Having recently applied to dozens of jobs and gone on numerous interviews, I've also been pondering "my career" quite a bit. So much so that I went back to read one belated note to self, a letter I wrote to my formerly graduating self, for inspiration. Then, I picked up a book that has been sitting on my shelf since the summer of 2008: Ambition Is Not a Dirty Word.
It had been on the Fitness Magazine giveaway table while I was interning there and looked interesting. But upon bringing it home, I decided it wasn't for me; I am not driven by money, I don't wish to be an all-powerful CEO, and I never want to be known as a bitch. With that said, thank god I gave this book a second chance. I read it in under 24 hours and now feel more empowered than ever before. I am ambitious and, considering we spend most of our lives working, I do want to make sure I am as satisfied with my career as I am excited by it. This morning, I started my day with my favorite quote and a passage from one of my new favorite books:
"I promise, there is still opportunity to contribute something new to the world. It happened the day you were born and it can happen every day thereafter."
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"You deserve to love your work, to be as ambitious as you wish, to earn your worth and to find fulfillment. Give yourself permission to be true to your ambition, to make choices you deem appropriate without pause, without second-guessing yourself. This means you need to check in with yourself daily, tuning in to what you want in your heart of hearts, staying true to your ambition as you define it. When you build your life's work from that place of sanctuary, you'll be richly rewarded with lifelong intellectual and creative curiosity, evolving opportunities, and healthier, happier relationships with loved ones. And you will earn your worth." -Dr. D. Condren, Ambition Is Not a Dirty Word
Very true. What a wonderful quote! I always thought I was most motivated by money, but in my search for a post-graduation job I've realized that if I'm not doing something I WANT to do, I have little interest regardless of pay.
ReplyDeleteI love that quote! It's so true! For a while, I thought that because I am not one of those super crazy, career-driven individuals that wants to climb the corporate ladder to CEO meant that I wasn't ambitious enough or dedicated enough. However, what I do at work makes me happy, along with things outside of work as well. I think it's important to find that balance and passion for your work (career) but also seek that same ambition and fulfillment from other areas of life, be it hobbies, cooking, sports, writing, friendships, etc.
ReplyDeletesaltwatercoffee: I think so too! I'm so glad we're on the same page. We're so lucky we get to choose our future based on what we WANT.
ReplyDeleteLindsay: Me too! And I agree.