With all the talk of freedom and the things we take for granted in this country, I’m amazed that our #1 freedom is overlooked daily by millions of Americans: the freedom to pursue any career we want. That’s right, in this country, no one dictates who will be the next Olympic star or factory worker. We are given that choice to make on our own.

Unfortunately, I come across job seekers on a daily basis finding excuses as to why they couldn’t live their dream, and the number one reason always has to do with money. My husband taught me early on as an entrepreneur that in order to make it, I had to be willing to suffer. Boy was he not kidding! Jewel, the successful songwriter and singer comes to mind. Here is a woman who chose to live in a van years ago so she could keep playing her guitar, rather than use that money for rent. Now that she’s hit the big time, I doubt she’s looking back on her life thinking, “I wish I took a full-time job doing something else so I didn’t have to endure that.”
Besides, the experience is what actually inspired many of her songs that topped Billboard charts.

Several years ago, a friend of mine revealed that his grandfather was an outstanding artist and cartoonist. During the Great Depression an unknown man by the name of Walt Disney approached him to draw for his fledgling company and offered him a meager salary during the launch of his company. The factory down the street offered three times the amount to do something other than art work. Grandpa (who was in his 20s at the time) took the factory gig. Years later he regretted the decision. I don’t think I need to explain why. He ended up a bitter old man.

Never forget, “when you do what you love for a living, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

–Susan Geary, CERW — 1st Rate Resumes