I was drafted by the Minnesota Twins right out of college, but when they released me a year later I had to figure out what my next steps would be career-wise. My parents were both high school teachers and I knew I didn’t want to follow in their footsteps. I identified three items for the career I wanted:
–Be my own boss (I have always bet on myself. Always.)
–Located in Metro Phoenix, Arizona (I wanted to live in AZ but wanted to be in a city that was growing rapidly.)
–Commission-based sales (I wanted to have the ability to make a lot of money if I was successful or none if I was not).
The last 35+ years is history. I made the right criteria for myself and have never looked back.
Over the years, I’ve encouraged each one of my kids to pursue careers that will help them build the life they want. And they have. They are all working in different industries chasing their personal criteria. The article linked below is an in-depth guide to the importance of choosing the right career. I have only included a couple of the graphs, the article is very long and perfect if you are thinking about your career.
Here are some of my key takeaways:
1. The first step in choosing a career is really knowing yourself. If you don’t know your story, your passions, your goals, your dreams, or your identity, you’ll find yourself shuffled into a job that doesn’t fulfill you.
2. You will spend up to 60% of your time on your career. Make sure that is time well-spent and do the work up front to make sure it is your career (not your parents’, your friends’, your teachers’, etc. career).
3. Your career determines your quality of life and ultimately your identity. Whatever career you choose should build you up, not wear you down.
Whether you’re satisfied in your current career or looking to make a change, this guide might be a first step in helping you evaluate what you really want. Good luck.
Rule #1: Know Your Stories
Too often, we are pressured into a career that doesn’t fit us. Parental and societal expectations make us feel like we have to choose a certain path. But if you know who you are, your story, your wants and needs, you will be far better equipped to pick the perfect path for you.
How to Pick a Career (That Actually Fits You)
By Tom Urban
April 11, 2018
Click here to read the entire article. It’s really good and long.