It's not just what you do, it's how you do it

As more of the workforce joins the lengthening procession of redundant workers, one question remains paramount in many minds: What am I going to do? Many are concerned that they may never get another job with comparable pay and benefits. Others have no such concern, they simply want to get something to do - anything to earn an income.

In contemplating your next job or career, here's an approach you may consider: Try to find or create a job doing something you are really good at, that there's a market for, and that you are really passionate about, that you can stick with over the long term. Even though the trend now is to change jobs every few years, you may discover a huge advantage in going the opposite of the masses.

Your first challenge to adopting this unorthodox suggestion may be that what you love and are good at is not a 'respectable' career. You may be tempted to dismiss this suggestion because you have an academic degree in a recognised area, and your passion is nothing your friends or family would respect or even support you in.

For instance, you may have a degree in administrative management but your real passion and talent are in the area of cooking. Or it may be singing, painting, writing, fixing cars or electronic appliances.

successful career

If you've been unemployed for a while and are wondering what next to try, consider redefining what a successful career is for you. A successful career is not necessarily one with a big, important-sounding title. Neither is it necessarily one which will cause others to see you as a 'big man or woman in society'.

A successful career is one in which you can make a living by making a positive difference in as many lives as possible, doing what you love best and are extraordinarily good at. Determine what this is for you. Then get started and stick to it until you build it into a successful venture.

I recently met Martin, a peanut vendor in Papine, who I knew from 20 years ago when I was an engineering student at CAST, now University of Technology. Back then, he was a schoolboy - selling peanuts. He was the consummate salesman too. Now he's still plying his trade, from which he has built a home, bought a car and is taking care of his family.

As we exchanged stories of how our lives have evolved through the years, I couldn't help thinking about the following words from Martin Luther King Jr: "If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."

In other words, it's not just what you do, it's how you do it that ultimately counts.

Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and success strategist. Send feedback to glenfordsmith@yahoo.com