Your calling

I'll ask, "On a scale of 1-10, how important is this to you?"

I usually get 9, 10, or 11.

I'm asking them how important is it for them to go back to school and change their lives so it better be a 9, 10, or 11. That's my job. I work for the Admissions Department at a career-focused college.

I'll talk with prospective students who come here knowing for the most-part what they want to do. They vary from business, vet techs, medical assistants, criminal justice, paralegal, and a several others (contact me if you're looking). Company standard wants the meeting to wrap-up in an hour, but I like to get to know them better and habitually build too much rapport and end up spending about an hour-and-a-half... sometimes two.

I am scratching that itch that motivated them to come in and find out if going to school is the best thing they could do for their career and livelihood. I dig, challenge, consult, console and do such a good job that occasionally I'll get them to cry right infront of me... and it's not always women. I am not mean, berating or even judgemental. Truth is, the realization that they literally can change their future hits them when they talk to me. I'll come out and say what they have been thinking for years. "You're not reaching your potential are you?" That's when the eyes get watery. I am the "expert" they have come to see and when I tell them they're doing the right thing, emotions can come flooding if I've done a good job.

Now this blog has nothing to do with tooting my own horn. If anything, it's putting a plug in it. You may be thinking "what a great job." I get to help people reach their goals and fulfill their true calling. That does make it worthwhile cause I do enjoy helping others. I'm making recommendations and coaching others... I'm helping guide them to their future.

And yet here I am wondering if there's something better for me. I know this isn't what I want to do for the rest of my life. What I need is a taste of my own medicine. Get challenged, consulted, and consoled. I'm like a marriage counselor who has marital problems... a chef without a palate... a dentist with crooked teeth. You get the picture.

I envy people who truly love what they do... those who love getting to work early and don't mind if they leave late. I think we all strive to do something we have a passion for... for me playing 2nd base for the Twins isn't going to happen.

So I borrow a saying when I meet with prospective students, "Love what you are doing and you will never work a day in your life." Unfortunately I do feel like I work everyday... like it's a grind. Maybe we never find our true calling. Maybe we're not all supposed to become professional athletes, models, actors, or astronauts because someone has to pick up my trash. Someone has to call me to donate blood. Someone has to plow the snow. Someone has to serve my food. Maybe I should just be grateful I have a job and can dream bigger. Maybe we just keep striving for the next best thing for ourselves until we grow tired of it and do it all over again. Maybe we'll always think we're not reaching our potential after each goal is conquered.

I know there's more of us out there still searching or going through the motions than there are who have followed their dreams. I see them everyday. My advice is don't be complacent where you are now. There is something better for you. It won't be handed to you and there will be obstacles standing in your way to make it difficult, but you shouldn't have it any other way because if it's too easy, it's not worth it.

So how important is it for me to find my calling?

It's a 12.