COVID-19 has been a wake-up call. This pandemic slapped a lot of people in the face. Spending all our time away from other people gave some of us a chance to examine ourselves. Maybe fearful thoughts crept in. If you’re like me, then you have thought, “what am I going to do with the rest of my life“? Here are a few tips that I’ve discovered doing what I love to do and tips on how to change careers after COVID-19:
1. Keep Family First
At the end of February 2020, our hours shifted, causing me to spend more time at home. Before this, I worked 60 plus hours a week for months. So once I had time off from work to spend with my wife and kids, I slept in for almost a week. Once my body had a chance to recover, I had enough energy to play with my kids and then some. I had the thought, “Why am I giving so much energy to a place that can so easily replace me?” My kids only have one dad, and my wife has only one husband; that’s me. So it is crucial that whatever comes next, I put family first.
2. Know Your Value
Essential worker. A term I’ve never heard before. To some people, it was great. It meant you could work and pay your bills. To others, it meant putting your life at risk. So whether you decide to go back to school or look for what’s out there, know your worth.
Several Amazon workers were fearful that COVID-19 would spread among the employees, and Amazon wasn’t providing enough PPE. That soon led to protests. Although the workers had every right to organize and protest for a safer environment, that may not change anything. A wise man once told me, “if you can’t change the people, change the people.” That means if people don’t want to change their attitudes and actions, you have to change who you let into your space in that area of your life. By not understanding your value, you’ll typically end up taking what you can get.
3. Money vs. Purpose
Many people get stuck in the money pit. I was. I need to get out of it, and so do you. The money pit is when we’re simply trading our time for money. This becomes very difficult to get out! You feel it because you have a job that you don’t like, but it pays the bills just enough so you don’t quit. You don’t feel fulfilled and that you’re utilizing your best self.
When you have a purpose, you feel engaged and energized by your work. You feel that you are giving value just as much as you get. It will eventually show up in your bank account! Keep in mind that there are levels to everything. Like two shoemakers both sell shoes, one is a much better shoemaker than the other, just like how you are more valuable to others living a life on purpose.
All this may mean going back to school.
If you would like to find out more, read our book to help deepen your understanding of yourself, and determine a pathway forward.
