Professional Destiny—How it Starts

April 14, 2010

Yesterday I was interviewed by David Rawles for the Career Solutions Radio Talk Show. He asked several questions that took me back to the beginning—to the very inception—of Professional Destiny. And since that story hasn’t hit the blog rolls yet, I thought it would be fun to share the Cliffs Notes version here.

About ten years ago, I had a profound moment that changed my life and perspective. I was sitting on the porch at my house in Boulder, Colorado, looking across the street at the stunning Flatiron mountains thinking, “to everyone else I look like I have it all: two beautiful daughters, a good husband, friends, a great career, high income, a wonderful house and excellent health—yet deep down I feel an aching emptiness inside.” I had a nagging feeling that there was something more I was meant to do, but I didn’t know what it was.

For the next several years, I worked in a few notable Fortune 500 companies and was struck by how many people were “asleep” as I walked around. There was no real light in their eyes. So many smart, talented people were merely going through the motions of work each day simply to collect a paycheck.  They seemed numbed out. And I was one of them.

So I began my search by reading voraciously, observing others and trying out new things.

Mark Misage - Physics Teacher

Then I met ordinary (yet at the same time extraordinary!) people who were lit up by their profession and who were intent on making a difference. I was fascinated by their stories and decided to learn from them. One was a physics teacher, one was a children’s author/motivational speaker and one was the founder of a global charitable organization. Each experienced a nudge to change, each faced significant challenges, and each chose to follow their dream. Their candid and inspiring first-hand narratives are included in my book.  

All of us have something that we were born to do. It’s our Professional Destiny. We have a gift and we have a purpose—and we are meant to express them in a meaningful way. It’s this notion of making a genuine contribution that matches our interests, which differentiates our Professional Destiny from a job. A job is something we do merely to collect a paycheck.

When we feel like we have made a difference, we are fulfilled… and we have the wonderful, energizing  feeling that we’re finally doing what we were born to do.

Stay tuned for part two of this interview series and the discussion of the five back-to-basic steps that are essential in following your Professional Destiny.

Filed under: Job vs. Career vs. Life's Work,Transition

Tags: career change, career satisfaction, Mark Misage, personal growth, purpose, self discovery