I recently was watching an episode of Deadliest Catch(ya it’s pretty cool, isn’t it?) and I heard one of the young deckhands go on about how he was destined to be a fisherman like his dad. His spirit was shattered and he was trapped. Trapped in a life he didn’t want and he knew wasn’t his true passion or even a good option. How sad.
It made me think back to a time when I was in my early twenties and already stuck in a pair of golden handcuffs. Or so I thought. I had a great paying job at UPS with great benefits and was making plans to work there the rest of my life. How sad! The worst part was that I didn’t even like the job or most of the people I worked with. But I was making great money for my age and didn’t see a way out. Fortunately my Dad knew better than I (one of the few times that ever happened) and offered to help me extricate myself to a better situation. In the short term I lost out on some perks but in the long run I was much better off. I can’t imagine still working at UPS almost twenty years later. Thanks, Dad!
But it’s not just dumb twenty year old kids that make this mistake. In some ways I’m still doing it today. I follow the status quo just because it’s easy. I’m not the only one. I meet and see so many people that are just going through the motions because they don’t see another way. There’s always another way. It might not be the path of least resistance, but there are always choices in life. Don’t let the ‘needs’ of the short-term dictate your long-term happiness and success.
I hope that deckhand’s dad steps in and shows him a better way.
Have you ever been ‘trapped’ in a career or job? Share your experiences below.