What are you made to do?

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” Confucius

Since my 12 year old is beginning to drive the ball over 250 yards, I began to think of the “ifs” in life. “What If” I would have started golfing at that age? You know the thought process. You begin the “what ifs”!

I called my brother today to borrow his truck and we talked about his new job. My brother is a well liked musician in our community. He is less than a year younger than I am, so we shared a lot of the same friends growing up and the same dysfunctional family. My mom was married and divorced three times and we moved on an average of every six months. We went to six different elementary schools. My mother was a single mom trying to feed and clothe two growing boys, so she worked a lot. So my brother and I were alone a lot.

My brother and I talked about his new position and its perks and the many jobs we have had. As we talked about those different jobs, I mentioned to him why I thought he and I have had so many jobs. The conversation of jobs started because the person that set him up for the new position had been on the same job for 30 years which ignited the talk of why?  We talked a little about why he may have been there since he began his career. But, I have learned something over the past several years, not only about myself, but others as well.

These past few years I have made it a point to study and ask men why they do the job they do and what motivated them to do that particular job. You would be surprised and may be aware of some of the answers. “I got this job, because I just needed a job”, or “I am in the family business, but I am still looking for my dream job”, or “I got my girlfriend pregnant and I have to save up for our wedding and baby stuff”, etc… The list is long and you may have one that caused you to get the job you have right now.

When you grow up in a family like I did, you begin a certain lifestyle not even trying, it just becomes a part of your personality or your, “Shape”! Now I know in today’s job market it’s a little different and that job hopping is kind of the normative. But, why is that? Our culture is shifting and you will need to know something very important to succeed in your walk through life. You need to know what you were called or shaped to do. Many folks today are doing a job because of obligation, not because they first set out with the goal in mind to live the dream that was put into their heart.

It is so fulfilling to help a person, especially a young person, set their sails in the right direction. Now, I’m not sure if my boy is suppose to be or is going to be a PGA Tour golfer, but he sure has the tools at such a young age…and a dad who can’t wait to help him achieve his success. Like all golfers, they all have different swings that seem to match their personality. If I could talk with you right now, I would ask you these questions:

What are you doing for a vocation?

Are you happy doing it?

Is it adding value to others?

What is your dream?

How will you achieve your dream?

If you are not doing what you were meant to do, will you look into changing your direction? Or, what am I meant to do? These are very important and life “giving” questions that can not only make an impact on your life, but more importantly, on others. What you do for a “living” makes a difference in others lives, which in turn can effect a whole community or maybe even our culture or farther out into other communities. Remember, your decisions for a career, not only effect your present status, but they have an effect on others futures also!