What Do You Want to Do?

November 7, 2018
What do you want to do? It sounds like such a simple question….but we tend to complicate it. Of course it depends on the circumstance, but for this post, let’s talk about your career path. By the time you are in your 30s or 40s you have most likely found something that clicks! For me, it’s writing. I write for me first, but with a goal to educate my audience and give something of value to the reader. For this week’s blog, I want to remind you that it’s ok to take the time to truly assess your options and what you want to do in life.

About 6 years ago I was at one job and looking to move to another company in the same field. It was hard to leave what I knew behind to start something new. I had options but some meant taking on a completely different role, one that maybe didn’t let me write. I wanted to be open minded and appreciate that at least I had options, and I was still employed so there was no urgency. Through several long coffee talk sessions with some coworkers, the question came up….”What do you want to do?” I said “I want to write.”
It was so easy to answer when asked, but why did I neglect to consider what it is that I wanted to do, as if I had no say in the matter? We should all be working towards something that fulfills us and pays the rent at the same time!!!! Think about it….
Ask yourself what you want to do. For some reason, we might neglect to realize that our day-to-day job should absolutely be something we enjoy. Some of us might not even take the time to think about what we want to do or understand whether we have options. Yes we all need an income, but we should look to make it something that feeds our soul. You get a say-so!!! What we do everyday should be something that makes us feel proud, productive, accomplished, and fulfilled. What fulfills you, might not fulfill the person sitting next to you and that’s okay. You need to be honest with yourself and find your own path, or be brave enough to create it!
Find your calling. What do you enjoy and what skills can you apply to your chosen career path. I have been sharpening my writing skills for 10+ years. Initially I was an editor. I spoke up repeatedly about wanting to take on more writing tasks especially after seeing there was a need for a writer. Then one day an opportunity in that same company opened up and I was offered the role of writer. Writing is without a doubt my passion. This was just the beginning!!!
Assess your options. I challenge you to stop and take some time to search deep within and ask yourself what it is that makes you happy, what could you see yourself doing and enjoying as a career, what suits your skills, what opportunities can you find or make, who do you know who might refer you to a business that offers a position in that field? It might take a new turn, a new start, but if it ignites that passion and fulfills you, do it.
This week’s challenge, should you accept it, is to write out a list, if you had a blank slate right now, and could do anything at all as your career, what would it be? What do you want to be when you grow up? What would you need to do to make it happen? What goals can you set to get on that path? What’s in your way and what are you going to do about it? Write out a plan and set some milestones. Drop a comment below and tell us what you want to do!!!!
(This post falls in line with all that Tony Robbins shared with us back in August. You might want to check out his Netflix documentary, I am Not Your Guru, it’s eye opening.)