By Julie Gleeson
“For the first time in human history, individuals can design a life around the pursuit of interesting work.”
Richard Saul Wurman, TED Founder
One of my hobbies is collecting stories about unique careers. Did you know there is a job called a Forager? In this case, the job entails going to farmer’s markets to discover the best-selling products, and then offering to scale up the production of those products so they can be sold in high-end retail grocery stores. Or this: Chris Bley fused his passion for rock climbing and environmental protection to invent a company that employs climbers to service wind turbines.
I, myself, bought a retail pet store when I was 18. I had no degrees, no transferable skills, and no experience in retail, yet I became nationally known and very successful, finally closing the store after a full 20 years. How did that happen? I began with a deep love of animals, and the rest followed naturally.
Most career counselors recommend a skills assessment as the place to start when looking for interesting work. In my view, that is completely backward. Education and skills are essential, of course, but only after you discover what you are deeply interested in, and how you want work to feel every day. When we do anything from passion and intuition, we learn effortlessly and study voraciously. We can’t help it. As we follow our hearts and noses, seeing new connections and new perspectives, we will suddenly see how to serve and get paid, doing what we love.
Technology has allowed us to be mobile to a degree that was never even considered when I was starting my career. I remember one very successful attorney who had figured out how to work on his sailboat, and he was the most revered man in the area. That was with technology from the 1980s. In 2017, we can work almost anywhere and be connected to almost anyone and anything.
Why is this relevant? It is easier now than it has ever been to specialize and design a life that fits with your interests, passions and family. The only thing that will stop you is insecurity, and that comes from believing your own limiting thinking. Thought is as transient as the air we breathe, and always gives us an experience as it passes through.
I heard last week about a race horse that was the meanest, fastest, and most dangerous horse anyone knew of. (Stay with me, this is pertinent.) He was purchased and moved to a 2-acre field and became the kindest, winningest horse of his time. The difference? He hated being in a stall and a barn. The more they tried to control him, the harder he fought. When he was allowed more space and freedom, he relaxed and found his real power. Our minds are just like that. The more we try to control them, the more we struggle with insecurity and frustration.
Turn your mind out into that pasture and try inventing your next career. If you need some help in letting go of all of that mind control thinking so you can begin to invent, call me! My first session is always free of charge.
Julie Gleeson is the Co-founder of the Career Wisdom Institute and the Founder of The Art of Living Inc. She brings over 25 years of experience as a consultant in the fields of career designing, resilience, stress and overwhelm elimination, and couples mentoring. Julie is also a Co-Author of the best-selling book, “Inside Job, 8 Secrets to Loving Your Work and Thriving” (https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Job-Secrets-Loving-Thriving/dp/0615875394). She can be reached at Gleesonj@CareerWisdomInstitute.com or 925-408-8422. Check out her website www.careerwisdominstitute.com for more information, including about her career workshops.
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