Friday, August 6, 2010

Job vs. Career

My former day-boss used to hand out weekly goals with an inspirational message scribbled at the bottom of the page. Only one left a lasting impression on me.


If you only work 40 hours a week, you have a job not a career.

In less than a microsecond, I knew my daily occupation was a “job”, not a career.

I like my day job. It’s interesting, challenging, and a continual learning experience. But, I don’t want to slave at my desk for extra hours or come in on weekends. I give my all during the 40 hours I’m there. But when the LED display on the clock flashes that time to go home, I do. Because at home is where I work on my career.

Dictionary.com defines career as ” a person’s progress or general course of action through life or through a phase of life, as in some profession or undertaking.” For me, that’s writing. That I’m not published and not paid to write doesn’t deter me from doing it any way.

I’m committed. Every spare moment is dedicated to writing or learning the craft of writing. If I had more time, I’d spend it writing. As surely as I live and breathe, I write. It is my general course of action through life. I hope to make progress along the way because I do have the goal of becoming a successful published author. But, I think a career is about the journey, not the just the final destination.

So, do you have a job or a career? Or both?

~kristal lee

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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jessica Souders says:
Yes, yes, yes! This is me exactly! If I’m not writing there’s something wrong. And I truly believe that life rewards those that work for what they want. We’ll be published soon!

August 6, 2010

Anonymous said...

Tamara Hanson says:
Thanks for the inspiring post! It described my ambition perfectly. Some people may not understand the dedicated hours I put into this craft. It’s almost not a choice to me, but a calling. Only another writer could understand that.

August 7, 2010

Anonymous said...

Rebecca Lynn says:
This is a great post, Kristal. I definitely want to say that I have a career… but it’s something that I still need to work at, I think.

August 8, 2010

Anonymous said...

Chudney DeFreitas-Thomas says:
Both, I have a Part-time job and then I write.And if I’m not actually writing then I’m editing or researching.

August 10, 2010

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