Pipe Dream Strategy – Do You Have You One?
November 19, 2008 by Darlene McDaniel
Filed under Jobs
What Pipe Dream Have You Discounted? Is a recent post I wrote a few days ago. It was birthed out of a comment from one of my readers. As a result of that post, I am writing this post as a follow-up.
I like a challenge and one of my readers, Jason Monastra from Lambentpath seems to challenge me continually here at Interview Chatter. I appreciate it. It pushes me to take my writing and my thoughts, and recommendations to the next level. Here is Jason’s latest comment that has been churning in me for the last 48 hours:
“I applaud the enthusiasm, but I wonder for how many people this is a possibility. For most, paying their monthly bills and making ends meet is the sum of their existence when it comes to work. How would these people come to know their dream job? I would be interested in a plan that makes exploring such possibilities for people a reality. Let me know what your thoughts are on making this happen.”
So, here is the critical question that I want to respond to tonight: How would people come to know their dream job? Well, in the world I live in it is simple. What did you want to be when you grew up? Or, what is it that you wish you were doing? Whoopi Goldberg said it best in Sister Act 2, “If everyday when you wake up, all you can think about is singing, you’re suppose to be singing girl.” That’s what she says to one of the students. And in the end that student was singing and today, Loren Hill is still singing (I think).
My point is what is it that you wake up thinking about every day? For me, it was full time ministry. I have wanted be in full time ministry since about 1998. Back then, I was in my corporate career. I made excellent money, had a nice, very nice office and absolutely loved doing what I was doing (HR- Training and Development). But, when I wasn’t managing the training department, I was thinking about full time ministry. It wasn’t until 9/11, that my life changed almost right before my eyes. My life has not been the same since 9/11 and through a series of events, beginning with being laid off 6 months after 9/11, my life began to move in a different direction and today I am living my dream. I completed Bible School in May of 2006, and today I run the Bible School I graduated from. I train others who want to be in full time ministry. I get to use my professional vocation in my dream of being in full time ministry. I have been on two mission trips. One to Madagascar, and the other to Ghana, West Africa.
My point is your dream job is something that you will find within you. You know what it is that you desire to do. What makes you feel alive. You know. How do you get there? Well for me, it was about taking a RISK! It was about releasing the money, the office, the hopes of climbing the corporate ladder and refocusing my life, and my passion on where it is that I am today. There have been some speed bumps along the way. But I can tell you that I am a woman who lives in peace every day of my life. I love my students. I love the opportunity to touch lives. I minister to people, I preach, I teach, I travel, I develop leaders, I coach and mentor women, and the list goes on. What is it that you want to do? Don’t let the economy dictate what your future will be. I could have allowed 9/11 to hold me hostage. I was mad when I got laid off. But I realized 6 months later, that I had nothing to do with the decision of me staying in corporate america. That was not where I belonged. Corporate america imparted great skills and abilities. I use all of my training competencies in my role as Director at CCSM (Cromwell Christian School of Ministry). Jason’s question again,
“How would people come to know their dream job?” It is in you. And if you aren’t sure, than begin there. Sit down and write down what it is that you enjoy doing. Hire a career coach. I am always looking for new clients. In order to move from the madness of being laid off, identify what you want to do and then step out of the boat. Take a risk. It is not about your past. You can’t change one thing in your yesterday. However your future is waiting for you to shape it. It is not about the missteps you have made in the past. It is about the current journey. There is a destination for you! If you can see it, you can create it in your life. I know it!
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Great response. Really and truly, an inspirational post with a great deal of insight into what most people miss with work – the satisfaction. I was happy to see your path led to the Bible School, as that is very important. Again, thanks for the post and I hope I did not challenge too hard. I enjoy reading your blog and the discussions within.
Hi Jason! Thanks for the challenge!! I appreciate it more than I can communicate in a note! I am glad you like the post. And I appreciate you as a reader here at Interview Chatter! Keep coming back and don’t stop challenging me!
I love this post. And I agree that you really can’t have your dream job unless you are prepared to take a risk or two.
Hi Miranda! Thanks for stopping by. I am glad you like it. Don’t be a stranger here at Interview Chatter!
Darlene
I didn’t really read the whole article, just skimmed through it, so forgive me if I’ve overlooked something you wrote.
I have a question for you – if everyone ended up doing their dream job, and everyone thought of their dream job as you describe it (something you wake up wanting to do every morning or have wanted to do since you were a kid), then who would do jobs like “Senior J2EE Consultant” or “Assistant Vice President of Technology Strategy in the Mortgage Backed Securities Division”?
Would the world be the same without these jobs?
What you’re saying is, don’t do a job – do what you love. And that’s what people did, when all they had to do was farm to put food on the table. That wasn’t what took up 5 days of their week from 9-5 or 6 or 10. They farmed, and then, they did what they loved. In the society we live in today, that is not impossible, but very difficult. Don’t you think?
Hi Rahul!
Thank you for stopping by Interview Chatter! You ask an excellent question. My post is written to the whosoever that has something in their heart – a vocation or career that they quashed, for some never to be resurrected. To others it still burns in their unconscious “maybe, one day file.”
My post will never be realized for everyone because most people error on the side of unbelief. They error on the side of believing they “have to” rather than on the side of “I get to”. There will always be people to do those “Senior J2EE Consutant” position or the “Assistant Vice President of Technology”. Not to worry. My post is for those “Senior J2EE Consultants” who are willing to believe that their “pipe dream” is possible. It is for the “Assistant Vice President of Technology” who still has a enough gumption to believe that if they are willing to let go of the reigns of their vice presidency they might become the President of their dream corporation. It is for senators who dare to believe that in 2008 in the United States of America they could WIN the presidency of the greatest country in the free world.
I AM saying do what you love – whether it is a vocation or a career. I get to do what I do everyday and I get paid to do it. But I don’t see it as a job – though it is – it is what I desire to do for the rest of my life. And for that I am eternally grateful.
Is it difficult to live your dreams in the world we live in? In a word – “Yes!” But the beauty of it, is that it is POSSIBLE!
How is it possible you may ask? Because it will only be those willing to RISK that will see it come to fruition. Most will present an argument as you have for the reasons they can’t do it. My purpose is to challenge the RISK takers. For everyone else, they are welcome too. Understand there may not be a security boat around you. The RISK takers will step out of te boat on a word and dare to believe they can walk on water.
C’mon Rahul, the water is great! Even if you find yourself sinking, the dream is still in sight if you are willing to try again until you make it happen.