Monday, September 29, 2008

Doing what you Love

After looking at the numerous scandals taking place in our nation - with my past company AIG, to Morgan Stanley, to Goldmann Sachs, Freddie Mac, and Merryl Linch, I am thanking God tonight that I don't work for a corporate scandal of a company. I work for a company who cares for people. Why did I move to Kansas City? Yes, I have good friends here. Yes, its affordable as hell. Yes, I hate the south and every bible belt republican raised there and the west coast is too expensive, and east coast people have sticks up their asses. But hey - let's be real-- the weather here is crraazzzy and I'm half way across the country from my parents. The truth is, I moved to Kansas City because I wanted to be excited to get up in the morning - because I wanted to have power and make decisions that I could physically SEE the results of those decisions all over the country, and that, as corny as it may sound, that I could enrich peoples lives.

THAT is what a job is all about. No, not a job, a lifestyle. Let's face it. We spend 50 hours a week in our respective careers. That's more time than with family, friends, or acquantances. I talk to almost all of my peers who just graduated from college, and I'd say about 80% of them are unhappy or meagerly satisfied with their jobs. What is that!?! WHAT, my friends, is a lifestyle, without a life? What is a lifestyle with a job where you don't feel like you are needed, appreciated, and compensated for your efforts??

Then I have the only 20%. Those who think that working towards a masters degree or doctorate is a solve for the lifestyle that they currently have. I'm trying so hard to understand that decision and respect that. But Firstly, more than half of the top executives in companies do not have masters degrees, MBAs, nor law degrees (if you need facts, go to The Economist magazine, Forbes magazine or other because the stats are clearly stated). In order to do what you love, in order to enjoy the lifestyle you have, why not dive into your goals instead of deriding them by avoiding the real world and sitting in a classroom to add up more student loans in order to attain that goal!?!? Instead, live for today. Tomorrow is never promised. In order to help the crisis that our nation is facing with our economy, we must take action by using our talents NOW in society rather than later.

The Key to the successful career and lifestyle is building relationships. They key is loving what you do each and every single day. I seriously praise God that I love my job. I praise God that I made the right decision to move somewhere for my career, and not for my support group. I praise God that because of these decisions, I am happier than I've been in a very, very long time.

Before thinking about your money, your degrees, your friends or family -- think about what your career is going to stand for. Are you helping people every single day?? Are you doing something that you feel has integrity? And ask yourself tomorrow when you are getting up at 5:45am, ***are you happy?***

Because if you're not -- you won't be happy until you retire. Retirement is not a promise these days! Seize the day now!! We are now adults. We now are fully responsible for our futures. If we're not happy now, NOW is the time to take action and work on God's plan for us. Obama can't do it for us. Neither can Mccain. Neither can our parents. Our friends. Neither can Our location.

Go ahead. Ask yourself.

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