On letting the dots connect

... and believing in your purpose.

You might not know this about me, but I used to work in HR. Right out of college, I accepted an entry-level role. And year by year, as new opportunities arose (especially the ones that required me to travel), I took them. Time ticked on and before I knew it, I was gaining skills in a profession that, ultimately, was a pretty unnatural fit for me. 

Why? Well, for starters, I am writer. (Duh.) Also because, especially in recruiting, there’s a constant tug of war between speed and process. In this analogy, the recruiter is the rope. Some people thrive in this environment; many of us burn out.

When I meet people now—and they get to know me as a writer—they’re usually surprised when I tell them I once worked in HR. 

And I love that. I’ve worked hard to carve out a writing life, so it brings me joy to be seen for my purpose, not just a career. 

I didn’t know it would work out this way. I didn’t know it would work out at all. Pivoting from one career path to another—when there are seemingly few commonalities—is hard.

And yet, there are commonalities, you just don’t always see them right away. The dots only connect in reverse (that’s a Steve Jobs reference). 

As a writer, I interview experts to help inform what I’m going to write. I draft interview questions and conduct interviews—might I have had some prior experience(s) with this? Thousands, if I had to guess.

As a freelancer, I still grapple with speed versus process, but now it’s on my own terms so I can mitigate the risk of burnout.

I even write about HR now, too, including how to make work experiences better and help your people thrive. I also write about traveling (for work) and the beauty of working from anywhere, too.

My worlds have indeed collided. And thus, I’ve learned that no skill or experience is wasted—but you might have to wait to glean its greater purpose until the dots connect.

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Supplemental reading: Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington

Also, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so I want to say thank you for being part of my community of Bright Siders. I started this newsletter as a small way to talk about silver linings, but optimism a relentless crusade. Thanks for being along for the journey with me.

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