twentythree y.o. geographer, barista, yoga practitioner. University College London. born and bred in the lil' island of Singapore. constantly searching for answers. extremely flawed, especially when it comes to imposing standards on others, expecting too much, not knowing when to close her mouth (to shut the fuck up or to stop eating). too crazy for her own good and has to be taken with a massive handful of salt. adores backpacking, hitch-hiking, hill-walking, red wine, whiskey, cocktails, fine food and good conversations.
REMINDER:
"open your heart. someone will come. someone will come for you. but you'd have to open your heart first."
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| Friday, May 02, 2014
◔ 1:59 AM // ✎ 0 comment(s) | ❝ ❞ |
From http://www.lifebuzz.com/mike-rowe/:
Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs is an awesome guy. He can build
or fix anything, he’s very entertaining, and has a great sense of humor.
Mike also tells it like it is and gives great advice to others. A fan
wrote him and asked him for some career advice:
Hey Mike!
I’ve spent this last year trying to figure out the right career
for myself and I still can’t figure out what to do. I have always been a
hands on kind of guy and a go-getter. I could never be an office
worker. I need change, excitement, and adventure in my life, but where
the pay is steady. I grew up in construction and my first job was a
restoration project. I love everything outdoors. I play music for extra
money. I like trying pretty much everything, but get bored very easily. I
want a career that will always keep me happy, but can allow me to have a
family and get some time to travel. I figure if anyone knows jobs its
you so I was wondering your thoughts on this if you ever get the time!
Thank you!
- Parker Hall
Hi Parker
My first thought is that you should learn to weld and move
to North Dakota. The opportunities are enormous, and as a “hands-on
go-getter,” you’re qualified for the work. But after reading your post a
second time, it occurs to me that your qualifications are not the
reason you can’t find the career you want.
I had drinks last night with a woman I know. Let’s call her
Claire. Claire just turned 42. She’s cute, smart, and successful. She’s
frustrated though, because she can’t find a man. I listened all evening
about how difficult her search has been. About how all the “good ones”
were taken. About how her other friends had found their soul-mates, and
how it wasn’t fair that she had not.
“Look at me,” she said. “I take care of myself. I’ve put myself out there. Why is this so hard?”
“How about that guy at the end of the bar,” I said. “He keeps looking at you.”
“Not my type.”
“Really? How do you know?”
“I just know.”
“Have you tried a dating site?” I asked.”
“Are you kidding? I would never date someone I met online!”
“Alright. How about a change of scene? Your company has offices all over – maybe try living in another city?”
“What? Leave San Francisco? Never!”
“How about the other side of town? You know, mix it up a little. Visit different places. New museums, new bars, new theaters…?”
She looked at me like I had two heads. “Why the hell would I do that?”
Here’s the thing, Parker. Claire doesn’t really want a man.
She wants the “right” man. She wants a soul-mate. Specifically, a
soul-mate from her zip code. She assembled this guy in her mind years
ago, and now, dammit, she’s tired of waiting!!
I didn’t tell her this, because Claire has the capacity for
sudden violence. But it’s true. She complains about being alone, even
though her rules have more or less guaranteed she’ll stay that way. She
has built a wall between herself and her goal. A wall made of conditions
and expectations. Is it possible that you’ve built a similar wall?
Consider your own words. You don’t want a career – you want
the “right” career. You need “excitement” and “adventure,” but not at
the expense of stability. You want lots of “change” and the “freedom to
travel,” but you need the certainty of “steady pay.” You talk about
being “easily bored” as though boredom is out of your control. It isn’t.
Boredom is a choice. Like tardiness. Or interrupting. It’s one thing to
“love the outdoors,” but you take it a step further. You vow to “never”
take an office job. You talk about the needs of your family, even
though that family doesn’t exist. And finally, you say the career you
describe must “always” make you “happy.”
These are my thoughts. You may choose to ignore them and I
wouldn’t blame you – especially after being compared to a 42 year old
woman who can’t find love. But since you asked…
Stop looking for the “right” career, and start looking for a
job. Any job. Forget about what you like. Focus on what’s available. Get
yourself hired. Show up early. Stay late. Volunteer for the scut work.
Become indispensable. You can always quit later, and be no worse off
than you are today. But don’t waste another year looking for a career
that doesn’t exist. And most of all, stop worrying about your happiness.
Happiness does not come from a job. It comes from knowing what you
truly value, and behaving in a way that’s consistent with those beliefs.
Many people today resent the suggestion that they’re in charge
of the way the feel. But trust me, Parker. Those people are mistaken.
That was a big lesson from Dirty Jobs, and I learned it several hundred
times before it stuck. What you do, who you’re with, and how you feel
about the world around you, is completely up to you.
Good luck -
Mike
PS. I’m serious about welding and North Dakota. Those guys are writing their own ticket.
PPS Think I should forward this to Claire?Labels: random, thoughts
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