In my opinion, the difference isn’t about professionalism or credentials; it’s about purpose. People who find a calling, a sense of meaning in their work, have a purpose. A job is something you do to get paid, but a career, to me, is about doing work that brings meaning and fulfillment.
When we’re kids, we dream about what we want to be when we grow up—those dreams are often fueled by what excites us or what we think will make us happy. But somewhere along the way, we lose sight of those dreams and become focused solely on salary, benefits, and, more recently, flexibility.
But why can’t we have it all? Why not get paid well and live your dreams? When we shift our focus from fulfillment to income, we slowly lose sight of what matters most to us. Then one day, we look back and wonder, “Is this all there is to life?”
How Do You Get Both?
Start with passion, with what I call your “spark.” Everyone has that excitement and joy when they think about what they truly want to do. Dig into that feeling and explore why you’re drawn to it. Be mindful of those limiting thoughts—“I don’t have enough experience, the right education, or it won’t pay enough.” When you find your calling, there are many paths to success, and often, it requires creativity to craft your dream career.
As a little girl, I used to line up my stuffed animals like a classroom, using bubble lotto sheets as tests. I’m not sure what I was teaching them, but I loved the feeling of sharing something with them. I never wanted to be a school teacher, but I did have a vision of teaching and training for many years. Now, no surprise—teaching and training are central to what I do today, and I absolutely love it. I found a way to share my gifts and talents as my calling and built a career around it. So, what’s your spark?
Ready for a Career Shift?
If you’re feeling like it’s time to make a change, or you know it’s time but don’t know what your next career should be, consider my Career Exploration Program. We use assessments to pinpoint your personality and career interests, and the combined reports will detail the top 10 careers best suited to you. From there, we explore your options, address internal blocks and external challenges, and create a game plan for your fulfilling career all in just three months.
For a brief overview of the program, click here. By the way, this isn’t just for adults—I work with teens, too, helping them figure out who they are and what they want before they head off to college!
