Good morning, Team!  It’s Friday!

Do you remember your first job that paid money?  If so, what impression did it leave on you and does it shape your thinking and behavior today?

I saw some friends last weekend and among a plethora of topics we wrangled with, the topics of the first job came up. Beyond the humorous picture it painted of a younger version of the storyteller capturing bugs, pulling weeds and dipping tits in iodine…it demonstrates that our first vocational experience left a mark.

We’d be ignorant to think this didn’t shape us.  Whether to simply tell ourselves we never want to be in the position that this is how we would eek out a living today (especially at a penny a bug or a penny a “complete and full root”) or perhaps it inspired something in how we selected our field of study leading to our career.

It was the first recognize-able start to our career path.  Nostalgic, interesting typically remarkably different than what we do today but does it provoke thought about signals of where your career is today?

Do your present duties reinforce your your passion for your purpose?  Another way to put it, does your job bring you joy?    Is it reinforcing and validating or is it whispering in your subconscious ear to consider an alternative?

Does it at least bring a net positive feeling?

-People you work for and with?

-Compensation at market value or better?

-Does it afford you the time to nurture your family and your soul?

I think your daily experiences are contributing to the idea of whether you are where you should be or telling you something different.  We shut them out because we are afraid, comfortable, or too exhausted to muster the energy to change.

I applaud the courageous who seek a fit before the compromises alter chemistry and dull the pain but kill the enthusiasm…and just saying “life is short” only creates anxiety and expectation.

I suggest you:

•Seek joy.

•Stay true to your morals, values and beliefs.

•Flex your muscles.

•Remind yourself and others who you are and how you intend to show up.

•Refresh your passions.

•Be inspired AND be inspirational.

•Give and give and give.  Restore and give some more.

Have a blessed weekend!