I’ve always loved reading stories in magazines and newspapers about people who got made redundant, forcing them to step out and turn their career dream into a reality. But I always feel sad too that they didn’t do this until they had few or no other options.
I keep noticing even more of that situation at the moment. I’ve become addicted to Masterchef Australia and nearly all the final 24 contestants on it have had to give up their jobs in order to take part and pursue their ambition of a career in food (the Aussie version operates on a kind-of Big Brother house idea for several months, rather than the simpler UK format). Because I’m watching series 3 (on the Really channel) and it was actually aired in Australia in 2011, I’m able to google the contestants and see what they’re up to now. Pretty much everyone has moved forward in seeing their dream become a reality and are now involved in the food industry on a full-time basis.
I see it more around me as well. My neighbour is about to be made redundant and hopes to finally have the opportunity to try to write a children’s book and get into textile art. A good friend has always loved photography but didn’t think it could be a real job until recently. It’s taken time for her to find the courage to reduce her work hours in order to really develop that business and that dream!
And then, of course, there’s me! I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a kid, but lots of people do and so I thought it was just a ridiculous dream to be put to one side.
I know it's a bit idealistic but I love the idea of people being able to work at doing whatever it is that they're really talented at. Everyone would benefit from more people being fulfilled by their work and doing a great job coz they’re passionate about and good at what they’re doing.
Using our gifts and talents to their full potential is Biblical. Jesus makes that clear in the famous parable of the talents and Peter reiterates it later in the New Testament when he says that “each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” In this great podcast about “Calling” (i.e. vocation, life work, etc.) from Christchurch London, Andy Tilsley asks a pertinent question which really hit home with me – “What are your passions and skills and gifts and are you making a contribution [to society] with them?”
Why don’t we follow our dreams? I’ve taken so long to follow mine and I’ve blogged about some of the reasons that got me finally started on this path. If you’re not following your dreams, why not? Life’s far too short not to do what you really want to do!!
Obviously there’s a very real need to put food on the table. But as so many people who’ve been made redundant have found that necessity is often what provides the motivation to work even harder at their new venture. In fact, if we try to do our “dream” as a sideline, without the motivation of not starving (!), we often don’t get anywhere with it or we certainly don’t get there quickly.
Fear is a biggie too. There’s no guarantee of success with something new or different. Society tends to define us by our jobs – “what do you do?” is a common conversation opener. Without a “real” job we can be unsure who we are or concerned what people might think of us, when paid employment is the norm. It takes courage to step out. One of the key motivating factors for me to get writing was not wanting to be on my deathbed thinking “I wonder what would have happened if I’d actually written that book?”. I’d rather give it a go and fail than always wonder “what if…?”.
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” (Ambrose Redmoon)
When I tell people I’m working on being a writer, I often see the same look come over their face which says “hmmm, in your dreams!”.
Yes, you’re right! In my dreams for a long time. But definitely a work in progress towards becoming a reality and one that I’m going to give my best shot :-)
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