Do what you have to do… Until you can do what you want to.
HEY. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?
I have a college degree and I do not have my dream job.
Not even close. Let me complain for a second. Is debt really worth not having my dream right off the bat? If I could go back, I would have never wandered into student loan debt. Well I’m here now and nothing to show for it. Five years out of college with five different jobs.
THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
Did I mention that I have a family? A beautiful wife and two boys. I love my family. Every day I go to work, I think of them. I strongly desire my boys to know what hard work looks like. However, I know they can see I’m not happy with myself.
I was struggling with my dreams becoming a reality. I thought two of my jobs were dream jobs and four of them did not work out.
THEN IT HIT ME ONE DAY.
Who am I? What is my gift? Where can I use it? Can I use it at this job that does not seem to appreciate my hard work? My gift is teaching. Knowing my gift still doesn’t help me with my career choice. You can know your gift but your career could be much different. This is why the Gallup polls show that people all over this country are unhappy.
Right now, I’m at a job that I do not like. At all. It’s strange that I have peace. A peace that surpasses my understanding. What changed? My perspective. I am a teacher. That’s who I am. If I watch a YouTube video, I’m immediately trying to learn it and share it with someone else. If I read a book, I’m trying to post a quote it on my Instagram (#inspo). When I have a conversation with my boys, I’m continually searching for teachable moments.
WHAT IS YOUR GIFT?
Is it teaching? Is it communication? Are you all into computer science hittin’ them peeps with that javascript? Sure I’m clueless but I know that you know makes you excited to wake up in the morning. At my job, I decided to find ways to be a teacher. I found an opportunity to find meaning in the mundane. Hey kid, be excited that a job does not define who you are!
I'm done complaining now. I have punished myself mentally too long. 🤪
THERE ARE THREE THINGS I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER
#1.
Conquer something. Sound manly, but hear me out. What is one thing you hate to do every day but needs to be done? For me? Physical exercise. So what do I do? I take control and I run or stretch and conquer the thing I hate so the mundane seems not so bad.
#2.
Work at your job in excellence to the point that people are amazed. My coworkers are confused right now. Sure I take breaks but when there is something to be done, I do it. If my boss asks me to do something, I do it excellently. Why? Because it does not define me, and it does not define you. Be proud. You are important.
#3
Find out what your gift is and apply it to as many areas of your life as possible. There are so many personality tests out there but I would also ask 2-5 close friends, "What am I good at?".
IF I COULD LEAVE YOU WITH ONE SENTENCE TO SUMMARIZE MY THOUGHTS, IT WOULD BE THIS: DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO UNTIL YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO.
YOU MAY BE SO UNHAPPY AT YOUR JOB OR PLACE THAT YOU ARE AT RIGHT NOW.
You can be like me and not like school at all. None of these things define the reason you wake up every day. The mundane builds character. The tasks that seem useless translate over into the future of your “dream job”. Right now, I'm studying to be a teacher in public schools. Is it my dream job? I do not know if I believe in my dream job anymore.
I know I can use my gift which excites me. I will always believe that my gift is my reality.
- Chris
