“Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.” ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr., American author
I thought about this quote as I read the profile of Tim O’Reilly in Inc Magazine this month. Tim is known as the Oracle of Silicon Valley and for good reason. He has a way of seeing what’s coming next about 5 years before other really smart people begin to put the pieces together. His road has been unconventional. He’s not a trained businessman, nor is he a trained engineer or tech expert. Trend identification is his specialty. And so is happiness. He’s a keen people watcher and listener. And he’s got an important message for us: work should support what’s important to us in life, not be the axis around which we build every other moment of our days.
“Sure, sure,” we might say. “Get a job we like. Of course everyone wants to do that. But what if I can’t pay my bills by doing what I love? What then?” I’m not sure what Tim would say to that. Maybe he’d just smile. My response would be: “find something else you can really love. Don’t do something you don’t like just to make money. There’s too much fun stuff out there to learn to waste your time doing something you hate.”
I’m not telling you to go out and quit your job tomorrow. Maybe you should do that – actually, you should definitely do that if you absolutely loathe every waking moment at your current job. But if it’s bearable, find a way to make it useful. A project you can start or help out with, a contact who you can cultivate, a skill you can learn. Or switch roles within your company to something that’s of more interest. Or use that energy to actively seek out a new job, quickly.
Truly, I hated the last role I had at work. Starting around October of 2009, I woke up every morning and groaned; that’s when I knew I just couldn’t physically stay where I was. So it was either on to a new adventure in another role, or out into the world to a new company. And once I shared that sentiment with enough people, I found my way to a new role very quickly. Finding the new job wasn’t hard; deciding that it was time for me to get on with it was the tough part.
Once we admit to ourselves that we just can’t keep going down the road we’re on, there’s no turning back. And that can be scary. But if we’re willing to really seek out happiness and satisfaction in our careers, if we’re willing to say “I can do better than this”, then the world has a funny habit of opening the way forward.
The image above is not my own. It can be found here.
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
“Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.” ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr., American author 
Christa Avampato 
Christa:
You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Yes, just like the song. OMG!
Kindly read..
“The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. You won’t regret it.
It is a book about finding you calling, not just doing a job.
Hence, it is right up your alley. A fascinating read, to be sure.
I want you to benefit from reading it, hence the recommendation.
For your reading pleasure. I stand in awe of Julia’ works.
Cheers!
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Hi Archan,
I did enjoy The Artist’s Way. I haven’t read it in many years and should leaf through it again. I also love The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. I highly recommend it!
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Thanks Christa I came to a similar situation a year earlier. My path has been an interesting one and if you’re interested I invite you read a little about it here, Rebooting Your Job.
Enjoyed the read, thanks.
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Hi Mark,
Thanks so much for stopping by. Looking forward to checking out your blog and finding the similarities in our paths!
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Now I’ve been in that situation. Need to find the new way that I can do better than this. But I don’t know how I can find it 😦
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Weera, don’t give up. One thing that might be helpful is to think of something, anything, that gives you joy throughout the day, and then figure out how to do more of that one thing. It would be interesting to see where that leads you.
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I think this is a lesson we all eventually learn. If you groan when you wake up at the idea of work, then you need to change jobs. (Curiously enough, when I became my own boss, ie. opened an inn, I no longer felt that way. I was successful, but did not feel satisfied, because I am really a writer, pretending to be an innkeeper. Fortunately there are blogs as a creative outlet ….)
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It’s so true, Alexandra. We have this incredible technology which now makes it possible to share thoughts and ideas with others and not be limited by geography or the decisions of publishing house editors. We are so fortunate to have this creative outlet of blogging.
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I made a decision like this two times in the past three years, and each time it was quite difficult. The right choice was clear, but it was still difficult. It just felt risky. It still does. I’m out here writing and farming, not getting paid, and both times gave up solid pay to do what my heart told me was right. I’m so happy, although still unpaid but hopeful. I’d say, you’re right on. You’ve got to do something you love or find something to love in what you’re doing otherwise it’s poison. Thanks for a great post! I’m so glad I found your blog through the Blogathon.
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Hi Joan! Thanks so much for your comment. I agree that these changes do feel risky. I am going through something very similar right now and have had this happen a few times throughout my career. So happy we are connected through the blogathon. I am going to hop over to your site now and check it out!
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I agree with the Tim O’Reilly. Thanks for introducing him to me. I’ll be sure to read the profile to find out more about how he spots trends ahead of others.
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Sure thing, Jackie. I love Tim’s writing and advice. I hope you enjoy his work as much as I do!
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I had a job ten years ago that was really getting me down. I was personal assistant to a local, well-known writer. I had hoped to glean some insight into the publishing world, and I did to a certain extent, but working for this person was horribly depressing. This person was not “nice” to intimates. I would go home and bark at my husband. I finally realized and quit. I still have not achieved my goal of publishing a book, but I have my own successful business. If I had not been so unhappy in this job, I might not have had the courage to decide to create a B&B.
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Hi Alexandra. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’ve had similar experiences and it is always so hard to see how we’re changing when we’re in the midst of a tough work situation. I am so glad you got out and that you started your own business! An inspiring story.
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