The World of Lo is complex, yet simple, but no doubt filled with
lots of unanswered questions. The one I will share my thinking on today is...What
do I want to do for a living?
At 40 years of age, I still ponder numerous career (and lifestyle)
options…some more untraditional that others, some more realistic than others,
some more lucrative than others, some more creative and challenging than others,
and some just plain stupid. But none of which yet today that I’m willing to pursue
fully, nor fully give up upon, and this is my plight.
I read an article a while back that discussed how Baby Boomers
dove into post-war careers, often what their parents were involved in (aka the
family business), and worked diligently without questioning if they should
change jobs or whether this was THE job they wanted. In comparison, GenXers, me
included, were born in ‘easier’ times, with lots of choices and parental
support to attend college and choose our professions. And with this new ‘freedom’,
came the new stress of choosing correctly, or maybe not incorrectly, and this
new found freedom has caused people undue and unanticipated stress. I mean,
wouldn’t it be easier if my grandfather was a mechanic, and my father was a
mechanic, so I knew I was going to be a mechanic too? Yes, that would be
simple, but that’s not me, nope. Not me.
But as I discussed with my pal John, I have lots of interests, but
no ONE passion. Meaning, I have a ton of things that interest me to some
degree, but no one deep passion that drives me -- into a clear, directed,
life-long career pursuit.
My father has this. He moved to Berkeley from France to get his
PhD in development economics, and was hired as a professor at Berkeley the day
he graduated. He has now completed 40+ years at Berkeley. Same employer; Same
position. And after all this time he is still deeply driven by his profession,
and works happily and tirelessly weekdays and weekends, mornings and nights. His
work is him.
But this is not me. At all. Nope. Not me.
I still ponder various career options, such as being a
professional soccer or field hockey player….playing in front of thousands,
millions of my fans! Although after my latest knee injury, the option of
growing up to be a professional athlete has come and gone. Or maybe. I also
ponder being a photographer or artist, an international travel writer or beat poet,
a drummer or background clapper/snapper/noise maker of some funky band, or a
farmer. I’ve considered starting my own business, such as a bed and breakfast,
property rental business, an import/export business, an artsy café, or
developing the latest cool/fun product – Oski Bear alarm clock that wakes you
up to the Cal Fighting Song anyone?
I also still ponder steering myself in more traditional or
academic career options, maybe something like what my father does by pursuing a
career in development economics, or policy, specializing in international water
rights or the effects of demographic trends on humanity. Yes, that would be cool,
very cool, and meaningful. But it seems a little too complex, ambitious for me.
Or is it? Maybe I should just be a
teacher, in math, economics or business, and coach the school’s soccer team.
And maybe I could still consult universities on their annual giving programs on
the side. Yeahhhh, that’d be fun, meaningful, keep me active, and sounds
achievable!
Or, I could just put it all aside and go travel the world, chasing
summers, wine crushes, and seeking out photo opps, beautiful trails,
interesting people, good food, and cultural adventures. That would be awesome!
An experience of a life-time, and surely have to help me find THE right job,
right?
Ughhh…well, I’m now a day older and no closer to clarity on my
career. So for now I’ll just follow my father’s sound advice, ‘It’s better to
consider and explore other career options when you have a job, as opposed to
when you’re unemployed’.
And let’s just hope I figure out what I want to do for a living
before I retire, or die.
