Local opinion: Dad’s wisdom on choosing a life’s work

and analysis of the writer:

This upcoming second semester of the school year often finds high school and college students pondering future employment and career choices.

It also coincides with people making New Year’s resolutions to effect positive changes in their lives. For many, this would mean finding new career paths or quitting current jobs that are, for multiple reasons, unsatisfying.

Choosing how to earn a living is one of the most important decisions anyone can make. There are no hard and fast rules guaranteeing which choice will ultimately be successful.

But based on personal history, experience, and observing the livelihoods of many friends and family, I’d like to offer some useful parameters to help those of any age find the right line of work.

My reason for offering this advice and feeling very comfortable doing so, is that about 50 years ago, I too was dealing with this very dilemma. I had begun a career that I soon realized would not provide the direction, satisfaction, and self-actualization I wanted for my life. (Self-actualization is commonly defined as the complete realization of one’s potential, the full development of one’s abilities, and the appreciation for life.) It’s aspirational for sure, but a worthy goal nonetheless.

I asked my father, whose wisdom and common sense I always respected, to help redirect me to a career that would be more fulfilling. Instead of just naming different occupations I could consider, he gave me insight and sound advice, which he knew would point me in the right direction. My dad asked me to focus on the attributes of an intended life’s work rather than any other factor. He also emphasized that I should ask myself whether that vocation will make my lifetime goals achievable.

His recommendations are timeless, sound, and certainly worth sharing (as I originally did in a similar guest opinion in January 2010).

The first assessment for anyone to consider, of course, is whether there is a talent (natural or learned) for that line of work. If so, is it a practical and achievable one? What kind of training or education will it require? Is it affordable and worth the investment of time, money, hopes and dreams? Will it be rewarding both psychologically and financially?

He advised me to consider a livelihood in which I would:

develop a passion to succeed and feel a sense of accomplishment.

be in harmony with my personality. He said that if I loved control and independence to consider self-employment.

have a minimum, reasonable, or manageable amount of stress.

become smarter each year in a field that may itself evolve and transform.

be in a line of work that will always be needed. (Read: recession-proof)

not having difficulty finding a market for my skills.

be able to do something that not everyone can do.

become so valuable that an employer would think twice before letting me go in tough economic times and/or looming budget cuts.

earn an income that would provide for the lifestyle and retirement I would envision.

be able to live in my desired locality.

be able to live a balanced lifestyle that would allow me to eat properly, sleep well, play often, and nurture the relationships of family and friends.

be an asset to society and especially to the community in which I live.

My father also emphasized that having control over my life would be critical to my happiness.

He stated that there are many occupations that would afford a relatively simple, predictable, and uncomplicated lifestyle. But if, however, I loved dealing with the complexities and variables of life — that make every day different and challenging — then I should pick that occupation accordingly.

He also observed that employment in our capitalist economy has advantages and disadvantages. He noted that on the plus side, the “sky’s the limit” on what I could achieve. But on the minus side, he cautioned that if I worked at a for-profit company, my continued employment would depend primarily (and possibly only) on my adding to its bottom line. He suggested doing a risk/benefit analysis before working for such a company.

He observed that next to whom I marry, my choice of career will be the most important decision I would ever make. He was right. While I started later in my profession than most of my colleagues, my 36 years as a podiatrist in Tucson (’80-’16) checked all the bullet points above.

Agreeing with the adage that “life is not a dress rehearsal,” I am so grateful that Dad counseled and challenged me to first do a deep self-reflection about my personality and lifetime goals and then wisely choose my path.

The original 2010 version of this guest opinion was approved by my dear Dad, Nathan Shapiro, who died in 2018 at the age of 100.