Don't Wait for Your Future to Find You - Get Out There and Do Something

What to do while you're waiting...

I heard a great piece today on NPR about lawyers who are out of work.  They interviewed one young lawyer who is currently working in RadioShack for $7.25 an hour.  When asked why he would take a job like that he stated a few excellent reasons.

1. It's a job.
2. I get a paycheck.
3. I use my brain. 

He went on to say that his friends who keep asking why he's doing what he's doing are doing nothing.  He is working, meeting people and learning new things.  Does he want to stay at RadioShack forever? I don't think so.  Is he still looking for work as an attorney?  I believe he is.  And, for now, he's engaged and using his mind.  This kid has a great attitude.

Trying something new...

There was another story about an attorney who went through the all too typical depression when she was laid off from her high laying position in a law firm.  She pounded the pavement for a while before she began to ask herself what she really wanted to do.  She is very close to launching a new clothing line for big-busted women.  She realized that she really wasn't happy being an attorney.

A job loss is often an opportunity to take a risk, to either change fields or launch a business.  It's a time to take stock of where we've been and, as long as we have to make a change, make sure that we are moving forward rather than continuing to stay stuck. 

Caught by a phrase...

While listening to the report, I was also caught by the phrase, 'life has not gone as expected'.  That seems so big to me.  This is a chapter in a career, not the whole career.  This is a bump in the road, albeit a big one.  But this is not it!  It may take a while for this job market to open up and it won't look like it did three years ago, it will look and be different.  But this is not the end of the road.

A phrase I've heard about dating someone who doesn't have the stuff to be 'the one' is... He may not be Mr. Right, but he's fine for right now!

Get a job for right now while looking for the one that's right.  Join a network group and kick around some new ideas.  Join a group for entrepreneurs and get some feedback on your dreams or some suggestions about researching your idea.  Take a class.  Attend a lecture series.  Just get out there where you can meet people and engage your brain.

Don't wait for your future to find you.  Get out there and do something!