Da Vinci's notebook

Introduction

Career and vocation, two terms that seem to go together seamlessly. However, for many people, the difference between them is quite unclear. If you find yourself confused by these two terms, please keep reading, as this article serves as a guiding light that will illuminate your path of understanding.

Debunking Misconceptions

Misconception One: A Vocation is Just a Romanticized Dream

Some believe that a vocation is a dream for romanticists, like aspiring to be a writer while spending all day immersed in a coffee shop, pen in hand, gazing at the drifting clouds. Well, this picture may indeed be overly romantic, even resembling a scene from a movie.

In reality, a vocation is a long-term goal or mission that someone pursues. It might be a dream, but more often, it’s a pursuit grounded in reality. If you treat a vocation merely as a dream, it’s a one-sided view. It’s like describing life as a piece of chocolate cake; delicious but not all-encompassing.

Misconception Two: A Career is Solely About Pursuing Money

Some think that a career is an endless chase after money, as if all working professionals have become slaves to wealth. But is this really the case? No, a career is a pursuit of professional success, personal growth, and satisfaction.

There’s a theory called “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” that can explain this. According to this theory, after pursuing basic life necessities, people seek higher-level needs, such as respect and self-actualization. So, to see a career solely as making money is like viewing an Olympic medal as just a piece of metal, ignoring its true value.

Real-life Cases

J.K. Rowling’s Dreams and Reality:

When it comes to dreams and reality, we cannot ignore the author of “Harry Potter,” J.K. Rowling. Once an unemployed single mother, she never gave up on her writing dream. The result? She not only realized her dream but also created a world-class literary empire. Don’t assume she became wealthy overnight, as she also faced dozens of rejections. Yes, as you may guess, achieving dreams is not an easy process; it requires patience and effort, much like performing magic, and it may not always succeed.

Elon Musk’s Cosmic Ambitions:

You might think building rockets is a crazy vocation, but Elon Musk doesn’t think so. He has made it his vocation, hoping that humans can reach Mars and establish a colony there. Does this dream sound like science fiction? But he has already made significant breakthroughs on this path through SpaceX. Musk’s story tells us that a vocation can be very grand, but through science, planning, and execution, it can also become very real.

Career and vocation, seemingly ordinary terms, hide a profound philosophical and theoretical foundation. From Maslow’s theory of needs to real-life success stories, we can see that career and vocation are not two incompatible concepts. In the following sections, we will explore how to pursue a vocation within your career and provide specific advice.

How to Pursue Your Calling in Your Career?

People often say “Do what you love,” and it sounds like a golden rule of life. But the real world sometimes doesn’t cooperate. If your dream is to become the next lead singer of a rock band, but your singing can only earn applause from the showerhead, what then?

Pursuing your calling isn’t always a straight path; it’s more like a maze, where every turn may bring a surprise or setback. But in this process, one key point to remember is not to put all your eggs in one basket. Betting everything on one venture can sometimes lead to significant loss. Through wise planning, risk assessment, and the following specific steps and examples, you can find and pursue your calling in your career:

1. Understand Your Interests and Talents Love pizza? Maybe you should become a pizza master? Well, perhaps start by learning how to make one. Understanding your interests and talents is the first step in pursuing your calling. Who knows, you might be the next King of Pizza!
2. Find the Intersection Between Career and Calling Love stars, but your math grades dashed your astronaut dreams? Why not become an astronomy educator, inspiring children’s dreams? Finding the intersection between career and calling is like finding the perfect match of milk and cookies.
3. Set Achievable Goals This is especially crucial. Don’t set overly ambitious goals from the beginning. Want to be a world champion athlete but never participated in community sports? That’s like trying to eat an entire cake in one bite. Gradually achieving goals is not only more realistic but also less risky.
4. Utilize Existing Resources No money to open a restaurant? Start selling homemade salad dressing at home! Utilizing existing resources is like playing with LEGO, where you can build endless possibilities with limited pieces.
5. Continuously Learn and Grow Life is a never-ending school, with no summer break. Want to be a writer? Read and write every day, even if your writing starts to seem like an alien language.
6. Create Opportunities, Don’t Wait for Them Waiting for the perfect job opportunity is as frustrating as waiting for a bus. Sometimes you have to drive yourself. Create opportunities and start doing what you want to do, don’t just wait for them to come.
7. Don’t Fear Failure Failure is like the seasoning of life; without it, success lacks flavor. Don’t fear failure. Pick up your “life’s cooking utensils” and cook up your career feast.

Wisdom from Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs once said: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” What he might not have told you is that loving what you do can sometimes be as challenging as finding a lost remote control.

Conclusion: Your Life, Your Choice

Career and calling don’t have to be arch-enemies; they can be the best dance partners, with the right rhythm and melody.

If you’re still struggling with how to pursue your calling in your career, try using the above strategies. You may find the golden path to your dreams rather than a thorny trail.

Combining career and calling is like a carefully choreographed dance, requiring time, patience, and practice. But once you find the rhythm, you’ll experience a more meaningful and fulfilling professional life.

So, the next time you feel lost or confused, pause and ask yourself, “What is my calling?” Then bravely move in that direction. Remember, even the most rugged roads eventually lead to beautiful vistas.