Do You Feel Alive ? (Career-Wise)

I recently celebrated my 10 years of Scientific Communication - and to mark this career milestone, I put together this photo montage that I shared on LinkedIn.?

Great memories, reminiscence of some epic moments of my career… and while I took a second look at them, something hit me.?

Behind all those pictures, there are take-aways, there are stories…. So I thought I’d turn some of them into short blogs.?

Indeed, others who start or who are already on a similar veterinary path might benefit from these.?

And let’s start today with this picture here.?

It was taken in Vienna, in 2017 during the gala dinner of the EVSSAR meeting.?

EVSSAR stands for European Veterinary Society for Small Animal Reproduction, and as a diplomate of the European college of Animal Reproduction it is obviously one of my favourite place to be.?

This is usually where, once a year, I connect with colleagues and friends who share the same passion as me for this field. I love attending to this event - on the picture, my friend Josep and I were having a good time as you can see !?

But to me, it is not “just” a picture of two friends having fun actually.?

It is a bit more than this…

It indeed perfectly illustrates what “feeling alive” means.?

I mean, look at our faces ! We were in the moment, fully enjoying it.?

We were alive, we felt alive and truly happy to be !?

Oh of course, when you spend time with dear friends - at a gala dinner on top of that -, this is somehow expected.?

And what if… we were to expand this feeling of being alive to ALL the areas of our life ??

What it… we were actually actively seeking for it… when it comes to our professional careers ??

The world is full of stories of people working like zombies, going through their 9 to 5 and simply… no enjoying any bit of it.?

That sounds terrible, don’t you think ??

Why would, why should one even settle for this ??

So when I look back at my career, when I look back at all those pictures I collected over the years, I actually… feel lucky.?

It never felt like this dreadful 9 to 5 I read about on almost a daily basis.?

I always managed to do things that truly get me excited an motivated.?

I intend to keep it this way actually.?

How so ? By simply following those three rules I believe in.?

#1 The answers are within you already

I think it starts with this “Listen to your heart” attitude.?

I know, it sounds cheesy… but hey, this is what it is about, really ! ?

Because deep down - we know what we enjoy doing.?

What does “Feeling Alive” mean ??

When it comes to our career, we all have (we should all have) our own and unique definition to this. ?

For me, it is teaching… going on stage to share my ideas… unleashing my inner “scientific artist” while developing new concepts and crafting scientific messages… writing, publishing…?

And of course, traveling the world to share all this !?

That is how I feel alive in my professional career. This is how I want to feel alive actually.?

I always knew… I just listened… and looked for opportunities that would help me achieve this.?

Oh, obviously, it is not something “fixed” in time.?

As we learn and grow, as we discover new things, there might be new challenges we want to tackle, new areas we want to explore.?

Again - deep down, we know this. We’ll feel it.?

Deep down - we have the answers we seek.?

You want to feel alive in your career ? Take the time to listen to your inner self.?

All the answers you need are truly here.?

#2 Be Intentional

Great - you listened, you found your answers, you even wrote them down and now you read them out loud every day in front of the bathroom mirror, so that you commit to them and to this vision you have about your career?(true story :)).?

Great start - but that is not enough actually.?

The word I live by : INTENTIONALITY.?

You want to make it happen ? Be intentional about it.?

I have heard many stories of broken dreams that started with a “If”.?

“If I had this opportunity”, “If I was given a chance”, “If this…”, “If that…”.?

Sorry - but those are excuses. I chose to live by the say : “If it has to be, it is up to me.”?

For instance, I want to teach canine reproduction all over the world.?

I was told back in the days though that I did not have time for this, that I could not be everywhere…?

But could I actually ??

In 2013, I started doing webinars. They were not so popular back then, I thought that was a way to overcome this barrier.?

We had people attending from all over the world…and despite the French accent, some might have liked what they heard… because since then, I have lectured in countries I never thought I’d set foot in !?

Those webinars were the start of a great adventure. My great adventure. ?

My point is : there is always a way. ?

If it does not yet look obvious to you, well, it is just because it requires a bit of thinking.?

Look around, ask around, see what others are doing in your field, in other fields, read books, seek answers, mix them all together… and a solution will pop up eventually.

As long as you are intentional about it, there is always a way - definitely ! ?

#3 Ask for more of it !?

“Don’t bite off more than you can chew”, “don’t say yes to everything.” ?

We hear that all the time in our offices ; and there is some truth to it…?

But I think there is one exception to this rule : when it comes to those things that make us feel alive, energized and fulfilled.?

In those conditions - why say “no”, really ??

If it makes me feel alive, you know what - I actually want more of it !!!?

I want more creative moments, I want more writing.

I want to craft and deliver more impactful lectures.?

I want to keep traveling to inspiring places, meet people and learn from their stories.?

When I am offered such opportunities… well, yes is my default answer.?

It is meaningful to me - so why overthink ??

And because it is meaningful to me, I will always find a way to fit it into my schedule.?

Sure, it might require a bit of creativity sometimes ; but hey, because it truly matters to me, I’ll find a way - I know this !?

Maybe one day, I’ll be really too busy and will have to become more selective.?

But this time has not come yet.?

If it were to happen, I might revisit this - but in the meantime, I’ll go for all these opportunities !?

?I’d never turn down a project if I think it will bring me joy ; and if it comes with some challenges along the way, well… as long as I am passionate about it, I’ll come up with a way to overcome these.?

Over the years, I have built the discipline to do these kind of things - and I encourage you to do the same actually.?

It can be life-changing… and truly transforming.?

I feel lucky I had the opportunity to do all those things that made me feel alive in the last ten years.

And you know what ? I intend to continue like this. Actually, I feel like I am just getting started ! Because I am craving for more moments like this.

As I said, I’ll be intentional about it… because nothing beats feeling alive I think !?

And you LinkedIn friends - what do you want more of to feel alive ? In the comment section, tell me what are your dreams !

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