We weren’t all born to be dentists or veterinarians or administrators. Some of us are working in these jobs as a stepping stone to something else, whether we’ve recognized what that calling is yet or not.
When I was in college I worked as a cashier at a marina. I knew from the beginning it was not my final career stop. Later, as a young mother, I got my real estate license and attempted to sell homes at the beginning of the recession in the 80’s in Texas. It didn’t last long. I knew quickly this job was not my true calling. And there were many other false starts on my way to my life’s work as a trainer, speaker, and coach in the healthcare and dental industries. In this work for which I am uniquely suited, I don’t have to manufacture passion, talent, excitement, or optimism. All those flow naturally as I am naturally in the flow.
So what to do when you are working in a job that you don’t absolutely love? How do you perform with a passion for the work that you don’t really feel? Many of you are working as receptionists, assistants, managers, or even clinicians, and it is not your life’s calling. It’s simply your current job. It’s the way you responsibly provide for you and your family and move yourself forward in life, and that’s totally okay. But since it is where you currently find yourself every day, all day, consider this:
You can decide to be exceptional even on your way to something better. You can be known by everyone you work for and work with as someone who brings their best self to the job at hand. You can create a string of days that not only feel exceptionally satisfying and fun but also yield exceptional results and resources to help eventually propel you toward your dream job. The results are this: Bosses who unconditionally recommend you for future jobs, an impressive record of performance, and clients or vendors that take notice and open professional doors for you. If nothing else, you learn the indispensable skill of creating your reality and internal experience regardless of your external circumstances.
If this is you, accept your daily decision to continue your current employment as your own decision. Blame no one for your choice. It’s a much stronger and empowered place from which to launch yourself. By accepting your current position and showing up at work every day, you’ve made an inherent promise to your employer, your teammates (who may be working in their dream job), and your clients that you will give your best effort until you make a different life decision for yourself. By keeping you employed, they deserve nothing less from you. Stand for that. On this stepping stone of your life, step into your personal power fully and create the best and most influential version of you to date.
“It’s like Forrest Gump said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates.’ Your career is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re going to get. But everything you get is going to teach you something along the way and make you the person you are today. That’s the exciting part—it’s an adventure in itself.”
~ Nick Carter
