A career is one of your most valuable assets. Careers provide economic stability and more often than not, stem from individualization, and in an ideal world should be both emotionally rewarding and mentally stimulating.
Gone are the days where we remain with one employer for 30 plus years in the same capacity and department as when we were first hired. Today, a career is more than a job with a list of routine tasks. A career is a way of life and occupies a significant space in your life.
Merriam-Webster lists one definition of career as: a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling.
Establishing a career can be a challenge. Even more so when, as the significant other/family member of an NFL player, you lead a rather transient lifestyle. The mere thought of beginning the process of defining your career may seem like a daunting task in the face of geographic uncertainty and your already over-extended to-do list.
The key to defining your career is to first discover YOUR calling (vocation).
Resist the urge to pursue a career path for the wrong reasons – perceived increase in more immediate prospects of money, fame, and notoriety. Over the long term, no good has ever come of pursuing someone else’s dream. I might also add, the same goes for pursuing a particular career path because family and friends expect you to do so, or everyone in your inner circle is going down that path so should you.
Most of us can identify with the pressures of trying to live up to someone else’s expectations of us – proceed with extreme caution; it can be a recipe for disaster potentially creating angst and frustration in nearly every aspect of your life. A career is far too important and requires a considerable amount of time and energy to be taken on for any other reason than that of your own.
Ask yourself, how much would you enjoy being an engineer, for example, if you never won any awards, didn’t realize the level of income you thought would, or when 3 of the 4 sister-friends who made a pact to take over the world of engineering have a change of heart and move on to pursue other interests, leaving you carry the torch solo? Would you still want to be an engineer? What becomes of the time and money invested in becoming an engineer? Would you go to work everyday with enthusiasm and passion?
Career counselors and business coaches will tell you- do what you love and the money and accolades will come. Nothing is instantaneous and success doesn't happen overnight. When you work in an area of YOUR calling, everything else tends to fall in place.
In addition to the resources available to you through NFL Player Engagement, jumpstart defining your career by reaching out to your alma mater’s career resource center and alumni relations department, professional associations and read industry trade publications. These entities also offer valuable resources to help you establish a career path.
No matter where you are in the career lifecycle - just starting out, or transitioning to something new, defining a career of your own requires honest self-assessment, research, and planning.
This series will explore ways to help you define your career as it relates to: your goals, networking with a purpose, brand building, marketing strategies, transitioning, and launching a business.
Defining your career can be both an exhilarating and frustrating process. Once defined, however, the rewards are unlimited - created and defined by YOU for you.
Next up: Getting Started, Or Starting Over
The NFLPE Women's Community "Defining Your Career" series offers useful and practical advice for boosting your career at any stage. Check back every two weeks for new articles and share your perspective in the comments.