careers

Before the End

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I started reading this book and I can already tell it’s gonna be a life changer. I can’t wait until the end to review it, I have to talk about it now. It’s called One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success by Marci Alboher. The book was mentioned in Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection (also a must read) and the idea of it stuck with me all the way to the library.

What is this revolutionary piece of work, you ask? It is a collection of experiences, of people, of ideas about how to create a slash lifestyle, how to live in the slash. This is not about having multiple jobs, it’s about having multiple careers that each engage us in different ways. She talks about a scientist/poet, a computer programmer/theater director, a journalist/house painter, and many many more.

I am already living the slash lifestyle (writer/wedding coordinator/library substitute) but what I find so engaging about this book is the idea of balance and intention with each of the slashes. It’s not about becoming a workaholic or making each slash a full time career. It’s about creating a balance of work that feeds your interests, passions, personality, and strengths in different ways to create a complete, happy you.

I have a few slash “jobs” that are hovering at the edges. Now, as I read this, I’m already thinking about how to let those go so I can focus my time and energy on my writer, wedding coordinator, and library substitute slashes.

Must All Artists Be Mad?

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Let’s begin deconstructing the stigmas and stereotypes about artists. Here’s one – not all artists write all night. Many sleep instead.

Nor are most people able to write a novel while on their lunch break at their 9-5 job. In fact, most artists are better off working hours that are not 9-5.

To back me up I direct your attention to the article below, “Why Creative People Shouldn’t Work 9 to 5”

http://www.mnn.com/money/green-workplace/blogs/why-creative-people-shouldnt-work-9-to-5

*Please note, I do not agree with this article’s use of the term ‘creative people’. I firmly believe that everyone is creative. This article, however, is talking about the artist, a specific kind of creative person.*

What do you DO?

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There are these things where you go and do something for around 8 hours at a time and someone pays you.  We artists like to call them “day jobs” so as not to confuse the perpetual drudgery with our real work, the writing.

Sometimes, I hear, the day job doesn’t have to be drudgery.  It can be fun in and of its self.  It can be interesting and fulfilling and creative, just like the writing.  What? I shriek.  What dark magic is this?  Where have these horrid lies stemmed from?

I wonder if there is some truth behind this ludicrous nonsense.  Could there be a job out there that I would find interesting and fulfilling and creative AND they would pay me?  It seems like a quest worth pursuing.