Today was a big day for my family.  My daughter, Kennedy, went to her first day of Kindergarten.  She is our first child, and I remember her being born just like it was yesterday.  Those of you who have children can relate to this experience.   Your kids may be older, but I can guarantee that you remember that specific day. Those of you who have younger children will be there soon enough.  If you don’t have kids at all, you probably remember YOUR first day of Kindergarten.  Time goes very fast. 

As a parent, it was harder on my wife and me than it was Kennedy.   I remember my mom taking a picture of me with my lunchbox in front of the house.  It was a big deal.  I remember going to the grocery store and buying the school supplies.  I remember buying the crayons, the tape, glue, and boxes of pencils.  It was the first time I was going to be gone 5 days a week.   I was scared and excited at the same time. 

We asked Kennedy the other day what she wanted to be when she grew up.  My wife and I made a few guesses.  A Nurse?  A Dress Maker?  A Teacher?  No. Kennedy answered with complete confidence an answer we didn’t expect.  She said she wanted to be “the person that takes care of animals”.  We said “a veterinarian”?  She said.  YES!

Who knows if Kennedy really will be a veterinarian or if she will be something else?  I don’t know how I answered that question when I was first asked it either.  It is something it takes a lifetime for most to figure out.  Do you believe that some know at 5 what they are going to do for a living?  Maybe.  There are some that just know exactly what they want to do.  They may know in college.  They may know in High School.

For the majority of us, it is a trial and error type scenario.  You try something and see how you like it.  You have to experience things.  I, for one, knew in High School I could never do anything in the medical field.  I knew I wanted to be in business.  I didn’t know what type of business, but I knew I could not follow my father’s footsteps and be a dentist or anything medical.  Blood and guts freaked me out.  I also hated Chemistry.  None of it made sense.

It took me until I was 33 to figure out what I was really good at and what I really enjoyed.  How are you going to figure it out?  When do you know you have found the right field for you?  What are you going to be when you grow up?  Here are 3 pointers.

1.  Do Something You Are Passionate About.   Why do anything that doesn’t excite you?  I hate walking into hospitals and doctor offices.  Nothing about being in the medical field excites me.  Do you like watching the NASDAQ?  Do you like watching airplanes?  Do you like cooking foods?  Maybe you should be a financial advisor, a pilot or a Chef?   If you are going to spend most of your week doing something, it might as well be something you love.

2.  Do Something That Comes Naturally.  If you are an introvert and you know that about yourself, why be in Sales?  If you enjoy seeing how things work technically, why would you be a Doctor?  It just doesn’t make sense. 

3.  Do Something That Will Make The World A Better Place.  Okay, so I chose recruiting.  I am putting people into jobs that they need to help support their families.  My wife is a labor and delivery nurse, she brings people into this world every day.   If Kennedy decides to help animals,  I will be very proud of her.  How can you make a difference?  We are only here a short amount of time.  We need to make the most of it.

 If you aren’t there yet, that is okay.  Like I said, it may take a lifetime.  It is a journey.  There are often many steps to get to where you want to be.  Take every experience you have and make it a positive.   Embrace life and treat it like the glass is half full, not half empty.  Try things until you find that one thing that makes you say “I love my job”.  God put you here for a reason.  Listen. Learn. Ask.