A Change in Thinking

I recently came across an article on Facebook called "10 Things Only Poor People Do." The post itself is harsh, and chooses to be black and white on a lot of complex life choices. But what stood out to me, is the shift in thinking I have personally experienced between working a job I did for the money and changing my career path to something that I find motivating and strive to grow in.

4. Focus on What They Can Buy, Not How Great They Can Be.
I have long been a dreamer, but never focused on the steps needed to reach the lifestyle I want for myself. Day after day I would go into work and simply get through so I could go ride my bike or hangout with friends. There was no goal of achievement or big picture, just a continuous grind. After making a shift towards writing I have a big picture goal to write for a company I am interested in and passionate about. To incorporate my hobbys into my career and get paid to create something I truly enjoy putting the work into. At the moment I am seeking out opportunities and willing to write for free. Because I know in the long run the experience will only propel me towards my goal. Like bike racing, you need to build a solid base before you can fine tune and compete for the podium.

7. Have Great Ideas but Do Nothing About Them Other than Talk About Them.
Jumping from one grand idea to the next is kind of my MO, or it used to be. As mentioned in previous posts, finding my balance has involved looking at the whole picture and not being gung-ho about something one week and moving onto something new the next. With writing I get to channel that eager, jumpy part of my personality, but am forced to see it through to completion. Writers have to hustle a bit, and have a product worth selling. You can't submit a half-thought article to a magazine and expect them to publish it.

1. Poor People Always See the Problem Ahead; Never the Solution.
Perhaps the most surprising thing I've experienced thus far, trying to get a writing career off the ground, is how motivating rejection has been. In college I always enjoyed workshops and getting feedback on my pieces, but we were kind to each other. There were few hard NO's. So far, since focusing on my new career path,  I've hardly seen a nibble on my hook. No one wants to hire the untested, I get it. But everytime I get turned down, or hear nothing back, I immediately start thinking of ways to improve my portfolio, my cover letter, my sales pitch - so that next time I may get a different result. This early silence hasn't been a road block, merely a complex problem that I've yet to find the correct solution to.

Having found a career path I am passionate about has been a huge boost in my confidence, work ethic, and clarity. I know the original article was hinting more on monetary success, but for me a lot of the points correlate perfectly with the success I've been experiencing in my day to day push for a happier, healthier future. Not just a grind to get by.