How I Learned To Engage In a Challenge No comments yet
After reading Jonathan Fields’ book “Career Renegade”
Guest post by Nina Grenningloh, Journalist, PR Specialist and owner of Grennimedia.
Over the past 10 years, I have worked a number of great and not so great jobs. All of them in the media industry – I was a news producer, a PR account executive, a translator, a writer, a marketing manager. Sounds great, you might think? Well, let me be honest. While I enjoyed my jobs for the most part, again and again I was confronted with a particular question that seemed to become my best friend over the course of my career: Why so many different jobs? And, which job do you finally want to settle on?
At one point, not too long ago, my best friend – the question – took over. I found myself surrounded by my many jobs “begging me” to pick one of them. However, I was unable to make a decision because I liked a bit of every work. I knew that if I let go of some of the responsibilities, I would end up missing them; however, if I continued to try and pursue my bunch of jobs, I was likely to go down in chaos.
Around that time, I started reading Jonathan Fields’ Career Renegade. In his book, Fields gives career advice that is not only practical, but most of all motivational. The book differs from other writings in this genre in that Fields tells his personal story and also gives hands-on examples from other professionals who have succeeded in “making a great living doing what they love”. Reading just the first few chapters of the book, let alone all 269 pages, has been an eye-opening experience.
In four parts, Fields takes the reader on a step-by-step journey to discover his secret passion and to show him ways on how to turn his passion into a money making enterprise. At the end of the book, Fields motivates everyone who takes the career renegade path to be one’s own guru.
What I think is great about Career Renegade is that Fields keeps it real. After I had fully absorbed his self-help career guidance, I instantly began straightening out my complex job situation. I have started writing a blog, and I have begun figuring out how I can apply the career renegade paths that the author suggests to my own life.
Frankly, I am nowhere near the point where I can say I have it all worked out. But I already do see a difference in perspective. My formerly best friend – the question – has made way for a new pal of mine: the challenge. What if I don’t need to settle on one single job? What if I “just” have to work on shifting some priorities until I enter a junction that will bring paths - that once seemed incompatible - together? I’m not saying it’s going to be easy; and neither does Jonathan Fields. In fact, in chapter 21 of his book Fields says: “Creating your life and livelihood to deliver maximum passion and prosperity is a gargantuan challenge. But, it’s one worth engaging in.”
