A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with my driver coming from the airport. Yes I’m one of those people who always talks to everyone. Turns out he was an accountant by trade, but had been layed off last year when his company downsized.
I talked about how much I loved my job, and then he told me how much he hated driving a cab. He was thankful he had a job, but was frustrated because in his words, “I love working with numbers”. I could definitely relate, because I love working with algorithms and search engines.
You know that feeling when you’re doing something you don’t enjoy, time just seems to crawl by at a snails pace. In comparison, when you find something you’re passionate about there aren’t enough hours in the day.
That’s why it’s so important to find something you truly enjoy, and not to give up hope if you haven’t found that place yet. Encourage other people who might not be there yet, and help them along the way if you can. We all remember what it’s like to be in that place. Don’t just say “hey sorry I hope things get better for you”. Why not actually do something to help them turn it around?
It’s hard to say I can’t imagine life without digital marketing, because I was there a few years ago. Now I get up and go to work each day, but it hardly feels like work. I have an amazing job, complete with a boss and team that is a blast to work with. Sure it has it’s ups and downs like every place, but the people have made this year memorable. I look back on 2011 and see a year of growth, personal development, and the trials that brought me closer to lifelong goals.
I’m thankful that I have a job first, but second that it’s in an industry I love. I’m thankful that technology enables me to provide for my family, and also help my friends and family understand how technology already impacts their daily life. I’m thankful that an industry that wasn’t around 10 years ago, has pretty much changed the course of my life. And I’m thankful for a job that hardly seems like “work”.