Waimea

As I travel the country people come up to me and say, “So, what should I do with my life?” That is one of the most common questions of people ages 18-35, and more and more people older than that. A lot of times this question is hiding the question, “How can I get my dream job?” Now, both those questions are intertwined and interconnected, but let me deal with the second question first. Here is an image that I want you to be familiar with:

Got it? If so, good If not, read on.
Since college I have had a few jobs which led to other jobs - most of those jobs I started off as a low-paid or unpaid intern. In Washington, DC I worked on Capitol Hill for a US Senator, and started off at $1,000 per month intern. Luckily the first week I was in that job I asked how to become a permanent staff person. I asked. I said I wanted to move up. 1 month later I was hired on as a staff assistant when a job became available. You have to ask. No one is going to give you anything if they do not think you are interested. Now, I went on to work my way up the chain in the office before moving back to Minnesota to work on my Masters degree.

When I move back to Minnesota I started off at Bethel as an intern to the Leadership Vision program. 6 months later I was hired on as a staff assistant at 23 hours per work. 1 year afte that I was moved up to 40 hours per week, with benefits. But, you have to ask. 1 year after that I had a different job at Bethel.. and here is where I am.

What do all these things have in common? You don’t get your dream job right away, and you have to start as a gopher. Go for this, go for that. You prove yourself opening mail (I still do that on occasion in our office) and the next CEO can come from the mail room. Those who are faithful in the small things can be given more. Thoughts? JVD