There are moments when we all think we know what we want to do for the rest of our lives. Right now, I think I will be in Fundaising and Non-Profit for the rest of my life. And that probably will be the case. Unless, I get the opportunity to open another restaurant, or go to law school, or win the lottery and stay home with my kids, or be a consultant, or...
You get the point.
I was talking with a friend of mine today who is nearing the end of current job in education. I asked her for a job update this morning and she told me she had an offer at a great (non-educational) company in the area. But she started to cry. "I'm leaving my lifelong dream. But I have to think about what my family needs right now. And how do I know that I can even do this job?"
I explained to her that when I got the offer at the College, it was the greatest, scariest day I ever had. College level fundraising. With one of the biggest organizations in the county. The Big Show. I thought for sure they had made a mistake and I was going to fall flat on my face.
"Now how do you feel?" she asked.
"Taking that job was the best decision I could have made. I know that it prevents me from tucking my kids in every single night, or picking them up from school sometimes. But I hope they see that my success is their benefit in the long run and have more respect for me because of it. And at that place, falling on your face is simply not an option. There is always a safety net of support beneath you."
One often forgets that an average human has a multitude of different dreams- in the same night. I believe that carries into our waking hours, too. So, try something different, or get stuck in a great dream for a while- either way, you'll be glad you did.
