Finding Fulfillment in Your Career and Passions

At some point in life you have to make a decision—a few decisions.

• What do I want?

• Who do I want to be?

• What are my values?

• What are my goals?

• What passions will I commit to?

• and so on, and on, and on…

I always had a good idea about these things for myself, or so I thought. I was wrong.

As I approach the new year of 2025, I realize I haven't committed to any of the above. I was under the impression that I made these decisions, but what I had really done was collected many ideals of these and projected them as a goal to achieve.

I know what I want and who I am, but I felt torn between my daily life and distant goals. I'll discuss this more later. In short, for now though, I often saw my career as just a stepping stone and my dreams as side pursuits that left me too exhausted to finish. My neglected hobbies lingered in the background, reminding me of things I wanted to do.

As the new year draws closer, I know I have to level up. The benefit of surrounding yourself with dreamers and leaders is that every now and then they drop a nugget that just causes an ah-ha! moment. The one that helped solidify this trajectory wasn't even intentional, I don't think.

What was it they said when I commented that they inspired me to start writing again?

For context, I am also an artist. It's one of those hobbies mourning in the corner of my life neglected. It looks like that poor hobby might just get to make a comeback. I have spent enough time loathing myself for purchasing the newest iPad Pro every year, swearing it'll motivate me to draw, only to become the most glorified paper weight on my work desk.

I had this idea stuck in my head that whatever I did had to be big, go all the way, and generate astounding success. With zero consideration of all the factors in my life that would play a role in contributing or, more commonly, being a major detriment. I would spend massive amounts of time trying to set up my own website and business for consulting or coaching (I did this over and over and over again). I would try to launch a full-on streaming persona for my art and drawing. All the while knowing full well I have a FULL TIME career and team I also love and am committed to.

WHY?! Why would I set myself up to fail? Was it the idea of full financial independence or a desire for more freedom with my time? If so, what I was doing, the way I was doing it, was creating a very opposite scenario.

I think this was more of a habit that I needed to resolve. My whole life, since childhood, I was a very independent person. A dreamer, passionate, and self-motivated. I had this idea that one day I would have something of my own.

I was selling art as a kid. Taking graphic design jobs, web design jobs, teaching and coaching, and contract jobs throughout my young adult life. I never aspired to have a normal career and work FOR someone else. I was successful enough on my own with effort and never ceased to prove that to myself.

While I do technically work for someone else right now, I am honestly in a position where I can easily allow myself to say I work with someone else. What I mean is, I found a team where my skills can flourish, and I am able to bring so much to the table.

I think it was just a happy happenstance that I ended up with this team. I don't think for all that I am they were actively looking for me when they found me, and I wasn't sure when I started if this was going to be a career that could fulfill me. Turns out, I find my career fulfilling beyond expectations.

Okay? So you found a career with growth potential you can directly impact. You are happy with the team and enjoy them entirely. You get to exercise some of your strongest skill sets. You're so committed and invested enough in this team and company that even if you did build something of your own, you wouldn't leave them.

What the hell are you doing? Why bother trying to build something so complex and big for yourself when you're happy where you are?

Circling back here. Habit. We all have personality traits and habits, and it just so happens that one of mine was that long-fueled desire to create something sustainable for myself. Something that also granted me the amount of freedom I felt would allow me to live my life the way I wanted.

My career, like I said, didn't begin as a place where I could truly use my skills and feel like a contributor to something bigger. I didn't dive in thinking, I will make my mark here and become someone in this company. That was an opposing ideal to my personality. It was thanks to meeting a team willing to eventually acknowledge my skills and add that value to the company—that happened over the course of my time there.

I never stopped to consider re-evaluating my life goals; that was the misstep. I am a part of building something; I no longer need to build something alone. What a foreign idea to me. I don't know why I never let that one sink in fully. 

However, this still leaves me treading unknown territory within myself. Am I supposed to truly put down the idea of building something of my own?

I think that's where this little writing project comes into play. It's that bit of my own for myself. I can be honest enough with myself to admit, I need to take up some space...I need something of my own. It doesn't need to be a full-fledged business, though. I've got one of those to work on with "my team,” and I'm looking forward to that.

With all of this said, I think I can see a brighter, more solid path ahead of me. I know by restructuring my goals, I will be able to bring so much more energy to my career and rekindle my passions. Next year is going to be a game changer.

Cheers for now!