Working At What You Love
Follow Your Passion To Achieve Career Success
December 2001
City Magazine Edmonton
By Tonia E. Chrapko
What do you want to be when you grow up? For some people the answer to this question comes easily while for others much of their lives is spent trying to answer the question. Now, you've probably heard this before, and it might sound trite, yet it is crucial to your success and happiness so must be repeated: Do what you love and the money will follow.
Follow your passion
Generally, between you and your ideal job is an education or training of some sort. This includes everyone from the trades to the arts. Sometimes people see the education as a stage they have to "get through" and will do only the minimum required. However, to be successful, it is important to see all types of schooling or training as an opportunity to get the edge. Knowledge is power and you get paid for what you know.
If you are not passionate and excited about the path you have chosen, it is considerably more difficult to stay focused and motivated and it is easy to succumb to the "I'll do just enough to get by" mentality.
Many people choose a career based on earning potential or perceived prestige - whether or not they are passionate about the work. And although many believe that white-collar jobs hold the key to financial security, the reality is that every line of work offers the potential to be in the top-earning bracket. For example, outstanding hairstylists in Hollywood can easily earn 6-digit incomes. Monty Roberts (the horse whisperer) makes a substantial income training horses, writing books and traveling around the world doing performances.
Finding Your Passion
How can you discover what you really want to do? For starters, think back to you childhood. As children, we tend to be in tune with our passions, and then as we get older, parents, teachers, society and current job trends influence us. For instance, suppose that you really enjoyed ballet or dancing as a child but gave it up for something that would "put bread on the table" such as being a seamstress. Give the Edmonton School of Ballet a call and see if they need costume designers and what it takes to become a costume designer for them. In this way you reconnect with a childhood passion while maintaining your career.
What do you do in your free time? Hobbies are a good indicator of where your passions lie. So, if you have a hobby, brainstorm different ways that you could get paid for doing what you love.
Choosing a Career
You can take the following steps whether you are at the start of your career search or wanting to make a career change.
1. Take an interest inventory. Many educational institutions, like Norquest and the Edmonton General Hospital Nursing Program have counselors who can administer various tests to establish your areas of interest and strength. If you have taken one before, it may be advisable to redo it because life changes us.
2. Job-shadow. Find someone who does the kind of work you think you'd like to do and spend a day or two on the job with them. Before you go, write down at least 20 in-depth questions you will ask in the course of your time with this person. Be sure to give the person a gift in appreciation for the time they took to help you.
3. Interview. Find 3 to 7 successful people in the field that interests you and take them out to lunch have your list of questions with you.
4. Volunteer. Even if a company is not hiring, offer to work for free for 1 to 4 weeks, especially if you are in-between jobs. It's an innovative way to learn about a particular line of work or check out a company. Then when the company is hiring, you will stand out for your initiative and creativity.
5. Call a Personnel Consultant such as David Aplin and Associates to find out what employers are really looking for in the way of qualifications and experience. These companies deal directly with companies and are in touch with the most current information so you could gain insight into an industry and what it takes to have the edge.
6. Start your own business. At the Business Link they offer a range of courses on business topics. Start with the one for would-be entrepreneurs and explore your suitability for self-employment.
Upgrading and re-skilling
During an economic downturn you may be motivated to upgrade your knowledge and skills to secure your employability in a changing market, to move into a different career or to start your own business. However, this training will consume more of your already limited time, time necessary for work and family. Consider investing in learning how to learn so that you save time and reduce your stress.
Tonia Chrapko is owner of Toolbox Training. 454 -3361
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