Look around you. There’s a host of people working in jobs that are, shall we say, less than rewarding. If it were not true, the acronym T.G.I.F. wouldn’t exist. Of course the reasons most people give are legion: “I have a family to support”…”We need the benefits”…”This is all I know”…”It’s a tough job market, I’m better off staying where I am”…”I’ve only got a few more years to retirement”…”We couldn’t afford a pay cut”…”I’m too young”…”I’m too old”…”I don’t know the right people”… and on and on. I argue that although perfectly admirable, these reasons are really more of an excuse to stay in one’s comfort zone. They are usually offered up as if another job — one that taps more into our deeper interests and passions — could never support a family, provide benefits, or mean a salary increase. And, more times than not, when someone offers up one of these excuses — I mean reasons — everyone else politely smiles and nods in a way that says, “Yes, this is a very wise and responsible person.”
Wise? Responsible? Really?
I believe the key to a truly happy and fulfilled life is spending a good chunk of your time pursuing the things you’re passionate about. The things that really fire you up. The things you’re good at. The kinds of things you’d do whether you got paid or not. The lie is that it’s not really work if you’re having fun. The truth is that there are more ways to earn a living doing what you’re passionate about than you’ve ever considered.
Now, given my stance on this subject, even I was blown away when I came across a quote from a fellow by the name of Arthur Miller. He said, “It is wrong, it is sin, to accept or remain in a position that you know is a mismatch for you. Perhaps it’s a form of sin you’ve never even considered – the sin of staying in the wrong job. But God did not place you on this Earth to waste away your years in labor that does not employ his design or purpose for your life, no matter how much you may be getting paid for it.”
Miller’s point comes from a religious point of view, but I think it’s still a relevant question for anyone to ponder: Are you wasting away your years? As I said at the outset, there are a host of people working in less than rewarding jobs. Are you one of them?
[tags]passion, career, jobs, work, comfort zone[/tags]
Though I agree in principal, I have to disagree to keep things realistic. Most of us have jobs we don’t particularly like….or we wouldn’t call it work, it would be going off to fun. But, such as in my case, I need the unrewarding career to have the means and privilage to do the other things in life that fulfil me and my family. Without my unsatisfying job, I couldn’t travel to new places every year, take the kids out to dinner or to a movie on weekends, or buy the things for my family that I want to instead of just need to. That, I guess, is what ultimately makes an unsatisfying job more satisfying, and woth puting up with daily. Not that your reasoning wasn’t ideal. I mean, I’d love to do what you do, Jason. It’s a ton of work, but I can tell you love doing what you do, and it shows in your work every day.
Guy~
I definitely understand your point, Guy. I am certainly not an advocate for shirking other responsibilities and commitments. And from the sound of it, you are able to pursue things that you’re passionate about OUTSIDE of your career, which is good. I certainly don’t want to portray my situation as ideal. Kim and I have made a ton of unconventional and unpopular sacrifices, and there are certain aspects of my job that I don’t find particularly fun at all.
But I do know that all of the successful, happiest, and most fulfilled people I know don’t look at their job as something that’s UNrewarding. Or something that only provides money to do other things. My only major challenge to your comment is something I brought up in my post: Why do you assume that you can’t have a career that not only allows you to travel to new places or take the kids out to a movie, but is ALSO rewarding? Perhaps I’d consider that unrealistic if only I hadn’t seen firsthand countless examples to the contrary.
Anyway, that’s my take. Thanks for contributing to the conversation, Guy — you always add great food for thought.
Jason
By the way, dear readers, if you like Kim & Jason, you should check out Guy’s comic. (http://www.colecomics.com) It’s got some pretty good writing.
I’m in a mid 20’s crisis. Everything you’ve said has given me some comfort. It’s actually really sad that i have to read it through a website to fully comprehend how bad it is I feel by working my current job. there’s been so many excuses made to not consider doing something else because of my debt, my family, what my peers would think. there must be others in my current situation or frame of mind… college was a vacation before the real world. in the real world, everyone settles into their positions as if that was their only purpose, your worth is determined by another person (management, the whole corporate structure). i feel guilty having these feelings because i have it so much better than people who are really struggling and would work my job and be grateful for it. it’s a middle class mentality to hate your job because college has told me i am destined for so much more. i could be someone by going to college. now slowly but surely i am wasting away.
While what you say is great and definitely ideal, this “find your passion and go after it,” many don’t know what that passion is, and think that if they can just *get through* to the next day, the next month, the next promotion, it’ll get better. I sometimes have tried to fool myself with this, so I’ve given it up and let the Big Guy drive the bus, and help steer me towards what I love. Now right now, I’m doing a lot of that outside of work, though I still manage to find something to be passionate about at my job now, namely the awesome people I get to serve. If you look for something to be passionate about, chances are…you’ll find it. If you’re looking for what’s missing, chances are you’ll find it too.
Phil,
Good stuff. In regards to the idea of people not knowing what their passion is, I offer this technique I once heard years ago: Think back to what you wanted to be when you grew up. President? Astronaut? Ballerina? This holds a clue as to what you’re supposed to be doing now. It helps to look at WHY you wanted to be/do that thing, as opposed to heading straight for NASA. If you wanted to be an astronaut, was it because you wanted to explore new worlds? Were you intrigued by the physics of it all? Or did you like the idea of going really, really fast?
For instance, I dreamed of becoming George Lucas of Star Wars fame. Looking back, I think I was most enamored by how he used his creativity and imagination to create characters and worlds and stories to entertain millions of people. Now that I’m all grown up, I can see how through Kim & Jason, I’ve used my own imagination to create characters and stories to entertain lots of people. (I’m not quite to the million stratosphere yet.)
