Doing What You’re Meant to Do

In my 10 years in the work force, I’ve had some jobs that were fine in the beginning, but then just stopped exciting me after a while. I thrive on challenges. When the challenge disappears, I have a tradition of getting bored and moving on to something else. I tend to take jobs that have a significant problem-solving element (i.e. something is wrong and they bring me in to fix it) and when those issues are corrected and things are running smoothly, I get bored. Ultimately, I think this is a reflection of being dissatisfied with what I was doing. Problem solving positions were a band-aid that helped to alleviate the boredom, but ultimately, the corporate world lacks the diversity and challenge on which I thrive. That’s why I’m so glad I started writing full-time; I’m finally doing what I was meant to do, and the problems with boredom have faded.

Writing is a Vocation
I’ve heard writers say it over and over again, and I have to add my two cents, now that I’ve been doing it for a while: writing is a vocation. Writing isn’t a career that people choose. Writing is something we do, regardless of career, and those of us who get paid for it aren’t “real” writers; we’re just writers who have turned our vocation into a paying venture. I’ve written my entire life, long before I was a professional writer. I write even when I’m not working; I keep blogs, I write novels, I journal; words are my medium. I kept finding ways to work writing into my jobs even before I became a professional writer, and I write both on and off the clock. Writing is something writers do because we’re compelled to do it, and turning it into a career almost seems inevitable, for me.

Freelance Writing is Constantly Changing
One of the great things about freelance writing is that it’s constantly changing. I’m typically working on several different projects at once, so if I get bored writing about something, I can switch to something else. I’ve also got a naturally inquisitive mind, so I enjoy writing about new things; because that means I research and learn about new things. Not only is writing a vocation – I couldn’t not write even if I tried, I suspect – but the type of writing I do is a natural complement to my personality and the way my mind works.

Identifying Client Needs is an Art Form
I really enjoy talking to clients, identifying their needs and then tailoring my copy or articles to their needs. It’s inherently satisfying to put your finger on something that clients don’t quite know how to express themselves, and express it for them. That’s one of the reasons my tagline “I write what you meant to say” is so perfect for my business. I don’t just write what clients tell me to write. I write what they wanted me to say but didn’t know how to express themselves. The joy in finding the perfect phrase or getting across the right tone is extremely satisfying.

Find What You’re Meant to Do
Becoming a professional freelance writer wasn’t all sunshine and butterflies. There were times, particularly when I had just started my business, when I constantly worried about getting paid and where I would find my next client. But even in those times, I never thought of quitting and trying to find a more conventional job. Now that my business is established, I have a good foundation of ongoing clients, a good referral business and I actually have the luxury of turning some projects away. Even on my busiest day or my 60-hour work weeks, I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else; it’s extremely satisfying to be doing what I’m meant to be doing.

I’d love for everyone else to have this same satisfaction. I know a lot of people who are dissatisfied with their jobs, and I know some people who love what they do – and I can say it makes a world of difference in your life overall to be happy with what you’re doing. Don’t just settle for a job to pay the bills. It might take some time to figure out what you’re meant to do, and you might have some tough times while you go to school, save some money or do whatever it takes to begin your new career – but it’s worth it.

Don’t wait until next year, or until you’ve moved, or until you’ve paid off your car, to really do some soul searching and determine what it will take to make the changes in your life. There will be a thousand arbitrary excuses and it may never be a “good time” to start something new, but do it anyway. Life is too short to hate going to work every day. Find what you’re meant to do – and do it.