Many of my clients come to me with a confused sense of what they really want to do next in their work life. A few of the many reasons are:
- Depending on their age, they find their thinking is different than their parents.
- They believe that their next job is their last and therefore are afraid to commit.
- They are in debt or they are making too much money to leave the job they hate.
- They know they want something else but are not sure what and are afraid of risk.
Another reason is that they confuse skills with passion. Recently a young woman that used to work for me reached out for a meeting to discuss her future. She is currently unemployed and wanted to brainstorm on possible opportunities opened to her. During the meeting, I asked her to describe her bliss or passion. She told me that she loved numbers, data, and research and didn’t know where to look. I asked again what her bliss and passion are and she said that she thought she just said it! No, I replied that I already understood that she had great skills in managing data and research; I wanted her to tell me what really excited her. I then asked her to tell me more about herself and her background – a question that I should have asked before she was transferred to me.
Too often our work gets in the way of our real job. As her manager, I should have known more about her “history” so I could understand her motivation better. I have included her exact words in answering my question and from this we discovered and discussed her real passion: helping inner city youth. We then brought into the discussion her skill set and she saw how she could use her skills in a non profit, for example, to help her reach her goals and “follow her bliss.”
“My parents were born and raised in the inner city of Baltimore. My mother received her high school diploma from a public school and never attended college. She became a young parent to my sister at the age of sixteen and since she focused on her child rather than her career, her life passion and goals became unreachable. Not having a father around, my dad dropped out of school after the eighth grade to help his mother support seven children. At the age of fourteen his mother died and he had to think about supporting himself instead of pursing his goals and aspirations.
Even though my parents had a rough upbringing and limited education, they always knew they wanted more for their children. Just like my parents, I was raised and educated in the inner city of Baltimore, but it never felt like I didn’t have the same opportunities as other children from wealthy homes. I was a very active child, as demonstrated in my involvement in many sports and activities such as soccer, dance, basketball, and national honor society. Many of my peers didn’t think college was an option for them, but I always knew I would attend and I choose Temple University over several other offers. At times it seemed a struggle to reach my goals because I didn’t have any great examples. My parents weren’t able to tell me about the college process or help me with my studies due to their lack of education, but they always tried to find resources to assist me. They would introduce me to people who went to college, attended school meetings about the college process, and got me involved with tutors and programs to help me with my schoolwork.
My parents showed me that you could overcome your circumstances. My dad was able to receive his high diploma in his 40’s, which was one of his goals, and soon started his own business. My mother and father taught me faith in God, hard work, and how to seek help in aspects you don’t know about but that can help you achieve anything you want in this world. Sometimes you may fail, but you must pick up the pieces and move forward. Now that I have two nephews who are being raised by only their mother on the hard streets of Baltimore City, I want them to know their goals and aspirations are achievable. Most of the time society believes that these young people have a low chance to succeed, but I know it doesn’t have to be that way if we support and provide opportunities that will help the inner city youth.
It is very dear to my heart to help today’s underprivileged children to achieve their goals or create goals and provide them opportunities. Children should be exposed to positive outlets such as being involved in sports, clubs, or organizations. These social activities can help them stay out of trouble and interact with others from different social and economic backgrounds. When I was young and involved in sports and other activities, I was able to diversify my friends and avoid drugs and other negative influences. In addition, it can help build one’s character and provide a support system. There should be opportunities where these children not only learn good study habits but also how to start a business, navigate the college application process, and saving money. Furthermore, I want to be able to tell them to dream and go for your passion.
Now at the age of twenty-five, I understand that it is okay to go for what you really want to do. Society’s expectations can put you in a box. The pressures of doubt of not succeeding or having the resources to succeed stops can hinder you from pursuing your passion. Don’t let it stop you! One must understand life is full of triumphs and failures, but you should pursue something you love rather than doing something you hate. There are so many people in this world who dislike their job and wish they were doing something else. Looking back at what my parents went through and taught me, I truly understand no obstacle or roadblock is too big to overcome. Know that everything will not be achieved but the determination to pursue it is the biggest fulfillment. “
I believe that when you follow your true bliss and passion, you will also find success and rewards that cannot be matched on another path. Yes, your strengths and weaknesses should be examined and thrown into the equation but we all have a set of skills that can be applied to our passion just as the young woman has discovered above. If you believe that you cannot follow your passion in your job, then at least follow it outside your job. In the end, it is your life and don’t sell yourself short.
P.S. If you know of any organizations that would be lucky enough to hire her, please pass them my way at AthomasGroup@gmail.com!
Enjoy Arnie Thomas Follow Your Bliss, check out other great articles by Arnie!
The post Follow Your Bliss – A Case Study appeared first on Cloture Club.
No comments:
Post a Comment