When I was 10, I wanted to be a news anchorwoman. There was no question about it. I still remember deciding this one night, while my brother and I stayed the night with Dad at that hotel in Hayward, California, when they put my doll Mary “on TV” (family joke) and we watched old Westerns.
(Later I realized my decision was, in part, due to my family’s obsession with the nightly news: they were {gasp} our heroes. I’m looking at you, Jean Enersen, Jeff Renner, Jane Pauley, and Bryant Gumbel.)
Except for how I also wanted to be a writer (first book: The Cat. Thanks, Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and Stephen King.)
Until, that is, I realized my destiny was to become a psychologist (but then I met with the career counselor: too much math). This is not to be confused with my subsequent decision to pursue cultural anthropology (I had a particularly inspired professor of same topic). This was all followed closely by a near-miss career in philosophy (with absolutely zero idea of what this career would be) and ended with Mass Communication (no Communication). I won’t even mention the Business degree (pursuit).
You get the point.
At some stage I settled on a degree of “English” with a writing emphasis, due to its morphability into different careers, as I still had absolutely no idea of what I was going to be when I grew up. Typical me, not wanting to commit.
Nearly 20 years later, my CV reflects this same spirit. Or, as one recruiter said, “She certainly has a non-traditional resume.” Or perhaps that’s how I like to remember what she said. Really it might have been closer to, “This career path has a lot of turns.” I think she meant accidents.
It’s the ultimate un-career.
I’ve been a Human Resource Manager, Legal Advocate, Technical Writer, Community Relations contractor, and Engagement Manager (Title Case!). I’ve worked for colleges, health systems, and start-ups including a small international non-profit. I’ve tutored kids (new respect for teachers after that) and been in Compliance and the Insurance industry. I’ve started my own businesses and failed.
Then I decided that the decision didn’t matter. What mattered was Stream. One of the key ingredients, Stream ensures that whatever you care about is powered by something. That might be a stream of income at a job. It may be a trade or an arrangement you have with another person. It could be your own part-time self-employment income. But it’s sufficient to power you though so you can get to your other ingredients.
This Steam, I decided, did not need to be connected to my passion(s) (there are many!). It’s a common stated desire to find a job that is “something you love.” Naw.
They can be separate.
It’s not that you do not do the best you can every day for that Stream – I did. I took every opportunity to learn from each job as much as I could, and apply it not only to the work I was doing for pay but also for my own life goals.
For now, life is short: try as many streams as you’d like, and be sure to enjoy the view and lessons from each. Add an un- to your career.
Maybe your parachute is a whole rainbow, or not even charted as an RGB. We’ll explore more options for Stream here at You Big Talker soon.
Have you had a traditional career path? Do you want to make a change? What advice can you share?
I agree – too often this important ingredient is missed! Thanks for the post.