Pour myself a cup of ambition

What made you choose the career (or job) you have now? What was your criterion for the perfect (or at least perfect-for-now) job? Was it the money? The security? The flexibility? The first step to your dream job? The only place that responded to your resume?

I already told you about my journey to where I am today. To recap, when I graduated from high school I either wanted to be a genetic engineer or a geriatrician. But college wasn’t really my thing when I was 18. Now a…umm…few years later, I really wish it would have been a priority. But you just couldn’t tell my eighteen-year-old self how important an education was. I was too busy worrying about boys and friends and partying.

Eventually I went to community college to get my Certified Nurses Aide certificate. A CNA was close enough to being an actual doctor (at least to a nineteen-year-old) and it only required a three month course and some work at a nursing home. Score.

But when I got pregnant with Keaton I didn’t want to work nights anymore. And I didn’t want to have to do all the lifting being a CNA often requires. Plus being a CNA really doesn’t pay that well.

Eventually I landed a job in an office. I started as a part-time receptionist. Then I became a file clerk at a different company. And finally I got a pretty good job as an assistant at a brokerage firm. I learned the accounting software and began doing account receivable and payable as well as payroll for the brokers. I also typed reports and letters for the legal counsel. It wasn’t an exciting job, but it paid the bills.

And that’s when I realized it was all about the money. Office jobs paid better so that’s what I was going to do with my life.

I went back to school to get and associates degree in business administration. I quit jobs (often) for better paying jobs. I had no loyalty to my employer. I could be bought by whoever was willing to give me the bigger paycheck. I defined success by how much money I made.

Then I grew up, had more kids, and started to think that maybe money isn’t what defined me after all. At least I knew that wasn’t the message I wanted to send to my kids. I didn’t want to be one of those moms who worked 80 hours a week and rarely showed up to her kids’ soccer games or dance recitals. I wanted to play a very active role in my kids’ lives.

By this point I was in school to get my bachelor’s degree. I changed my major from Management (I chose management because that’s what makes the most money of course) to Marketing. I’m a creative person and marketing allows me to utilize the business skills I have acquired over the last several years and combine it with my creative side. I also took on some freelance jobs; web design and writing.

My current job is very flexible. I can work from home twice a week or when I’m sick or the plumber has to come or whatever. I can sneak out for my kids’ events; holiday parties, soccer games, field trips, etc.

So why did I pick the job I have? I chose it because it gets me closer to my goals. I have built up some loyalty with my company so I can easily move in to other areas that interest me while still retaining my five weeks of vacation. I have the flexibility to both work and still spend time with my family. And, I can’t lie, it pays well. Let’s face, money is still important even if it’s not what defines you.