Monday 17 August 2009

'cos your crystal ball ain't so crystal clear.....

I heard the other day that you ideal job is likely to be the thing that you wanted to be when you grew up. Apparently, so the theory goes, when you were young, you didn't have to worry about the practicalities of living, working or earning money. So when you thought about your future, it was not constrained by reality, so you believed you could do anything.

Fast-forward to your life now, and if you're unhappy with your career and have ever given any thought to a total change of direction.... then that first childhood dream could be a good starting point to finding fulfillment.

Hmm.

I'm pretty sure that I didn't grow up wanting to be an IT Consultant. Does anyone? My doctor father and nurse mother tried to influence my career choice at an early age by giving me a toy medical kit, but I wasn't having any of it. In fact, the first thing I can remember really wanting to be is a motorcycle policeman. I had a plastic helmet with goggles and everything that I used to wear when I rode around my bike.



Is it too late for me to apply for the California Highway Patrol, do you think? Can I be soundtracked by this? (as opposed to this....)

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Why did we ever decide to be anything else?

3 comments:

  1. You know, when I was a kid I wanted to do two things. I wanted to be a rock star (out of the question) and I wanted to write storybooks. As an adult, I'm working on the book thing. I am working for a degree in writing. But you know, sometimes I think we want to do things that require talents we don't have and we have to shift for ourselves to find something we can do with the gifts we have and try not to hate it.

    I don't like people, but I'm good with them. As a bartender and a waitress I put those skills to good use.

    But to abandon the idea of writing... Sometimes it takes patience. And sometimes its dishearting to think of all the things we'd like to accomplish that we likely never will.

    I try not to resign myself.

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  2. I guess this means I need to quit my search for a Software Developer's position and take guitar lessons so I can be the next Johnny Cash...

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  3. As a little kid, I wanted to be a vet. And then I realised I hated blood (and wasn't clever enough) so that idea was ditched. As a teenager I wanted to be a teacher, and I have ended up there, for the moment at least, albeit via a very roundabout route.

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