changing a career

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I am currently employed but wish to change my career path. I have a Fine Arts degree (which I'm finding is a limiting factor, I feel like I should've gotten a degree in something other than where my interest lies) but have worked in the public school system as a teaching assistant since my graduation in 1997. I'm frustrated!! I want to change what I'm doing, possibly go into a whole other area of work. I've tried to free lance my art work unsuccessfully but I'm still drawn to trying that again. I'm familiar with PC's but I don't believe I have the technical savy needed for most job postings. I'm 39 and feeling that age and time crunch. If I don't make the change now I'll be stuck. I don't want to jump to any job that comes along for fear it'll be the wrong one and I'll have the same anxious feelings all over again. How do I reinvent myself? Do I need to go back to school. How do I know what new line of work is for me?

-- Marcia Cox (mjcjd@mail.com), July 02, 2001

Answers

Marcia,

Your message sounds like you are feeling some serious stress about the dichotomy of your work and your passion. First of all, take some comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Many, many people live with the feeling that they are 'stuck' and can't get to their dreams. That takes us to my next comment: Marcia, you have an advantage. You know where your passion lies...in art work. You have already found what many others search for endlessly throughout their lives.

You commented that you are thinking that you should have gotten a degree 'in something other than where my interest lies'. Do you really believe that there is no way to combine your passion and your ambition into a creative, thriving career? I know this sounds like a big leap right now, because you have looked long and hard for something that 'fits'. I know that you are feeling frustrated because of this. My only real advice for you right now is to keep your dreams. I don't know all the details about your life right now, but my career is in developing people. I work with individuals and companies to construct measurable and sustainable improvements in their productivity and their abilty to achieve their vision. One truth that I have seen illustrated over and over is that happy people are much more creative and productive. It sounds so basic, everybody should instinctively know this. However, many get lost in the work-a- day world of pressing deadlines, professional and personal stress, financial concerns, and the swarming effects of these negative inputs. They lose sight of the passion that took them to their field of study, or their pursuit of a career.

Everyone has a nearly permanent 'bent' or natural desire for certain activities or topics. These are what we call our passions or our talents, and they often are a large part of our vision (when we visualize our goals). You have a talent for art. Don't despise that talent as a ball-and-chain to your career. Instead, use it to feed passion into your career. It is entirely possible that you may not be able to be self-supporting as an artist. Would it, however, be unreasonable to use whatever work you do (for a living) as a platform for your passion? Can you use your creative instincts to add value to your work in an artistic manner? Do you plan time and resources in your life committed to developing your artistic skills? As your skill grows, so will the value of your artwork.

I know that advice is a far piece from help. My only hope today is to offer you the knowledge that, in fact, you can have your passion and make a living too. With your desire (a very important element of your success), you can keep in mind your passion while you look for that change of career that will suit you. Maybe you are only looking for a stepping stone that will allow you the time, resources and the opportunity to develop your artwork. Maybe you find a job that provides only finances to support the development of your passion. Whatever you do (same advice), don't give up on your dream for fulfillment in your artwork. I have seen many empty people who gave up on themselves by abandoning their dreams. They failed to feed the fire of their passion, and their whole life suffered for it. If art is your passion, then let it warm you. Let it become your purpose for doing your very best at whatever occupies your time. Artists are passionate people. Let that passion be your motivation, and feed it regularly.

One more thought before I sign off. Your attitude toward your work will almost certainly determine your level of pleasure in that work. Whatever you are doing, please take the time to look at it as an opportunity. Find a way to be positive about yourself and your work. In my practice, I define success as the continuous achievement of our own predetermined goals. Define in writing your own goals on a regular basis. Build a habit of planning your own life. Do whatever is necessary to make it happen. Develop yourself. Don't be afraid to follow your carefully planned design for your life. Your life is yours...only yours. Don't let anyone else take charge of your life. You are the secret to your own success.

Best regards to you and your passion! Feel free to contact me via email.

Bruce Eberle



-- Bruce Eberle (beberle@myavista.com), September 10, 2001.


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