The BEST Career Advice

I feel so lucky. This week I read this article

http://www.dailycamera.com/business/ci_17735729

in our hometown newspaper. This is quite possibly the best career advice ever. I wish someone had told me that 30+ years ago. By the way, here are some fun shots of me 30+ years ago!

Back to getting the new patterns ready!

Comments

[Nancy Noah]

That article is excellent. It is true that the best "vocation" we can pursue is one that permits our "avocation" to thrive. The best of all worlds is when out vocation is our avocation.

[Cindy]

Pretty girl! You have a beautiful smile. A personality to go with it too.

[Teresa]

Although I agree that following your passion is the way to go as a single young person just putting themselves out there. It's hard to do if you have responsibilities for others.

30 years ago I wanted to be a film director and I perused that dream. I was also a single mother with a five year old son. I was making headway. I was at the stage where I would get paid if a film I worked on got sold, but we had no money...and I mean not a single dime. I decided that me not having a job that paid was irresponsible.

I made a deal with myself. I would work at a responsible job until my son was at least 20 years old. Then if I wanted I would return to my dream.

I have never regretted that decision.

I think following your dream is important and wonderful, but not when you make others suffer.

[Mary Lou]

My daughter has been writing stories since she was about 11 years old. She's 20 now and a Creative Writing major -- I tell her, tongue in cheek, "Marry well!" LOL I grew up poor, with my mother's adage, "Where there's a will there's a way." -- You can always find a way to make money. Following your dreams is very important, too. The key to achieving both is that four-letter word, WORK!! I'm a firm believer that success -- in ANY field! -- is still 2% inspiration and 98% work! My very humble $0.02 worth! :-)
Blessings,
Mary Lou

[Michelle]

Thanks for linking to that article. I believe wholeheartedly in what she wrote. I had my reservations too, but my daughter has found a mentor that has given her hope to follow her dream and given me the confidence to let her. She's an artist and has lots of talent that she was able to develop and find in high school. I was pushing her towards an English major, which she also loves, when she happened to get a teacher that is a successful artist. He has really helped her flourish as an artist and given her useful examples of what it is to be an art student and have art as a career. She is going to be an art major in college next year and I plan to support her in living her dream and passion. In contrast, I was told what I was to grow up to be as a child and was fully convinced it would be the best career for me. But life got in the way of college, the a fore mentioned soon to be art major, and now I see that that would not have been the best choice for me and I'm now, at 36, trying to find myself and my passions. It would make people a lot happier if they were allowed that exploration growing up but I don't think American culture in general is accepting of that concept because we mostly see how much money and stuff you have as happiness instead of what fulfills you.

[MJinTX]

Fabulous article. I just returned from a trip to see my daughter perform in a musical. She's graduating with an acting/directing degree this fall. The joy on her face and the pride in my heart as I watched her says everything. I majored in music performance, MUCH to the disappointment of my parents after they tried to convince me to do nursing and business administration. I did give those a try in college, was miserable, and told them I don't want their money - I'm majoring in music. That process taught me many of life's important lessons I wouldn't have learned doing anything else. Upon graduation, I promptly got a job in a law firm as a secretary, and still work in a law firm 30 years later. And I still love my music.

[Shannon]

Thank you for the link. I have taken it to heart!

[marcella]

I think the key is knowing when a passion can be a viable career and when it needs to be pursued outside of work. Either way, we do need something we love to do every day.

Thanks for the blast from the past. We lived in Boulder in the 70's and both my sisters went to Fairview High.

[janee]

How would this article have changed your career choice? People are living so long now that 2 or 3 careers are not uncommon.

[Eileen Keane]

For me, it was Sister Agnes Patrick in my sophomore World History class. She did such a great job I fell in love with history overall. It was my major in college as well. If I had followed my dream, I'd have become a museum curator. But I wouldn't have met my husband, had my kids and I wouldn't be sitting here right now laughing at my grandson.
I still love history-it's just about all I read. But it's never become my job. I guess that's the way it was supposed to happen.