Working

Out to Lunch by J. Seward Johnson

The crowning fortune of a man is to be born to some pursuit which finds him employment and happiness, whether it be to make baskets, or broadswords, or canals, or statues, or songs.

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

First thing you should know about me: I have my dream job. Yesterday was my one year anniversary as the manager of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- South Side.  I often walk into work and think, “Wow, I get to work here.” I’m surprised I have any sort of career, let alone one that brings me so much personal and professional satisfaction. (See next paragraph.)

Second thing you should know about me: I hate school. I hated grade school, middle school and high school. I hated college so much that it took me eight years to graduate. When I was done it felt like I had completed a prison sentence. I vowed I would never go back. I wouldn’t even go to Oakland.

In 2004 I was hired as a library clerk at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- East Liberty. I loved it. Wait a second! I get to talk to people all day about books and I don’t have to work in a cubicle? Sign me up! I had to grit my teeth, suck it up and go back to school. Gross. But it was worth it. I am doing what I was meant to do.

(Every advisor I ever had dropped the ball on this one, including the jerk who suggested secretarial school.)

Find your perfect career at the library!

There are so many job and career resources at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. One of my personal favorites is a database called Career Cruising. I love the Assessment Tools. Take the Matchmaker test and discover what you should be doing! My first recommended job was cement mason. Roofer and chimney sweep also made the list. I think because I said I like working with my hands and being outside? Or because I love swearing? (I really do.)

See?

There are a lot of other neat tools at Career Cruising, including financial aid and employment searching, resume building and school comparison profiles. And don’t forget, you can always, always, always ask a librarian for help!

I’m not really a Who Moved My Cheese?/7 Habits of Highly Effective People/How to Win Friends and Influence People kind of reader. I’m less Oprah, more this. However, there are a few books that I have found worthwhile, especially when talking about having a calling in life.

The Butterfly Hunter, Chris Ballard

Stories of people who found their callings way, way, way off the beaten path. Learn how glass eyes are made, learn the history of window-washing and meet a dude named Spiderman Mulholland.

Getting Unstuck, Timothy Butler

Feeling stuck in a rut, personally or professionally? Find yourself thinking that there definitely should be more of…whatever? Business psychologist Timothy Butler will help you recognize your rut and unstick yourself from your paralysis.

A Life at Work, Thomas Moore

A little touchy-feely, but if you are like me and define yourself by your job then you’ll enjoy this book.

Do you have a dream job? Or a very, very worst job?

-suzy

To my niece on her 18th birthday

To you,

You’re 18 today. I remember the day you were born and while it doesn’t seem like yesterday, it definitely doesn’t seem like it was eighteen years ago. You’re going off to college in a few months and while I know very little about anything, I thought I’d offer you some advice.

• Experience as much as you can (SAFELY!) while still getting your homework done.
• Be in awe of the opportunities you have and take advantage of them.
• Don’t feel trapped. You’re never really trapped. If you decide what you’re planning on doing with your life isn’t what you want to do, switch courses. Being expected to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at age 18 is insane. Frankly, being expected to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at my age (well over 18) is insane, too.
• What makes one person happy makes another miserable. Find your own road and make sure that road is the road you want to take (not the road anyone else is telling you to take).
• It’s important to be kind to others, but the most important person to be kind to is yourself.

Here are some quotes I’ve collected over the years to inspire myself and I hope a few or all will help you, if not now, then someday.

“Be brave enough to break your own heart.” – Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things. I have a poster with that saying on it and some of the best days I’ve had are days when I take that advice to heart.

“Don’t plant your bad days. They grow into weeks. The weeks grow into months. Before you know it, you got yourself a bad year. Take it from me. Choke those little bad days. Choke ’em down to nothin’.”- Tom Waits

“Everyone must dream. We dream to give ourselves hope. To stop dreaming- well, that’s like saying you can never change your fate.”- Amy Tan

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'”- Mary Anne Radmacher

“There’s power in looking silly and not caring that you do.”- Amy Poehler

“Only hang around people that are positive and make you feel good. Anybody who doesn’t make you feel good, kick them to the curb and the earlier you start in your life, the better. The minute anybody makes you feel weird and non-included or not supported, you know, either beat it or tell them to beat it.” That’s another Amy Poehler quote. Just listen to pretty much anything Amy Poehler says. She’s the best person ever. (Besides you.)

Always remember that I love and continually root for you.

Love, Auntu