Career Advice?

Hi, yes, I have some thoughts.
I have asked myself the same questions.
A couple of years ago I ran across an e-newsletter by a guy named Gary North.
I would post the URL, but I don't have those privileges, yet. ;-)
You can just www dot his name dot com it and find his web site.

As I understand it, Gary explained that we need a career to make a living. And you need a passion to keep you motivated. If your passion and your career are both the same, you are a blessed individual. If not, then you are like most people in the US. You work your career to finance your passion.
I have summarized him, as best I can.
Please take the time to review his articles for yourself.

His work has helped me develop my current mind set. I continue to work my full-time job to finance my passion (helping college age men know God and make Him known).
Maybe someday, my passion will support me. Maybe not.

Either way, I am confident that I am where God wants me, right now, doing what He wants me to do, right now.

You surely are not alone as most folks get tired of their work no matter what it is.


But there is a whole lot more to life if you would just prepare yourself for it. GOD has a MISSION that fits just you. That's why you are here and if you fail to do it you will be unhappy. GUARENTEED!!!

You need to take out GOD'S WORD and start in the NEW TESTIMENT. Read it till the next time you read it you will already know what it's going to say. For then it's locked in your heart and you will be able to draw from it for the rest of your life. You will never be sorry you did. Then tackle the rest of the Bible as time permits.

Then when you are ready to devote your WHOLE life to GOD and from that moment on seek GOD in every decision, GOD will ANOINT you with HIS OLY SPIRIT. For then you shall find out what MISSION GOD has for just you. When you start fulfilling that MISSION you will then find the peace your soul is starving for.

The Bible is your road map to the KINGDOM of ALMIGHTY GOD that was given you by GOD HIMSELF.
Now the choice is yours.



ALWAYS REMEMBER:

JESUS IS RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE AT!!! EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T SEE HIM!!!

( left click and hold over the above to see your personal message )

Most of us, in our working lives, have had to follow GeorgeWW's approach and use the job to finance the cause. Back in the DC neighborhood I grew up in, there was a network correspondent - often seen on the national nightly news - who volunteered with a local (and outstanding) rescue squad. The network wanted him to quit, and he told them that if he left the squad, he wouldn't be any good to them.

The job makes the living. Pursuing your passion makes the living worthwhile. Alas, you seldom do both at the same time, under the same roof.

Vollkommen Warrior said:

What do you all think? We go to work every day to earn a living. I have always wanted to get up in the morning for a real good cause, not just building corporate America! I do I.T. work but have just never found a good fit to match $$ and cause at the same time. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Thanks in advance!

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I would be wary of getting into a judgemental frame of mind about "corporate America". Companies are companies. "Corporate America" is people working together to make better companies, provide better services. A lot of people demonize "corporate America" as their pinata, hoping candy will come out. The reasons are as obvious as those who demonize free market systems... they want all the candy for themselves.

This begs the question then of "what is a good cause".

You have to be very careful against secular world views. A company is what you make it. Many people demonize companies they work for in order to argue on behalf of their own bad behavior.

I would suggest kids are pure in heart and tend to have a cleaner view of things... the sorts of jobs which "serve the people" are such as they see... police officer, firefighter, doctor, and such.

In IT there is security, where you can secure systems against people who would rob old ladies of their retirement or beef up totalitarian countries where Christians are being persecuted.

But, there are also options for creating things in IT which make the world a better place by promoting freedom or even promoting enjoyment of a plain matter is not in itself bad.

But, generally, if you are in IT that means you tend to be very smart, and can probably tackle any profession you choose, if you put your mind to it and are willing to sow really hard...

I work for the government in a job where it doesn't require attention outside of work hours. I like to feel that my work is fulfilling and worth all the effort, but at the moment it's not really This is where it comes down to a passion, as mentioned in another post.

God gave me the ability to edit videos, so I've done a number of short video clips for our church. That is what is really fulfilling: doing something for God. If you feel called to preach, then that is the ultimate job. Although your income won't be the same as a secular job.

If I tried to pursue a career in editing videos, then I'm fairly certain it would take up a lot more time than just your average working hours. Which would mean less time doing things of eternal value. So I've avoided that.

I love police work. You get to help people, get your confidence built up, get made fun of , make pretty good money, and get to meet a lot of "interesting" people. Many departments also work 10-12 hour shifts. This means you get A LOT of time off. If you work 12 hour shifts you only work 14 days a month.

AnonymousAdvisor and the two following posts bring up a good point. How much of it is that you feel all you are doing is "increasing corporate profits;" and how much is it that, let's face it, useful to society as it may be, it's a 9-5, M-F, week-in/week-out deal, with decades to go to retirement; and coworkers who are human, all-too-human.
The writer Kathleen Norris writes of a time when she was acting as a lay pastor at her church while it sought out someone ordained. Speaking to another clergyman she said, "You know, some Sundays I wouldn't be in church, if I wasn't preaching."

"Join the club", he said.

Ask anyone who's worked directly for a church or a "worthy cause": much of the time and even most of the time, it's like any other job, complete to those human-all-too-human coworkers.

If you want "interesting" people, take up Newbie's line of work. I know whereof he speaks.

It would be hard for me to work 9-5 M-F. So little time off and being awake during the day would be odd to me. I could do it, but it would take some adjustment.

My favourite career-guide book is "What Colour is Your Parachute?" and I would recommend it.