This is your calling, calling

Everyone’s path is different… and valuable

It’s a pity that many of us don’t get to do what we felt we were born to do for our entire working lives. A lot of people have a “got there in the end” type story. Or some say they tried but didn’t quite get there. Others still, lament that they never even tried, consigning their ambitions to the “not practical” basket or perhaps even the one marked “too hard”.

Don’t worry - this is not an empty motivational piece urging you to “pedal faster” until you realise your goal. I’m also not suggesting that you sit motionless, waiting in silence for someone to tell you what you should be doing with your career. That said, intentionally taking time to think through where you are currently, what you’ve always wanted from a career and finding that one thing (or those couple of things) that ticks all your boxes, and actually fulfils you, will help connect the dots.

I’ve helped many aspiring professionals navigate a search for calling by asking three simple questions: what are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? What does the world need? This process of questioning and reflection (both internal and external) may not generate a sharply defined, AI-type answer to the question of “what is my calling”, but it does help to narrow your focus. Understanding where your strengths lay and what you love – the things that get you up in the morning, energise you, make you happy – may help steer you towards a career that will outlive the average 4.1 year job tenure. And, for me, understanding what the world needs – where you can make a difference, serve your community, create hope/joy/comfort – is the key to a calling that truly fulfills you.

Recognise that every step you take, brings you closer to your calling

Some of you may have already found your calling and are currently thriving in that space. Some of you are already well on your way, having chosen your path early on and stuck to it. For many though, your career may have been a long and winding road, a somewhat convoluted vocational adventure with a few interesting stops along the way. If that last scenario applies to you, does that mean that somehow your calling has been missed and years, if not decades have been wasted? Absolutely not!

It's my belief that now, more than ever, broad success in a role, particularly those roles that require connection, heart and or a growth mindset, life experience is an advantage, if not a must.

I have a healthcare background, although you don’t need to have worked in a hospital setting to realise that the ability to demonstrate empathy, to connect and to meet people at their point of need, promotes better outcomes. From experience, I can confirm that the same is true in areas such as sales, relationship-building roles and education, to name a few. The point is that once you “hear” or recognise your calling in life and decide to follow it, the more “life” or life experiences you’re able to bring with you and deliver to your role.

It's thanks to a richness of life experiences, that the wonderful people I currently work with can traverse and tackle such a broad range of opportunities, issues and challenges in so many different ways. My teams are able to tap into solutions and perspectives that would have been denied them, if they hadn’t taken a few detours or pursued opportunities outside their current path.

Having said all that, there’s a saying that many people find helpful.

When you know, you know!

I know, I know. This saying is an old one that can apply to a huge range of circumstances, in fact some would say that it’s a cliché. I’m not going to argue that, but I do recognise that many clichés do have at least a kernel of truth at their core.

I think that truly understanding your own values and consciously deciding that they are non-negotiable, along with having the desire or the courage or the commitment to pursue them, amplifies “the call” and your first step is to listen. Remember, having a calling, is not unique, recognising your calling doesn’t make you particularly different, but following your calling, in my opinion, is truly special.

I hope you find and follow your calling.