Blog 8: Cali Ruth Hays

One of the biggest and most important aspects of a career is finding a job that you enjoy and ultimately fulfills your life goals. It would be very unfortunate to work at a place that drained you both physically and emotionally every single day. The overall theme of chapter 3 in "Designing Your Life" is about creating a Good Time Journal. This is basically a daily log where you track your engagement, flow, and energy levels while at work. A job where you are engaged in what you're doing, interested, and eager to learn more is the type of career you want to pursue. Flow is a word used to describe engagement on steroids. It is the feeling of being "in the zone", totally engaged, free from stress or worry, and at peace with yourself and surroundings. If you ever log periods of time where you experience flow at work, you know you're doing something right. Lastly, you want to have increased energy levels at work instead of feeling like you're being dragged around like a dog on a leash. A job you can get excited about and actually want to go to everyday is what you need to look for. Gail Garfinkel Weiss wrote an academic journal, particularly pertaining to the medical field, about how to find joy in what your are doing. This journal provides useful information for all careers, not just in the medical field. One part that stuck out to me was when she discussed how being proactive and getting involved can help you stand out in your program and develop more joy while at work.  Staying busy and finding what you are passionate about is key to having a successful career. By getting involved, you can gain new experiences and skills that will be useful in the future.  In chapter 4 of DYL, they tell a story of a woman named Sharon. She was laid off from work and spends hours searching for a new job. Sharon spends her time trying to figure out the right thing to do instead of what she genuinely wants to do. She felt as if she was stuck because she couldn't find a job.
I am guilty of this too. A lot of times I try to please people and do what others want for me. While looking for jobs, most people tend to look for the job they know they will get and take the easy way out. This is the worst way to find a job. Taking the easy route will more than likely lead to getting a job that does not fulfill you in any areas of your life. It is crucial to explore all of your options and find a job that best suits what YOU want, not anyone else. It will probably take more effort, but it will eventually pay off in the end and be totally worth it. Brian Whetten discusses the difference between profit driven and purpose driven work. Some people are only in a career for the money they make, while others are in it for the difference they make in themselves and the world. The ultimate goal would be to have a career that makes the most money and has the greatest purpose.


Burnett, Bill & Evans, Dave. (2016). Designing Your Life. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf

Weiss, Garfinkel Gail. (2010, July 9). Finding Joy! in Practice. Retrieved from http://proxygsu-geo1.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mnh&AN=20722294&site=eds-live&scope=site

Whetted, Brian. (2010, July 1). Integral Business: How to Make a Difference and Make Money While Doing What You Love. Retrieved from http://proxygsu-geo1.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=52802311&site=eds-live&scope=site