There was a time when I had conventional jobs. No acting, no writing. None of that “fancy artsy” stuff. I was a telemarketer, funeral salesperson, store clerk, waiter, customer service representative, etc. I’ve been working since I was fourteen years old. At first during the summers, because my parents wanted me to learn “how hard” was to earn money, later to support myself as a college student. I’ve had almost any job a young man could have.
Everything, except being a stripper.
I have two college degrees, one in communications and another one in drama. After graduating from college I worked as a reporter for a while.
But I was not happy.
I was constantly bombarded by negative news, and my point of view toward life and the universe, deteriorated. I worked as a reporter because I thought it was the only way I had to earn a living. I was getting no satisfaction and I felt I was wasting my life doing something I didn’t want to.
I was not happy.
I hated my job, and consequently I was attracting many negative events to my life and career. My life was sinking in every possible way.
Until one day, that I said “No more”
Following a chain of unpleasant events, that included being trapped in a South American Country, I finally ended up quitting my job.
Never to return.
My days as a reporter were over, for good.
I decided that I wanted to pursue, as a full timer, my other career. I wanted to be a full developed professional actor. So I started concentrating my focus and attention on that. I was having for the very first time the satisfaction that I was earning money, out of something that I really loved to do. But I wanted more. I wanted to continue my career as an actor in mainland U.S. Eventually I decided to move back to New York (I had previously lived there during my college years) and continue my career there.
My decisions to quit my job as a reporter, becoming a full time actor, and moving eventually to NYC brought to my life many major consequences. Among them being far away from my family and daughter, and chronic depressions once I was settled down in the city.
But I had to do it.
I was so dissatisfied with the overall picture of my life that if I hadn’t gone, I probably would have ended up in a mental hospital. How an actor became an inspirational writer and how I ended with those perennial cycles of ups and downs, is the subject of another reflection that you can read in my blog http://bit.ly/qF34AN
But that’s not the point today. The point is that you need to follow your bliss and that you cannot stay in a job that does not make you happy. It does not matter how much money you’re earning there. If it doesn’t make you happy, it won’t pay off.
An unsatisfying job, an unsatisfying career path,could take you to the end of abyss. Many people just don’t know, that the reason they’re so unhappy, so depressed, is because they have enslaved themselves to a job that is killing them.
If you don’t do what you want with your life…
If you don’t find joy living your days…
You’re castrating your dreams and your creativity.
You’re a creator, and when you don’t create, you stagnate.
It happened to me.
However I cannot regret having the job experiences I had, because with them, I experienced contrast. And with contrast I got very clear what I want and what I did not want.
During my years having regular jobs I discovered a few things about myself that helped me define the person that I am. Maybe we share some of this traits:
1) I value freedom over money. Having my daily schedule controlled, my vacations days counted, and over working when I’m exhausted is not for me, and I don’t think it is for anyone. I don’t care how much money I’m paid, if my mobility and freedom is compromised, that job is not the right for me.
2) I believe that there are many multiple “right ways “of doing things. I believe that as long as you’re an expert in your field and as long as you’re giving your best, there’s no right or wrong ways of doing things. We’re all creators and because of that, we all create differently. Imposing other people your ways of doing things is attempting to their creativity.
3) I prefer to be self employed. Companies have their vision, companies have their goals. Good for them. I have my vision and I have my goals. I’m not a follower, that’s only for Twitter. I’m a leader. It’s great to be a follower and work for someone else’s vision, as long as it is what you want. That’s not what I want and I act consequently. I like to put a price on what I do. I also believe that hierarchies are only a way to perpetuate egos.
4) I like to put my multiple talents to the service of others. I write inspirational stuff but I still love acting, if given the chance, I will do it again. I’m also an ESL tutor, a professional translator, and most recently, an amateur tour guide. I like to have the freedom to exercise my talents whenever I want. I wasn’t born with a label on my forehead that reads “I’m going to be this for the rest of my life” I am a multi talented man and so I exercise my right of doing multiple things, whenever I want. If one day I decide not to write anymore (very unlikely) it’s maybe because I found something more interesting to do.
5) I take it easy. I am any boss’ worst nightmare. I take it easy. I do things at my time. I have my creative processes, and I like them to be respected. But most importantly, I flow like a river. I don’t believe in rushing out. It is a recipe for mediocrity and disaster. This perfect earth took 4 billions of years to be in the form that you know it today. Talk about time. Nature’s processes are slow but quality is assured. I’m part of nature and I imitate its way.
6) I am a starter. I start projects, but I don’t stick around for too long. Not because I get bored easily (well, perhaps) but because I immediately find the need to create something new. Put it easy: when the work is done, it is done. There’s no need to review things or having second thoughts. If I deliver something is because it is good, and because I have done my best. If you don’t like it, well that’s your prerogative. Time to move on.
7) I’m constantly re inventing myself. Maybe you liked my facebook page because I was a “poet” Now suddenly I’m writing inspirational reflections. You say “What’s going on? I asked for Pablo Neruda and I got Deepak Chopra”. I’m sorry to disappoint you. Some people call it unpredictability, instability. I call it evolution.
As you can see, I’m free as a bird. I prefer alternative ways of producing abundance. But maybe you fix in the traditional scheme of producing money. And maybe all what you need to do is to find that perfect job that resonates with the core of your being. As I told you before, being supremely unhappy with what you do, could bring you many unwanted consequences in every aspect of your life.
Consequences when changing a career path?
Of course, there will be consequences. Like everything in life.
But in time, you will realize that it is a small price to pay for living the life of your dreams.
In time you will realize that it is a small price to pay for the comfort of getting up with a smile on your face.
In time you will realize that abundance and money don’t come only as a fruit of hard work. For this you need to be open to all the channels that God will use to provide you, and you cannot be picky about any of them.
Remember you give to the universe, not only through hard work, but through many different ways. And God returns the favor, through many different ways too.
When you declare your independence from conventionalisms, you may face times of what many people consider struggle. But at the end, you will blossom. You will become the person you were always meant to be.
And that is awesome!