Have you discovered your unique talents and gifts? Do you make time to practice them?
This weekend my husband and I hosted a guest at our Bed and Breakfast who came to town for a yoga-chanting workshop. This delightful woman, in her mid-forties, works as a compliance officer in an insurance company. She has a high-stress job in a rigid, corporate environment. Making it worse, she has a difficult boss who expects her to put in long hours.
It turns out that our guest loves to paint and teach yoga. But, she has not been doing either of these things for quite some time since she comes home from work frustrated and exhausted. She told me her dream was to start a painting and yoga studio where people could come and express their creativity.
I saw our guest leaving for her event in flowing, purple, gypsy garb. It was then I knew the extent to which she was I sacrificing her spirit for the majority of her waking hours.
This trip to Atlanta was our guest’s first step towards taking action to get back to doing what is most meaningful to her. Making yoga and painting a priority in her life, is a must. If she continues to sell her paintings and fill her classes perhaps she can make the shift to leave the insurance company. In the meantime, doing what she loves will help her to thrive – even where she is.
I know that it’s a gift when you are able to earn your living doing work you love. But, having a hobby you love can do the same thing. And sometimes hobbies turn into jobs.
My sister Mary has a small clothing business and two teenagers. After a decade-long break from elite status, long distance running, Mary embarked on a rigorous training schedule and is now, in her mid-fifties, is winning Grand Master titles in most of her races.
Recently, in a state of after training bliss, Mary acknowledged, “I was just made to run”. Although it’s not her real job, as an elite athlete, Mary does get prize money for her wins. She also has an athletic clothes sponsor providing her with plenty of shoes and clothes. She considers her running a hobby, but one that brings her great joy.
My husband is another case of doing what you love. Duane works as a broadcast engineer. He tests cameras and equipment for a television network to help them make major purchase decisions. Duane enjoys his work and has no interest in retiring. But, being practical, a few years ago he began to think about what he would do next if he had to retire.
Duane has done triathlons for the last fifteen years and has always given advice to people about endurance sports. He decided to go ahead and make it official and got certified as a personal trainer and triathlon coach.
When he started to get a few clients, Duane started an LLC and named his business, Last Chance Fitness. He made a simple website where people can learn more about what he can help them with. He also started blogging and sends his posts out in a newsletter to his small list.
Duane was as excited as a new father when his first client, a man in his mid-fifties, did well in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon – one of the hardest out there. Duane has named his half-job half-hobby, a jobby, and his jobby gives him great pleasure.
Recently, one of our clients, marveled at the fun we have at New Tricks, working with unique and exciting people to create their business websites. I count myself fortunate to be able to be able to help people create and market businesses they are passionate about.
I think it was Confucius who said, “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life. ”
Do you have a job, hobby or jobby that you love? Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear about it!
