Is it a career or just a job?
I firmly believe that whatever you do for a living, it should hold a
fairly
high level of excitement for you. And I believe it needs to be something
that you can look forward to doing for the rest of your life, even if only
in a modified way.
Many of us grow up in homes where the adults in the household go to work
everyday simply to make a buck. And, just as we learn to talk by
listening
to the people all around us, we tend to inherit other thinking and acting
patterns from those we look up to in life.
Even when we decide early in life to be different than those around us,
our
perceptions of the world and of responsibility, etc. largely reflect those
of the people we learn from in life. This is so strong that even when we
struggle to be independent of the norm, we can only rebel against that
which
we know.
I am convinced that many intelligent and creative individuals are lost to
the 9-to-5 grind simply because they can’t really imagine themselves doing
anything different. They need to pay rent, buy food, clothe themselves,
and
so on. And yet they hate the work they do. They spend most of their
lives
helping to build someone else’s dreams, and making other people
successful,
while their own dreams rust away in their hearts, and their own
contributions to the world fade away with the years.
While there is certainly nothing wrong with holding a steady job
(especially
when it comes time to pay the rent) such “careers” can actually be
destructive to the real person your were meant to be. A better plan is to
work whatever job you need to work while you prepare for your own life.
The perfect example is the young college student who must work and starve
to
get his education. He sacrifices all kinds of good times because he knows
that once he gets his footing with a diploma, he will be able to start
doing
what he really wants to do.
The same program works for those who are having to hammer out a living
without a college education. You may already have a family to provide
for.
If so, then you have little choice, when it comes to working. The bills
must be paid. And you must also set a good example for the children in
your
care. So you go to work and do a good job. But you must also be busy
building your own future.
What is in your heart to do? Are you an artist? Do you want to be an
architect? Are you gifted with a voice for singing? Do you love to work
with metal or wood or stone? Have you always wanted to teach? Whatever
deep-seated dream and passion is inside of you, take the time to examine
and
identify it.
God creates every living thing to fulfill a function. There is nothing in
creation that has no necessary function in life and in the universe.
Human
beings are a big part of that whole picture. We each have a gift to bring
to the world.
I’m going to give one example in detail, but you can use search services
(Google, etc.) to find information on a whole world of op****tunities. In
fact, you can often create your own op****tunity. It’s common, for
example,
for woodworkers and artists who carve and build with wood to provide
tree-removal services to the local area. You master the skills required
to
safely cut down dead or otherwise dangerous trees, and haul them away in
your pickup. You then have plenty of wood to create unique tables,
chairs,
benches, shelves, stands, etc. or for creating carvings or other works of
art.
A Detailed Practical Example: Starting a Local Newspaper
Chances are good that you can start a successful publi****ng business in
your
town or community. People with less talent, experience and equipment have
started and operated newspaper publi****ng businesses all over America.
You
can make it a regular newspaper or a special-interest publication, such a
Christian Family, Farm Community, Ski-Lodge News, New Home Buyer’s, or
Downtown Business News type of paper. (The ideas to do something that’s
challenging and fun for you and truly useful to your chosen market or
area.)
What would it really take?
To be successful in any business you need a real desire. You a basic and
continuing desire because any kind of successful business is work. But
work
is good. Work is necessary for human happiness, no matter how much we
joke
around or daydream about never working again. For work to be truly
rewarding (beyond a paycheck) we need to be doing something that really
matters, something close to our hearts.
While newspaper publi****ng may not be the specific "big dream" you have
nurtured since childhood, you may have other desires, ambitions and
abilities that will make it work.
For example, let’s talk about starting a community newspaper. Do you want
to see positive and lasting changes in your community, your town, your
region? Would you like to play a meaningful part in helping to make good
things happen to the people who live and work around you? Are their
programs, students, teachers, community projects, quiet heroes in your
area
that might accomplish more if given a boost?
You Can Make a Difference
You can supply the extra attention that good things need in order to
flourish. Your paper can make it possible for small businesses to
advertise
and grow.
You can publish photos and stories that encourage the good kids to keep
doing well. You can research and print facts that help make families
stronger, that encourage good people to start their own businesses or
develop their artistic and creative abilities.
You can publish news and tidbits that help bring a little sun****ne into
the
homes of shut-ins and into the lives of others struggling with heavy
stress
and discouragement or even depression. You can help dogs and cats find
new
owners, moms and dads to find good used bicycles for their children, and
local schools to promote their fundraising activities.
In other words, you can make a huge difference in your area while you make
a
living for your own home.
How to Operate a Local Newspaper?
You'll find details on the Newspaper-Info.com website, but here's the
basic
idea: Visit businesses and community leaders in the area, selling ads for
the pages in your newspaper. Gather announcements, information, news
stories, interviews, photos, etc. from the area. Type the information
into
your computer. Arrange the stories, photos, notices, etc. on pages that
will fit your publication (usually a tabloid page format, such as 11x17
inches). Save the pages to a file format commonly used by print shops
(such
as Adobe's PDF format). Have the newspaper printed and folded. Label the
papers for mailing, or sort them into streets and neighborhoods for
personal
delivery. Take small stacks of them to local libraries, retail stores,
gas
stations, etc. for sale or free distribution. Begin the next issue.
You’ll find software and equipment at discount stores (such as Best Buy,
Office Max, etc.) or online at bargain/auction sites like eBay. To find
out
what exactly you'll need, visit the Newspaper-Info website. You can also
build some things at home, such as a light table (if you decide you need
one. Free instructions for a light table are on the website.
You'll also find specific information on ad sizes, ad pricing, basic page
layout for newspapers, how to sell ads, news content, and more right on
the
Newspaper-Info.com website.
Startup Advantages: You can start a newspaper at home. You can start a
newspaper with a home computer, a digital camera, and some easy-to-find
software. You can start a newspaper with little more than the willingness
to work at doing what it takes.
I started one with no capital at all, and with less equipment than I
really
needed to do it right. But I got the paper going just fine, and it looked
better than all the other weekly papers in the region. I had a desire to
make an interesting, attractive and useful newspaper.
To learn more about becoming a newspaper publisher, go here:
www.newspaper-info.com .
To learn more about any other type of business or profession, start
searching the details in Google, Yahoo, AltaVista, etc. Just start with
key
words specific to your interests. You may be amazed at how much free and
helpful information you can find online. You can also use your computer
to
search many state and county libraries for books on the topics that
fascinate you.
Whatever your interest, your dream, your heart’s desire, don’t let it rot
away. Begin today to move in the direction of your dreams. God made you
with something very good in mind. Why not take some time to discover what
it is?
Helpful sites to kick off your search:
http://www.bls.gov/oco
http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/all.shtml
http://www.careerjournal.com
http://www.artcareer.net
http://www.khake.com/page42.html
http://www.artjob.com
http://123basics.com
Free 2007 calendar to keep track of your time:
http://www.pazzoom.com/calendar/calendar.htm
Pazzo
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