Brian Kim writes about some advice for fresh college grads that I found useful even for working professionals after college. Number #2 on his list tells us to find what we love to do. And I agree, life is too short to be working on something you are unhappy with. However, sometimes we need a more graphical illustration for the truth to really sink in. Here’s how Brian depicts it:
Graduated from college -> can’t find job -> get’s low paying “temporary†job just to pay the bills -> starts to become complacent and falls into routine -> struggles to get out of routine but can’t because of accumulation of debt to finance lifestyle of escaping reality and impressing people with material possessions -> effectively becomes a slave to the job as it is needed to pay the bills-> gets depressed -> struggles to find meaning in life -> maybe gets a small promotion at temporary job by employer as an incentive not to quit -> hates waking up in the morning everyday but does it anyway to pay the bills -> rinse and repeat for 40 years -> lies on deathbed regretting life, wishing he could go back and change it all, and dies knowing that he can’t.
Wow, that’s funny because I can recall real people like that. Mediocrity is like prolonged death. Better find something you are passionate about and will kick ass at it! Hesitating over that career shift? Oh, just do it!