While on a cross country flight I got into a discussion with the young women seated next to me. She was a fascinating individual. She came to America to earn her degree and then go to medical school. During this time she was supporting her two younger sisters, working two jobs, and attending school full time. If she got three hours of sleep a night she was lucky. Graduating with a 4.0 average and on the verge of entering medical school, her body and mind could take no more. She began to experience migraines, extreme fatigue, and sickness. Her body was shutting down and could no longer take the work load and stress.
On a trip to Europe she discovered she had a talent for design and was hired by a major shoe designer. She loved the work and was extremely creative, but as we talked, there was disappointment and indecision in her voice. When I asked what was wrong she said that she felt like a failure, not having fulfilled her desire to be a doctor and help people. She said her father was also disappointed in any of his children that did not have at least two educational degrees. I asked her a very simple question, “do you love designing?” She said, “it comes so easy to me I do not feel like it is really work or that I am accomplishing anything!”
This young lady had reached the “fork in the road.” One path would lead to a medical degree, the other to the thing that was so natural and easy, designing. What path to choose? Which profession would give her the most fulfillment? There is no clear answer. I related to her my definition of the perfect job. It is the job you love so much you would do it for free, but you do it so well you get paid. If a job comes easy, that is a true blessing and you are among the few on earth that have found their true calling. Her perspective changed as she thought about the words. In a truer sense, she could not have taken the wrong road if she only did one important thing…she followed that road with conviction.
Second guessing our lives is an exercise in futility. Moving forward with passion based on our conviction is the mark of a true champion. Any work we do with our heart and soul is worthy of praise and of pride. Whether doctor or designer, it makes no difference, only that we choose the right road…the road to excellence.