“I don’t get tired” shouted by the grind poet himself, Kevin Gates. You know the song:
“I was tryna get it how I live
I want them dead presidents
I wanna pull up, head spin
Get it, get fly, I got six jobs, I don’t get tired…”
I understand the theory, but unfortunately it’s not one I would want to follow. I get it, Mr. Gates, you may not get tired…but I’m sleepy. Sleep deprivation is real in these streets! The fact that anyone has 6 jobs doesn’t make sense to me. What kind of lifestyle are you living that needs to be supported by 6 jobs? And even more, does your time even have value at each job? Now, it’s a known fact that millionaires have an average of 7 sources of incomes…but I’m sure working in every restaurant in the food court won’t make you a millionaire. It may sound like I’m on an anti-grind rant, but I assure you, I just want to make it clear that working smarter will always yield more assets than working harder!
I use this popular song as an example of the uniformed thinking we have when it comes to “hard work.” I’ve been a person who’s taken spontaneous risk as well as calculated risk, and the difference is not in the physical labor you put in something, but in the strategy you take to accomplish a goal. Financially working smarter means that you set reasonable goals to support the type of lifestyle that you image in the future, but ultimately there’s something more important than a salary. What is it, you ask? Ahh, thanks for that wonderful question…ITS CALLED PURPOSE! The 2 smartest things you can ever do in life is 1) find your purpose, and 2) find a career to help you execute your purpose.
3 Keys to a Purposeful Career
Purpose is Key!
Purpose is what you are made for. We all have purpose whether we specifically know what it is or not? Biblically, we share the same purpose, which is to love God, and love people as ourselves. It’s that simple. But the ways in which we execute our purposes are infinite. I think this is where the confusion lies for people that are looking for their place in the world. Purpose has nothing to do with you, but everything to do with how you love people. This can be done through the arts, health contributions, service to the community, taking time to listen to someone…there are too many ways to count! So yes, you can experience purpose in your career if you understand that your work (or the way you work) will make people better.
Get a Job?
The good ol’ 9 to 5! The dread of even waking up on Monday. A job could have nothing to do with your purpose, passion, or interest. Point blank, you’re just there for the money. It takes nothing but time to fulfill a job, and barely any effort. Normally, jobs have very structured time so employees can keep their sanity, but as soon as the job is finished, they wouldn’t dare think about the job unless it was mandatory. Even if a person’s job pays out a large amount of income, and there’s no purpose or passion involved with the work, that person will eventually become unfulfilled and contemplate the definition of “success.”
Build a Career!
Here’s an (unofficial) formula I created to better view a Career: Career=Purpose/Works+Income. I believe to have a successful career, it is imperative to know your God given purpose. Knowing this gives you self value and passion in your work, which makes it easier to identify an blessed opportunity, or a distraction from your purpose. You may work multiple jobs to build your career, but you will be fulfilled to invest work and effort to this career no matter how much money it pays out. You CAN NOT put a price on the assignment God gave you (aka your purpose,) but in the career field, you need to know your position of assistance. Otherwise, another person who identifies your purpose will assume a price, and “pimp” you out! Don’t be a purpose prostitute!!!
I remember being criticized by a person who didn’t understand why I would want to work for a company when I could “hustle” and make money owning my business and talents. Honestly, he makes a good argument, I do have the capability to expand my company and the investments I’ve made to other companies. But as the conversation continued, I notice it wasn’t the ownership that he saw as motivation, but pride. “I don’t want to work for no body, I’m my own boss!” Sir, you can keep the title. I’ve learned too much from the people and projects my career has taken me thus far. So if that means taking orders to fly across the country, enhance my skillset, manage big accounts, and creatively brand major ideas, I’ll stick to the learning process and accept the “boss” title when it comes. Remember, there will always be more value in capabilities than titles.
In conclusion, my ultimate goal is to have financial success based on the value of work I’ve created. I WILL retire with residual sources of income, but to get to that point I know there are business techniques that I will have to learn, and failures that I will need to take place. This is based on the vision I have to support my future endeavours, so there is no right answer to individual financial success.
Lastly, let me be vulnerable for 1 minute and 3 seconds by expressing that I have fears. Well…we all have fears, but I learned the hard way that I have to take responsibility for my fears to control and overpower them. I identified that I have a given ability to make a positive impact on people, but it would be fears that talk me out of my purpose. My past was weighing me down with involuntary seeds that were planted in my spirit at an early age. So how do all fight mental and spiritual lies that create physical anxiety? With the execution of Faith. Let nothing stop your purpose!
With love, faith, & hope,
