If your career no longer reflects your purpose or passion, look within and ask where you can add value and then be willing to pivot and change course.
Don’t expect your employer to make you happy
It’s not your employer’s job to make you happy. If you can’t figure out what you want, it’s not fair to expect them to do it for you. Some people expect their work experience to match the lyrics written by the R&B group Surface, “Only You Can Make Me Happy.” The quality of life you desire is a choice you must make regardless of where you work. I agree that an increase in pay, a new role and even good benefits can positively affect your life. In my experience, I have seen people receive the accommodations of a royal descendant at the feast table and it still was not enough to quench their gut. My conclusion for why they were still disillusioned: lack of purpose. Listen to me, it is only when you understand and embrace who you are that you can be clear about the direction of your life. If you are managing someone on your team who is trying to siphon cash out of the company because the person isn’t satisfied, don’t fall for the booby trap. I have learned that people who have a clear picture of themselves are intentional about doing what makes them happy regardless of the economics. Eventually, their positive attitude and actions add value to others, and they will be rewarded for it.
Reimagine your journey and change course
When I was in high school, my art teacher shared what my career as a creative could look like. She didn’t just tell me to attend college, earn a degree and find a job. She expanded my perspective, revealing that the great master artists of history were intelligent thinkers who did more than just produce art. She explained that they were philosophers, politicians, scientists, etc. I did not fully grasp what she was saying when she said it, but it did shift my paradigm about what I could do with my life. Being a fatherless kid, a product of multi-generational poverty, and trying to escape a crime-infested neighborhood, those words planted seeds of hope in my imagination. As I progressed in my career, I became a certified coach, professional speaker, and manager of a business unit. Soon, I will be a published author. Whenever I got into a situation that limited my opportunities to grow, I would remember what my high school teacher said and change course. Your life is a canvas, and you can paint a different scene. If you are dissatisfied with your career, I am encouraging you to reimagine your journey and change course.
Take your cues from me and live a great life!
