THE REASON YOU SHOULD, THE REASON YOU SHOULDN'T

"We work to become, not to acquire."

Elbert Hubbard, 19th century American writer/publisher.

Actually, we should but not all of us all the time do.

And pity those who do not understand the difference.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU KNOW IT

"The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an immediate knowledge of its ugly side."

James Baldwin (1924-1987) American writer.

Because there is downside to everything even that with tremendous upside.

Look for both before you choose your career.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

"It is the first of all problems for a man to find out what kind of work he is to do in this universe."

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) British historian/essayist

Arguably the biggest of all problems because if you get that wrong, all else that follows will only be worse.

Choose your career carefully.

JUST IN CASE . . .

"Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?"

Carole King, 20th century American recording artist

from the song "Far Away"

You might ask this if primary your career goal is to stay with just one company.

Maybe you can but be prepared if you can't.

Behind the Veil Of What Might Be

"It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to pursuit."

Antoine Rivarol

19th century French writer

"Mystery", "enchantment"; not likely words you associate with your job are they?

Particularly not when you think about your career "pursuit".

But why shouldn't they be?

Think About It

"The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get to the office."

Robert Frost

20th century American poet

I appreciate Mr. Frost's tongue-in-cheek humor while at the same time seeing the underlying truth for so many who hate what they do.

How bad must it be to spend your working life wishing you were doing just about anything other than your job.

Regrets, I Have A Few . . . But Then Again . . .Too Few To Mention

"Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets."

Arthur Miller

20th century American dramatist

If you really need more than a "top 5" list of things you regret in your career, maybe you're in the wrong job.

Home Is Not Wherever

"People are usually happiest at home."

William Shakespeare

16th century British playwright

If you are just entering the workforce, possibly inclined to take the first job you can find regardless of where it might be, think about this carefully.

Jobs come and go and the only thing worse than losing a job is doing so in a place you wouldn't otherwise choose to be.

Ready For A Change?

"Getting fired is nature's way of telling you that you had the wrong job in the first place."

Hal Lancaster

Author

Are you in your job because you fear change?

That would be the "wrong job".

Job or Career?

"The difference between a job and a career is the difference between 40 and 60 hours a week."

Robert Frost

While there is more to it than that, the implication of the thought is clear.

(And while not critical to the point, the fact that this observation comes from a poet, surprised me.)

Are you working only/as many hours a week as you would like?