1. Remember the “Path” in “Career Path.”
Early on in my professional career I completely forgot about the “Path” in career path. I also ignored the wisdom of “life is a journey, not a destination” because it conflicted with my overly goal-oriented mentality.
I had to personally experience how my frenetic outward motion of achievement contributed to the darkest inner emptiness I could know to realize that a career – just like life – is a path and personal evolutionary process.
2. A Golden Handcuff is Still a Handcuff.
I know money is attractive and darn desirable. Many people go for the money first when choosing a career, and justify that they can solve whatever job dissatisfaction they may have with the plentiful money they make. Well… yes and no.
We do need a certain amount of money to feel satisfied, but there is a threshold when what you earn no longer justifies what you expend physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. At one point, you’ll start spending the money you made on things that help keep you sane on the job, like massages or psychotherapy or a new addiction to distract you from how miserable you really feel in your job.
There’s also no reason why doing what you love can’t earn you a boatload of money, other than the “reasons” you feed your own mind.
3. It’s Just Less Fun Enjoying Success by Yourself.
Sure, I can reach all my goals and climb the highest ladders and sit smugly smoking my cuban cigar. But, if along the way I threw away my relationships and personal values that guided my character, I’ll be a very lonely person indeed.
Of course, I don’t need to settle for “poor and full of with love”, but I don’t need to settle for “rich and lonely”, either.
What have you learned about career paths?
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