What did you want to be when you grew up?

“Daddy, when you were my age, what did you want to be when you grew up?” my son and my daughter asked me this questions at different points in their lives.  My answer is the same for both, but, offers nothing in a way of an answer.  “I’ve been working for nearly 20 years, and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up!”

I suspect that I am not the only person that feels this way.  Why else would there be such a huge market for books such as “Man’s Search for meaning”.  Many authors have also dedicated at least a chapter of their manuscripts to answering the question, “How do I find my life’s calling?”   The answers that they give provide no more of an answer than what I tell my children.  Earl Nightingale tells us that we “will become what we think about.” Whereas, Robert Green tells us we come upon our life’s task as a matter of opportunity, natural skill, learning, and practice.  For me, the advice usually leaves me still asking, what do I want to be when I grow up?

Truthfully, the only time that I felt close to finding my life’s calling, has been while I was coaching/mentoring and writing.  My career in the military has been a journey to discover exactly what it is I truly want to do.  During my career, I have been able to piece together bits and pieces of advice, that has gotten me to where I am today.

Here is what I’ve learned:

Be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity. We are surrounded by opportunity. But all too often we are not in a position to take advantage of it.  This is why Earl Nightingale says, you should save ten percent of your income.  So when the opportunity knocks on your door, you will be able to open the door.

Never stop learning.   Your formal education is not the end of your education experience.  I have learned much more from reading, research, and activities, after my formal schooling.  The experience has truly been an eye opener.

Begin to journal every day.  Throughout the course of our day, we keep a jumble of thoughts in our brains.  Being able writing them down gives us the ability to make sense of our thoughts.  It also provides you with a frame of reference of what you were thinking when you made a certain decision.

Learn to Set and accomplish goals.  It has been said that humans are never happier than when they are working towards the completion of a goal.  Goal completion builds confidence and a sense of achievement in life.  Take advantage of this, set goals for yourself and watch your confidence grow pushing you to achieve more.

Develop a Mastermind.  I read somewhere that Jesus set the example for us here with the first ever recorded Mastermind group.  He surrounded himself with 12 men that he trusted.  Creating your group will take on a slightly different format.  Although, you should trust all members of your group, its focus is to foster the success of all members involved.  Use this group to test ideas, get and give advice and to help each other succeed.

This, however, is not a road map for your success; it is the legend that tells you how to read your map.  When I tell my children that I don’t yet know what I want to be when I grow up, I also offer these guidelines for them to use as a tool the conquer the world that they are about to enter.  I tell them that finding what you want to be, is not about deciding who will provide you a paycheck, although that is also important.  It is about finding the perfect mix of finding doing what you enjoy and being paid to do it.