A story upon which I want to expound. Y’all know I’m in the midst of yet another quest for a job, so Monster sent me this and I read the first paragraph and chuckled. This has to be one of my greatest frustrations, though. “Passion Can Drive Your Career.”
Puft. I am just lost. Just plain lost, as I’m not sure I even know what passion is, but I know that as it stands right now, I ain’t driving my career, so passion can push the pedal if it can find it.
I love though, that “most of us have been hit with that pit-of-the-stomach, Monday-morning moment of questioning: Why do I work here? Is this all there is?”
Shiyid. I hate work. Am I lazy? Sometimes, but man I hate knowing when I have to do something. Please. Everyday-morning more like it, and there were too many days in this working life where the dread covered the entire body – pit of my stomach, pain in my ass …
Some lady done wrote some book called Radical Careering. That’s right. Done wrote. Insert my “mmm hmmm” here because this is basically the tone I’ve taken to someone who has given their book such a title. I don’t know what it is about this title, but let me try and get close. Radical. See? In my mind, work ain’t radical. It’s work and encompasses an unyielding doom. I hope I won’t always feel this way. Perhaps someday I’ll look back at this energy and just laugh at the feverish desperation I feel whenever I think about working.
Careering. Now I make up words all the damn time, but since I’m not responsible for this one, it just ain’t cool enough. In fact, it’s annoying. I feel it spites me. As if careering is a sport or something else enjoyable. I guess this word falls into some category that I’ll let Fidge name, but adding –ing to career irks me.
And I’m a hard worker, too. Even when I hate whatever task I may be doing, I always do it well. I’m afraid to do less than that because I just can’t deal with myself when I don’t do my best, when I don’t at least try … but man, I live for the day when I roll out of bed and can just say, “Alright. Let’s go.”
Just that would be enough. I don’t have to rise and break into a jazz run with jazzy hands framing the smile on my face. A simple g’morning, I’m breathing, all’s well, would be delightful.
I love this other book title, though. It’s one that if I had a clue, I’d have used this title myself: I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This.
Hell, that ain’t even a book. That’s like a morning, my-feet-are-finally-on-the-floor mantra. Inhale and extend arms to the sky, curling and pointing toes to get a full stretch. Now using one’s right arm, slap the shit out of the alarm and sigh as rolling over you heave yourself up to face another work day.
Walk past your mirror. You don’t want to look yourself in the face because you are not somebody, you’re just a part of a great big blob of people who are all fidna do the same dern thing …
Anyway, of course the article itself wasn’t that helpful, but I included it just so you could know what caused me to ramble as I have.
In the meantime, I’m going to do some more introspection (probably in the form of another post), work on a plan and type out some actions perhaps. Thanks for your support.
Passion Can Drive Your Career by John Rossheim Monster Senior Contributing Writer
Whether it last happened today or 20 years ago, most of us have been hit with that pit-of-the-stomach, Monday-morning moment of questioning: Why do I work here? Is this all there is?
What's missing for many American workers is passion, a positive emotional connection to our work -- often our most energy-consuming pursuit. The good news is that with introspection, planning, action and support, you can redirect your career to incorporate what truly excites and invigorates you.
Passion Drives the Most Successful Careers In the context of work, passion is more than a best-seller buzzword, according to Sally Hogshead, author of Radical Careering. "The word ‘passion' has a cheesy connotation, but you have to see it as a nonnegotiable element of your career success," she says. "In fact, if you're going to be your most successful, you have to be passionate."
To put the drive back into your career, you first must get back in touch with what energizes you. "Look back over the course of your life -- even back to when you were 12 years old -- and seek patterns in what you like about what you've done," says Lawler Kang, author of Passion at Work. "Try to come up with a high-level passion, even a mission. Then ask, ‘Does this job meet my personal mission?' whatever that mission is."
Your passion may take many forms: working with people, grappling with an organizational puzzle, telling stories or building that better mousetrap. It's wise to come up with more than one endeavor that energizes you, because some passions don't lend themselves easily to a career.
Put Passion into Your Work Don't make the mistake of assuming that any work activity that touches on your passion will automatically gratify you. "Even if you're interested in golf, it's unlikely you'll stay interested in working in a golf store and selling equipment," says Julie Jansen, author of I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This.
Suppose you've got the talent and decide you want to be a golf pro. For a successful candidacy, you need to lay out a plan that will help you put all the pieces together. "You've got to get some substantial stuff on your resume -- fill in the blanks, repackage yourself, get training," says Jansen. A reality check with professionals in your target occupation is key.
Inject Passion into Your Job Opportunistically Of course, many of us don't have the time and money to undertake a total career change. Big changes typically come with big expenses. But some professionals develop creative ways to infuse their careers with a passion that has been a long-term avocation.
"A client of mine, an account executive at a global ad agency, is passionate about health," says William Arruda, a consultant with Reach Communications Consulting. "So she came up with several ways to inject her passion into the daily grind." The account executive worked with the on-site cafeteria to design healthful menus, led after-work yoga and kickboxing courses and gained a healthcare company as a client.
That's one way to serve up a career with a side of passion. Connect with other Monster members on the Career Fusion Board to learn how you can incorporate what truly excites and invigorates you into your career.