I pay close attention to current events and know about what's going on in the world around me. I've always wanted to be a journalist, I think. I just have to work on breaking into it.
-concernredcdn
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Anu Jaanu
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Re: What should you do with your life?
August 14, 2005 - 03:16 AM
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Nice to see so many people can relate to this. Including me!
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