Anyway, just some food for thought for those of you out there wondering what exactly you’re supposed to be doing with your life ;)
Jason,
I’ve just discovered your blog and I love it! Obviously YOU are passionate about what you do. As a life & career coach that still holds down a day job (like Phil am working my passion on the side till it blossoms and grows)I HEAR you on this post.
I talk with so many people that are just LOST. Even if they had the time or money to pursue their passion, it often eludes them.
I agree to thinking back to what you dug as a kid…we get so trapped with being “adults” that we forget the whole reason we’re here is to BE happy, to pursue our passions and fulfill THE purpose.
I tell my clients to take baby steps with working the FUN back into their lives and trying to mix in at least 1 thing a day that is JUST for them. When we start LOVING our lives, being present in them instead of “clockwatching” we gain more peace, joy and serenity.
I would LOVE nothing more than to BE full time my business. It IS my passion, but I am realistic that growing a business takes time. Sometimes we get so excited that people think there is a magic bullet out there. It’s still LIFE and we gotta take it one day at a time.
Life is short, live passionately!
Kammie K.
Kammie,
I totally love the idea of baby steps. That’s practical, doable, and leads to more sweeping (and positive) changes.
It does take a long time to grow a business, and I can be terribly impatient with that end of things. Slowing down to appreciate the journey is the true treasure, I’ve found. (but sometimes forget;)
Nice post, Jason. Thanks. I linked to it here:
http://westallen.typepad.com/trackknacks/2006/10/some_fine_advic.html
When people are seeking their passion, this little exercise can often be very helpful:
http://westallen.typepad.com/trackknacks/2006/07/do_you_know_you.html
Don’t you have to get offered a job doing what you want? What if the offer never comes? Well, then you can wish and try all you want. Believe it or not someone has to GIVE you an opportunity first, what you do with it is another thing. But like I said if the opportunity never comes, what are you supposed to do then?
Too bad that last comment was “anonymous” but I’ll respond anyway. Actually no, you don’t necessarily have to be offered a job doing what you want. No one offered me this job. I created it. Now some career fields may depend on someone else giving you an opportunity (like a faculty position at a university.) And you have to have a certain level of talent to even compete in other fields (no way I’d ever get a contract to sing anywhere else but the shower.) But there are an amazing number of things a person can do to put himself or herself in a position to earn that opportunity. Maybe I’m too stubborn, but if the opportunity never comes, I’d say try harder.
Actually, “yes you do have to get a first job offer” for many professional fields. You have to get your foot in the door and pay dues. There are too many applicants out there these days. Mind you I didn’t say “give up” or “don’t give it your best” For every success story of escape and fulfillment there are hundreds who never could cut it, never gave up and never got anywhere in the professional field of their choice. Don’t even get me started on consulting or freelance work. There are plenty of talented folks willing to work for free (example Graphic design) and I and many others who own and manage businesses would hire them, with no real experience for free. So, where do they go? To jobs they hate, but someone is willing to hire and pay them to do. I hate to say it, but with many professions it’s a supply and demand thing. No way around it, some peoples joys will ALWAYS be hobbies. But, hey people still have their dreams and nobody can take that away.
I had a chance to see more of your website. I guess you are in the business of encouraging people to follow their dreams. So that means anything other than idealism won’t fit into this blog. Its your bag, so I won’t trample on it anymore. You keep boosting peoples hopes as they sit in their cubicles slaving away without many other choices. Good job creating your dream job and good luck
Everything I’ve read makes good sence. My frustration is that I know what I’m passionate about, I’ve worked in my dream job before (differant state…) but where I live now it is virtually impossible to get back into it as there are so many more with more experiance. It’s pure frustration and sadness remembering what I once had and wishing I could go back. It does all come down to what is feesable, in this market I can’t very well just pick up and move (our neighbors have tried) and besides I wouldn’t want to raise my son in such a small town. I truly belive you have to find your passion and try to work it in one way or another, it’s just a matter of figuring out how.
Hi there, I just found this blog and I have something to add: First, you definitely do not have to wait to get any job offers, this is your passion we are talking about, and if you are passionate about something you go get it. To many people, my comfy office job with very good pay, awesome hours, and little to no responsibilities may seem like heaven. I also get 38 days of annual leave and full health insurance coverage. I need my health insurance because my mental health has been deteriorating rapidly over the past year and has gotten worse over the past 3 months. This is mainly due to the depression I am suffering as a result of being in a completely meaningless, mindless job that doesn’t challenge me or make use of my skills. I would give it up in a second if I could. I have been depressed and stressed out for so long I couldn’t take it any more. I did some research online, did every single personality and career test I could find, and I finally realized what I wanted to do. My work is in corporate communications, and I am studying to become a physical anthropologist and evolutionary biologist. How you ask? I am completing a degree online, as well as a copyediting certificate. I have also taken some writing classes. Online education has saved me from the burning hell that is my job. Instead of staring at the computer screen all day and doing mind-numbing, worthless work, I am studying, writing, researching, and preparing for graduate school. Luckily, my current job pays me enough that I can afford to finance my education, so I am blessed in that regards. Never ever give up and accept unhappiness in your job. Take every opportunity to learn more about yourself and hopefully that knowledge will open doors. Go after what you want if you can. I cannot wait to graduate and go on to graduate school…I will just look back at this experience and feel proud that I was able to fulfill my passion.
Thanks for the comment, Roxanne! You are a great example for anyone struggling with a job that doesn’t excite them — good luck on your journey! Persistence pays off, and the effort will be SO worth it!