For years, people are advised to find the one job they love and take the plunge. This, according to many, is the ultimate secret to a successful, longer-lasting, and fulfilling career. It is the pinnacle of finally arriving in a destination that you long to have. But what happens when you love two or three or more things? Should you abandon all others and just choose one?
Most, if not all, people have multitude of interests they are most willing to pursue. While many decide to settle for one where they will likely get hired, some go the painstaking route. It should not be that way though. When it comes to carving a career path, you have within your power to carve a path for yourself where your interests can intersect delivering you a complete sense of fulfillment. To do that, here are some insights to take note:
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Be practical and try to look beyond the “love” factor. While passion is indeed one of the main driving forces in landing a job, fulfillment can be somewhat subjective. A flight attendant or a pilot whose main passion in life is to travel may, at some point, find themselves in a grueling position in the quest for work-life balance. This is also the same to artists and musicians who follow their passionate path only to end up somewhere they don’t actually want. Be practical. Go for a full-time job that will bring you sustainability and fulfillment while still pursuing other interests on the sidelines. No one is stopping musicians like Bono and the Edge or Justin Timberlake from pursuing their passion while crafting businesses. Do you know that actor Tom Selleck also tends to his avocado farm? Diversify if you must, but find a sustainable one, too.
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Never go into short-selling yourself. Society tells everyone to “sell themselves” in order to get hired, and just because there’s low vacancy doesn’t necessarily mean you have to settle for a mediocre job. You are meant to succeed, but it is entirely up to you to ensure that you do. Your talents and capabilities are untapped potentials. All you need is to focus on your strengths, recognize your weakness and find ways to go around them, pursue the seemingly impossible, ignore regrets, and learn from your mistakes. You do not really have to conform to what society designed for you. Always find ways to live beyond what society touted you to be and adjust your thoughts and behaviors on this pursuit.
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Take risks, even unprecedented ones. You have heard it many times and you will hear it over and over again—success is failure turned inside out. Many individuals do not dare to take the plunge in pursuing jobs overseas or cross-country because they set limitations upon themselves. Many do not pursue new opportunities because they are so attuned to their current jobs, even when it pays them peanuts or does not offer avenues for growth. Seize the opportunity while still young. Risks are part of living. The idea is to use such risks to your advantage.
A dream job, stripped of all the back-breaking details in the office, is part and parcel of life. To end up in your happy place, you need to ensure that you keep a balance between passion and survival. Take the risks. Seize every opportunity that comes your way. Learn and believe. At the end of the day, the career path you take will become the very essence of what you need and who you really wanted to be.