The best answer to that is to think of what inspires you…who inspires you and why….
I knew from an early age that I like to talk but more importantly I like to listen…not to just anything..but to people talking about things that matter to me. The best way for me to listen to that kind of content is to be knowledgeable about enough topics to provoke the listener into thoughtful participation.
I grew up with the idea that everyone is someone’s son or daughter and that we are all pretty much the same…and through life’s trials and tribulations we start to form our individual selves. I am one of four children in my family and despite sharing the same parents and all attending the same schools we are all different in ways that all but the most intimate family member would never guess that we are related.
I am an experienced traveler as are two of my siblings…I cannot claim any artistic ability but both my mother and younger sister are accomplished and prize winning artists.
I am tall and medium build…but two of my siblings are of average height but substantially heavy build…
My point is this….we can let destiny determine some things…and we have to develop other things.
We are not always pre-destined for one career or another…obviously; I will not pick up a paintbrush tomorrow and become an artist of renown…nor will I become a famous athlete at my age…of course lack of talent might have more to do with it than age.
Further exploring this topic I am struck by how people just passively wait for inspiration to knock on their door…and for some…it may happen suddenly but for most of us we struggle to identify what our calling is.
I look to my elders for inspiration and then I think it through…would my dream job accept me as I am?
Who do I know that is doing what I want to do?
Is there anything I am overlooking?
Would the day to day job entail duties and responsibilities I am comfortable with?
Is there enough (or too much) people contact?
I also take a series of assessment tests to see if I am rooted in reality and whether there is any supporting evidence that I have enough data to narrow my focus.
Once I have compiled this information I am ready to see how the job market defines these interests and then I try to translate it into a series of job titles.
Once I have narrowed down some job titles I am ready to do large scale research on career search websites so I can find the profiles of qualified candidates. I see what education they have and what patterns emerge amongst qualifications required. Websites that allow you to look nationally are particularly useful because you can broaden your perspective.
I know that a case worker job in Alaska may be called a case manager job in California and have no true difference other than job title…and not to put too fine a point on it but the details matter and the more time you invest in what your ideal job entails the better your aim will be and you will avoid costly miscues by getting the proper training.
Networking and internships…and never throw out a business card…are all useful tools while you are reinventing yourself! "Ways to motivate yourself" written by Ken Bownes
