I was introduced to an article today that tells a very familiar story. The article talks about someone that “finally” made it to Wall Street. This person worked hard, made the grades, impressed the recruiters, and earned a job at a prestigious bank. Now that person is wondering what the heck they are doing there. Today’s economy is a little different. The role banks play in our society has begun to change. General mismanagement and other high level mistakes have forced these huge institutions to ask the government for bailout funds. Having a job with a big bank used to be one of the most prestigious jobs one could have. In recent times, we have seen much of that luster diminish. So for this person, the BIG money and BIG prestige that was associated with working for a bank doesn’t seem as real. Now the person feels confused. They have worked so hard to get to this point in their career and it feels like an empty accomplishment. They want to leave their job and go to Hollywood. But what is that going to do? The real conversation here is one about having a “job” vs having a “calling”. It is easy to get the two mixed up. For many of us, a job is simply a means to earn enough to do what we want to do outside of work. However, a “calling” is an idea so compelling that we begin to organize our lives around it. A calling may or may not create a paycheck for you, but you are drawn to it nonetheless. Whether you see yourself having a job or a calling doesn’t really matter, they both have their pros and cons. The mistake is made when you get them confused. Just because you have a job, does not mean you have a calling. And just because you have a calling does not mean you have a job. Too many of us invest years of our lives pursuing a “job” with the misconception that it is our “calling”. Getting them confused can lead to a major letdown, much like this person at the prestigious bank. Think about that for a second…the article I mentioned can be found here.
Job vs Calling
Posted on 10 December 2008 by Alzay