Career Advice from an Eight-year-old

My youngest brother dashed into the living room decked out in a strange ensemble of clothing, including sunglasses, a helmet, and a cape. He proudly announced that he wanted to be a Gas Station Movie Star when he grew up. For a few months, this was an honest and sincere desire of his (he was eight years old at the time). To this day, we have no idea where this idea came from, but I have fondly remembered this story. Like many of us, my baby brother put aside his dreams of being a celebrity gas station attendant to become an IT manager at a local cable services company.

Celebrity Gas Station Attendant Jerry Seinfeld

I remembered this story because of another eight-year-old who recently shared her plans for her future vocation. Like my brother, she wanted to combine her interests, talents, and aspirations into a unique career.

As far as I know, there are not many chef-scientist-contortionists out there, so she definitely serves a niche market.

I tend to take a lot of advice from this eight-year-old career coach. She is wise and straightforwardly looks at life: Be kind and encourage others, dream, and make every day your best day.

Evidently, many people think like this eight-year-old and are exploring new ways to look at their jobs. I bumped into a few of these fantastic job titles (these are real).

• Dog surfing instructor – found at many beach resorts.
• Scuba diving pizza delivery person.
• Professional Sleeper (My #4 son would be good at this job).
• Duck master – watching over a family of ducks at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.

We should all be dreamers and seekers – even if we are happy in our jobs. Here is a little advice with the help of an eight-year-old to get you started.

• Look back – remember your dreams and how you got here today. What are your major successes and setbacks – what can you learn about yourself in the self-reflection?
• Look inside – What are your superpowers? Have you considered personality assessments? How are you made?
• Look forward – what are the qualities in life (and work) that you want? What kind of job? What hobbies? Where is your next big vacation?
• Look around – Surround yourself with friends who will support you on your journey. Find people who have the job titles that you want and reach out to them to learn more.
  If you are interested in a Science/contortionist-themed restaurant, I know a person.
• Look boldly – venture out boldly to explore what it would take to find that job or start one on your own.

It turns out there is already a “science-minded” chef and a Michelin star chef who is a “culinary contortionist”.

Um, maybe she has a good idea after all! I’m quite excited to see how her restaurant will turn out.

Roadmaps are Overrated (one cost me a great job)

Bear with me for a minute.  This title will all make sense very soon.

Back in the days before all our cell phones had GPS built inside, families would travel across the country using something called a map.  A map is a very large piece of paper that displayed roads and other transit routes for a specific region of the world.  Using a map, or more commonly called a roadmap, a family could travel to any place that their Chevy Malibu station wagon could take them.  In my family’s case, the roadmap alone was not sufficient for a timely and successful long distance journey.

My First Lesson in Management

I have a theory.  There are people in this world whose sole purpose help guide you on our journey. These people show up when you least expect, and often are there during the important crossroads in your life.  For me, it was Phyllis Adams, and she was an angel sent by God to help me start on my life journey.