Having a Career That You Love

1. 82

   gmwilliamsposted 12 years ago

   Only a minute of persons have a job which they truly love.  These lucky souls often know what they want to be from childhood and/or have an innate talent which is nurtured by parents and/or other authority figures.  The majority of us souls often drift into our jobs although we received the prerequisite education and training for such jobs.   I have found that those who usually know what they want to be and are passionate about their careers are the happiests while the rest of us usually work, often suffering in silence until either a drastic change occurs or eventual retirement.  Are you passionate about your career or just have a job/career which you merely tolerate?

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   1. 71

      AshtonFireflyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I tolerate it.
      And dream and plan for better things.
      Someday...

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   2. 52

      mkvalentineposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I wish I could say that I love my job, but I find myself looking for a way to make more money, and regardless of what many people think, yes money is important when you have bills to pay. I find myself doing the job with less enthusiasm because I do not feel valued because of what I am paid. I have to say that I am looking to find a way to make a change.

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      1. 85

         Efficient Adminposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Money is important because it is your well being, your welfare. If you are in a job you love but don't have enough to make ends meet, well, that will affect one's happiness.  Money is important because it ties in with your welfare.

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   3. 72

      Born2care2001posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      For almost 40 years I have worked much as you have described, so I can understand your viewpoint. I have had some very good jobs, but I wasn't happy.
      I was neglected as a child, brought up in a broken home by uneducated, negative parents. I dropped out of college and after losing everything I worked for in my first marriage, including my wife, material possessions and friends and family I was about to give up, even though I had been reading, listening to and attending motivational workshops.
      Then about 8 years ago I had a revelation. To put it plainly, I needed an attitude adjustment. Not in my mind, in my heart! Then something even better happened. I met two men who became mentors and I began to see life through a different set of lenses.(I was 50 at this time) It didn't change overnight, but it did begin to change. What helped the most was taking responsibility for what I was thinking and telling myself all throughout the day, all throughout my life.
      I have had the same job for the last 8 years. I went from thinking it was the pits to thinking it's the "finest job east of the Mississippi." I did it by using a technique called "The Book of Positive Aspects." Each day I would try to find and write about a positive aspect of this very same job. (Somewhat low paying by the way) That doesn't matter.
      What mattered is it helped change my attitude about me. Along with working on other elements of my life, I have totally redone my world. I don't make any more money, in fact about 50% less than I made in 1990, but I'm happier than I've ever been before and I'm working on 3 new ventures, because I'm still learning what makes me happy no matter where I am.
      It's all in between our ears. Not easy, but it's about what's inside of us.
      Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."
      - Ralph Waldo Emerson
      I sincerely, hope this helps someone!

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      caleb89posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      This is why college is so important. It allows you to have more options and opportunities regarding your career path.

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2. 61

   capricornrisingposted 12 years ago

   I'm probably the only person I know who has changed careers 3 times, and each time still did/doing what I studied in college and grad school and have been involved in all my life.

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3. 81

   MakinBaconposted 12 years ago

   Rather than looking to "do what you love," which I think is overrated, how about loving what you do?
   
   If you have an attitude of 'it's not about me," you can get everything you want by being wildly passionate about wherever you are in life, as it'll resonate with those you're serving and helping.

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      SomewayOuttaHereposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        luv your name...makinbacon...where's ron? he's a big bacon fan

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      1. 82

         gmwilliamsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I staunchly believe that one must have a career that they are passionate about.  People who love their jobs and/or careers are happier people and they accomplish more.   People who just have jobs and careers that they do not love, will not perform as effectively as those who have a passion.
         
         People who have just jobs just meander through the work week, only anticipating breaks, lunches, and pay checks.   These people are often the clockwatchers at work.   They actually do not care about their work but are just there.   This is highly insidious; however, MOST people evidently DO NOT LOVE their jobs and careers.   They JUST do it to provide a livelihood.   
         
         The old paradigm regarding work is to find a good job with security and advancement.  The new paradigm is finding a job and/or career which one is PASSIONATE about!   Having passion for a job and/or career makes life so much more worthwhile!   Furthermore, when one has a job/career which they are passionate about, one does not live with constant regrets- shouldas, couldas, and would ifs.

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4. 54

   Marge4653posted 12 years ago

   i have a school day on thurday

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5. 73

   WriteAngledposted 12 years ago

   I enjoy translating most of the time, except when I am plagued with very tight deadlines. Although I have subject qualifications, I do not have any linguistic qualifications. I never thought of becoming a translator when I was making career choices.
   
   Translation actually doesn't feel like work to me, more like doing a crossword or other puzzle.
   
   A further vital factor for my contentment is that I work for myself. In the bad old days, I was an employee. I hated being "managed" and being asked to "manage" others, and equally I hated being told when, where and how to work and what to wear while doing so. I loathed having to be in an office surrounded by people and their endless small-talk about things that do not interest me in the slightest. 
   
   Now, since the end of 2003, I work at home, and only need to interact with my clients by email and very, very occasionally by phone. I work the hours I want, stop and play some games if I feel like it, or just go out somewhere in the middle of the day. I know I can always make it up at night if I choose.
   
   The freedom is a massive part of why I am so happy doing what I do.

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6. 67

   GDiBiaseposted 12 years ago

   I think we have to process a positive attitude regarding all things in life. But because I am of the belief if it is in our capacity to change what we don't feel good about, and we do nothing, than our life is a direct result of our lack of action, and we have no one to blame but ourselves. We have to have determination and drive to reach our dreams and not be afraid to go get it!

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7. 61

   Disturbiaposted 12 years ago

   I love my work.  It's not what I've always wanted to do however, but I wouldn't change a thing.

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