Are you doing what you love in your career? Just before I began working on this post I was doing a search on marketing and social networking. My fascination with the subject seems to be woven into every conversation I have lately. Considering my enthusiasm about my 9 to 5 isn’t nearly the same, what am I teaching my child about working? So here I go again, the new dad with all the questions.
I have seen how even quiet emotions displayed in the house affect a child. During a civilized discussion about something my wife and I disagreed on, our son was in the same room. After a few minutes of hearing us he stopped playing to look up at us with a sad and concerned look on his face. It broke our hearts. For some reason we foolishly believed the issue needed to be addressed right then and there. Despite what others would have said was a respectful and controlled discussion, the little guy saw through it all. Things didn’t feel right to him. We’ve never had another argument around him since.
Now that I know the power of unspoken thoughts and feelings in the life of a child; I have to ask myself when is my son going to figure out I don’t love my job? I want him to know that success comes when there is passion for what you spend 40 plus hours doing each week. Remember two-a-days in football, ladders for track, and all the lines you ran in the pre-season before you ever touched a basketball? (insert your sport here) No matter what the sport, the workouts weren’t fun, they hurt, and you were exhausted. But in the end you knew it was worth it because of the results your workouts had on the execution of your passion.
When I walk through the door each night and my son looks into my eyes, he should feel that the hard work I put in has more value to me than meeting basic financial goals. My attitude about my work will somehow shape the way he views “work” in general. Think about it, for a long time what we do for a living will be the only reference point our kids have regarding career. When all is said and done spending 40 to 60 hours a week away from the people you love doing something you don’t enjoy makes a lasting statement about work and career. So get out there and do something you love for yourself and the little eyes that are watching your every move.
