Financing My Dream Job

This week was my 5 years old daughter’s dance recital – the song she danced to was entitled “Dancing Your Dreams” which got me thinking about working and financing my dream job.  This thinking started on Thursday afternoon which was her dress rehearsal day.  She had to be picked up from school, fed a snack, and helped into her costume with full hair and make-up complete and then wisked away to a regional high school where the performance would take place all within 60 minutes.  It wasn’t even close, I’m sure, to Honey Boo Boo’s schedule – but it was a lot to juggle – and we made it there just in time – costume, hair and makeup all done in the car when we arrived there – whew!

When I was working my corporate job, this a task that I would have lied to myself was appropriately handled by any care-giver.  But the truth was, I wanted to be there for my daughter for things like this.  Further to the truth, I also wanted to work a “dream job” that would have made it more than just possible that I could be there for her – I wanted a job where my Mommy role was a muse to my professional role and vice versa.  I feel so fortunate to have found that role as a Career Coach!  But walking away from my corporate salary and benefits seemed like a huge price to pay – but I did it anyway – and I vividly remembered why while helping her prepare for her dance recital…

When I arrived at the performance center we entered a small area where parents drop off their children – immediately you are in a sea of tutus and sequins – it’s like being in a field of flowers only these little flowers giggled, chattered and called out “Mommy” incessantly.  If only I had a dollar for every time I heard the word “Mommy!” Then, I wouldn’t ever have had a worry about how to finance living my dream job.

I looked around at that room of Mother’s primping their daughters with red lipstick, puffing out tutus, holding jackets and stuffed animals, taking pictures with their dance buddies and all I could think was how important this moment was for me (and hopefully for her).  Getting my daughter all ballerina-ed up to go out on stage and show off 1 year’s worth of hard work, sweat and tears felt like I was living a dream.  The sweat was mostly mine from getting her ready every Tuesday for practice and there ON TIME despite juggling work and the tears where often my daughter’s – each week her ‘excitement’ about practice was more like an “I don’t wanna go…” tantrum that would only get worse when I said “… if you don’t enjoy it, then don’t dance anymore”.  

Anyway, the day of her dress rehearsal, I had my first session with a new client, I reviewed the suggestions from my editor and did some additional writing for a chapter of my latest book, and I reviewed pieces of my new marketing strategy.  By 3:00PM I easily transitioned into “Mommy” for a 5 year old ballerina – it was one of those days when you realize your life is perfect as it is – it was magical despite not having all the money I had when I was a corporate head of HR.  I felt very privileged to be there for her – these are the events that I realized I would remember on my deathbed.

I then thought about how this scene would be so different if I was still working my corporate job.  Sure, then I wouldn’t have sweated for one second over the expense of the tuition, costumes, pictures, recital tickets for the family, flowers, or a celebration meal with the family afterwards – or the cost of the caregiver to do all this running back and forth with her.  But I realized my corporate job only took care of one part of my life happiness equation – money.  Plus, no matter how much money I made, I still had moments of feeling like it wasn’t enough for all the stress and worry (and expenses) having that job brought into my life!  It also didn’t address many other “worries” I would have had:

• Was I disappointing her by not being there? Was she looking around at all the others girls with their Mother’s and feeling hurt that I wasn’t there?
• Was I sending her a message that my job and making money was more important than her since I never attended any of her practices?
• Was she bonding with a caregiver more than with me or her Dad?
• Was the caregiver caring enough to make sure her tutu was fluffed to it’s fluffiest so that my daughter could feel beautiful and confident?
• Would we have pictures to capture this moment (would I have even remembered that this was a moment to be captured in photos because I surely would have still had my mind on work)?
• What if she is too nervous to perform – who would assure her she will be great or tell her how pretty she looks?
• What happens if she or the caregiver gets sick – who will “win” the battle of “who get’s to stay at work” – me or my husband?  How sad, that the pressures of our work resulted in mental arm wrestling between me and my husband where the prize would be to stay at work vs. getting to take care of her.
• etc., etc.

Yes, working my corporate job kicked up many concerns and feelings – all of which I know I would remember down to details on my deathbed.  On the other hand, living my dream job kicks up one concern – money.  And I know I won’t be stressing about money on my deathbed nor will I remember any financially challenging details.  I might look back on this time and remember that money was a challenge – but I doubt I will remember the details of even one bill.

Money is a by-product of serving others.  And the truth for me is that I have been a Career Coach for 5 years and no, the money isn’t what I was earning as a head of HR.  But, the money I was earning when I was 5 years into my first HR job didn’t feel like enough money either.

Having support from and giving support to people we care about is vital for anyone to show off their talents and therefore to eventually make enough money to feel (at least somewhat) satisfied.  So whether I am giving support to a 5 year old to show off her dance moves or to a 15, 25, 35, 45 or 55+ year old to show off their how their talents make a difference for others – I am living my dream job of helping others to discover their life calling and feel destined for success.  In return, they support me in living my discovered calling in a way that compliments my life values.  The money I desire will follow because it always has at every job I have ever had – and my dream job will be no exception.

Want to achieve balance in your life while sharing your discovered talents with others?  Call me for a free consultation and we will see if The Success Readiness Bootcamp is a good match to help you “dance” your dreams!  888/560-8233 x101 or find out more at www.indigoforce.com