This is part of a 7-day series as part of The Tech Progressive.
You don’t have to answer the question, what you want to do with your life
Your life is not defined by any one choice. You are made up of a plethora of choices, therefore, why should you be defined by this one relating to your career? Here are some re-frames to try instead:
What do you want to try?
What problems do you enjoy solving?
Who do you want to work with?
How do you want to live?
What makes your voice feel heard?
You don’t have to be passionate about what pays your bills
I do think everyone needs something in their life that they are passionate about, but it can be coaching little league baseball or reading the newspaper on Sundays with a cup of coffee on your porch. The subject doesn’t matter. What matters is that there is something that you crave to do. Passion makes people feel alive. Passion gives people something worth living for. Passion brings meaning.
"I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. He taught me that if you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good. Hot is no good either. White hot and passionate is the only thing to be." — Roald Dahl
There is no traditional route
There is only what you see others doing consistently and what they aren’t doing. Just because they aren’t doing it, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
“You don’t have to get a job that makes others feel comfortable about what they perceive as your success. You don’t have to explain what you plan to do with your life. You don’t have to justify your education by demonstrating its financial rewards. You don’t have to maintain an impeccable credit score. Anyone who expects you to do any of those things has no sense of history or economics or science or the arts.
You have to pay your own electric bill. You have to be kind. You have to give it all you got. You have to find people who love you truly and love them back with the same truth. But that’s all.” — Cheryl Strayed
It takes more time than you think
In these times, we want things fast. Like really fast. But, most good things in life don’t happen that fast and that’s the beauty in them. A lot of the work relies on setting a solid foundation and allowing the universe to do its thing. Keep showing up to water your seeds and eventually, they’ll grow in something you never imagined.
"When you plant trees, you're not waiting. You're building something much, much bigger." — Green Renaissance
It doesn’t matter where you start
There’s typically a lot of pressure surrounding starting at the front of the line, with the best gear, and being the most prepared. No matter how much prep work or where one starts, what really matters is how they run the race. Can they weather the storm? Can they mentally overcome the hurdles they’ll face? Do they have support?
When the horn blows and the timer starts, it becomes about whether or not you can make it to the finish line — whatever that may be.
It’s about the people you meet
1. Do great work.
2. Share it publicly.
3. Cold email people 2 steps ahead of you.
4. Talk about your work and trade ideas.
5. Host events and meet in-person.
6. Become friends.
7. Rise together. — James Clear
You’re in control
We’re often told to sit in the driver’s seat by applying for jobs and waiting to see what happens. But if enough time goes by and you’re sick of waiting for the right moment or your time to shine, you can decide to take action. You hold the keys. You can start small and incrementally build your way up to where you want to be, but you are the driver, not the passenger in your own life.