Your job is your career, not just a job

Yes, we all have heard that phrase a number of times, so much that we sometimes do not even consider how powerful this statement is. Let’s try to understand this from a different perspective and see if we can get to the roots.

Let me begin by asking some basic questions, are you hooked to any sport? Do you follow any professional athlete and wonder how great their career is? Do you follow any celebrities or famous personalities? I know the answer is yes, if your answer is on the other side, don’t even bother reading further.

Let’s take an example of a professional athlete, we hear all the time how focussed they are for the coming season, how they are following a special diet, workout plan, improving techniques or skill, training with coaches and the list can go on, but you get the point.

So to pursue their “Career”, they make sure no stone is unturned, and the fact of the matter is that they are focused, and know that everything counts, I repeat they know everything counts

To draw a parallel, most of us in 9-5 jobs, or whatever the work timings are, why do we consider job as just a ‘Job’ not a ‘Career’. Let’s see what is stopping us from calling job as ‘Career’

Name/Fame/Remuneration – You may argue here that there are millions of dollars on the line for them, and clearly regular job does not pay that well. Well, the argument can be made that was there millions of dollars on the line when the started their career? We all know deep inside that it was the hunger to succeed that got them the to focus, not millions or the fame, otherwise they would have never made it to the top.

Lack of passion – This is a very valid reason for not calling your work as a career, something that doesn’t drive you, wakes you up, cheers you when you accomplish. I rest my case.

If you do not agree with the above statement, you have every right to call your work as ‘Career’. And when you call it that, you are obligated to the following.

Train for your work like an athlete, work hard, watch what you eat, choose the wise company, train your mind, get a workout plan, get a mentor, acquire more skill, be a rockstar at your work because you know why, EVERYTHING COUNTS