When I was in high school, I thought I wanted to be a dermatologist. I had a skin condition on my eyelid so my parents initially took me to my GP. When he was unable to recommend a solution, we visited an ophthalmologist who also had no recommendations. Finally we went to a dermatologist who prescribed a wash and cream and within a day I was much better.

The thing about pursuing this career is that I wasn’t good at Chemistry. The truth is that I got a very bad grade. I then decided that business was probably a better path for me, so I applied to Bryant College (now Bryant University). I had always had excellent grades in English, so the person who interviewed me suggested that I major in business communications, which was the first year the university had it. I really enjoyed the writing and public speaking courses. I also did an internship at KPMG in New York in their Public Relations department when I was home during breaks.

Unfortunately, upon graduation, the company was not hiring, so I went to work for a small marketing and sales promotion agency. Nine months later I received a call that a position was available in the Executive Search practice at KPMG. After a management buyout of the practice, I had two more stints in executive search and then started my own company in 1991. By 2008, I was restless so I decided to get my professional trainer certification which I found rewarding because I like helping others achieve their goals. However, I still missed giving presentations and writing, so I became a blog writer for my website and wrote for others like the Huffington Post. However, my true love is running workshops/trainings in the US as well as virtually, so I do it for corporations and conferences and I’m also an adjunct professor at Bryant.

Although money is important, I believe that if you feel fulfilled in your career, the money will come. Many of my clients become obsessed with dollars and then realize they are in a role that is not right for them. More importantly, the position may have been ideal for a while, but passions, priorities, and every other aspect of life have changed and you find yourself dreading going to work every morning. The problems are “how do you find out what position you want?” and “how do I get it?” I tell my clients to go on “coffee dates” with a wide range of people who have occupations that might interest them. I also have them read autobiographies/biographies of people they admire. By doing the latter, my clients quickly realize that it’s most likely not a direct shot at what they want, but rather a stepping stone in the right direction. The first step is to try but I hear a thousand and one excuses for why they don’t.

Spinning your career is like gardening. You have to go through the catalog of seeds, choose what you want (or buy plants) and then nurture them to grow. Some will never make it, while others may redistribute due to birds, bugs, and/or rain. Others will flower and stay year after year. The point is that you may have to plant a lot of seeds/plants to get the garden you want. Patience and resilience are hard, but when you get that beautiful flower or that delicious vegetable, it will be worth it. Doesn’t your career deserve the same?