the word
Put the Pen to the Paper!
HOLD THE PHONE: WAITING TO ENTER YOUR CAREER INTEREST
“Move around first.”
explore first
You wan to embark on a career but you just aren’t ready. Fine, a lot of young people don’t know what they want to do, especially right out of college. So the best thing to do is to get out and travel. Move around the country, maybe even outside the country. Because this will give you some time to think about your future. Hell, even some people have been known to find what they want to do once they do travel. Because once you do find your thing in life, it will be work, work, work, to build and even more to maintain. So doesn’t hurt getting and finding yourself.
ambiguously work
Take on jobs at times that you might have thought you would never take on. This will give you range once you do figure out the thing you like to do. Having a wide range of experiences is good for trying to expand and break out into the world. Now, I would still do things that will keep you somewhat close to the things you want to do. For example, take on a few internships or fellowship opportunities. That will also give you an eye opener into the things you might want to do with your life.
get your heart broken
No one intentionally goes out into the world with the idea of getting hurt in a relationship or friendship. But that heart break might be the set back that allows you to fight through adversity. At such a young age, you have never been through real trauma, and building a career means true hard ache and pain. And personal conflicts tend to be more painful than career at times. So dealing with the stress of losing someone this close will aid you overcoming obstacles in life.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
ROUGH START: INITIAL BUILDING OF YOUR CAREER
“Where do I begin?”
in the beginning
When you first embark on your journey of building your career, you are not really building your career. You are actually building your experiences that will prepare you for your career. So many people don’t understand that concept, and they give up before they really build anything. I know this first hand considering my career goals are writing, photography, and filmmaking. Three career paths that takes years and years of building to turn into a stable career. And in a social media era where everything is immediate, you can’t get that through the minds of a lot of young people.
want to be a CEO start on the grill
A reason for taking so long to run the company is because you really need to know the ins and outs of the business. You need to understand not only how it runs, but to keep the business relevant moving forward. People have this idea that they will get their undergraduate degree and then become this leader in the organization. Then in 3-5 years, they will be in a potential Vice President position. And by the time they are 35 years old, they are now the CEO of the company. But what you don’t understand is that to run a company, especially a giant, you must have the knowledge that will take you the next 20 years. And even after that you might hold a lesser position like VP or COO until you’re nearly 50 years of age.
mentorship
You know who understands the path you’re taking, someone who has been there before. Someone who will groom you to be the next voice for the organization. This means working and working in order for you to catch the attention of someone that does want to help you become better at what you do. And in this generation with such lack of patients, you hear someone state that they haven’t made much of an impact in their careers and only been on the job a year. This is a sure way to not get noticed because you have no patience. You have to show that you can handle setbacks as well as the good things that come with being a leader to get the attention of a good mentor.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
CAREER WEEK: INTRODUCING THEM AT THE RIGHT AGE
“We need to mandate this day.”
a week in school
Career day has always been a day for students in school to see what their interest might be for a career one day. But what about if there was a career week in school? Maybe one day is not long enough to figure out what that young person might be interested in or shine. A lot of children are not prepared for the long road ahead of them in their career journey. And when looking at a day, it’s just not long enough to observe a career. The student might even be surprised at the career that they are good at, or what they might like from a job.
knowing more than they know
For me growing up in an inner city, the only thing young boys want to do is become professional athletes or rappers. And only a small percentage go pro and stay pro. With also a small percentage making a big salary. So to think that you are going to be this rich athlete is nonsense. But a week dedicated to schools in these types of environments would mean another career outlet. Because usually when young boys growing in neighborhoods like the ones I grew up in don’t go pro in sports, they turn to crime. This dream that everyone will be ball players is not real. Investing in a community will mean far more children succeeding in life than living a pipe dream.
tests say a lot
How do you know what kid is good at what? Well, we test them and come up with an idea of what they might like or be good at in a job. Because you want to first get their interest, but then you want to test them to see what they could do in life. The test is more trustworthy than asking them or letting the teacher decide. Now, does this mean this is what they will do in life, no. This is just something to give them an eye opener into their potential options.
at what age
Now, what age would be appropriate for this week. And to me, this should be for strictly seniors in high school. These are young students who are going to be getting their first taste of the real world after graduation. And so many have no clue what they want to do. The options that this career week will give them can open their minds to many options. This, I’m sure, would be rejected initially, which is why it should be implemented at very few schools in the beginning. Then we can take it from there after the program proves to work.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
DO IT FOR MORE: WHY MONEY IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON FOR CAREER
“Earn more than the paycheck.”
all about the benjamins
As you are building your career and making money, you have to ask yourself the question of is it all about the money. And that is something that is quite important because if it is about just money, then you will find yourself being very depressed. You must actually love what you do because if money is the main goal, you will give up. Let’s look at the climb in life, the money takes a while to get. So when that is something you chase, then you will be angry at self. Let’s say somehow you make the money you want to make, then the high times will be high, but the low times are even worse.
work environment
The people you will be around for the majority of your life you will find to be either some you love or hate. And when making money is the main goal, then you will be around these people even more because you are working all the time. So if you are not fond of the people you work around, you are going to be very miserable which will in turn make you wish you were not in the work space. Now add to that the pressure you are constantly under to perform. Because making more money means that you are going to have to take on more work. Which means being around the people you with more. So be able to handle this atmosphere.
time moves slow
Remember in the first post that I said it can take a lot of time to make money. Well, that is true. I am learning that with the pursuits of mine. Because for me being a writer, I realize that this is a life dedication. But most people tend to look at the end product of what you become as a result of all the years of work. And when looking at the career from solely money perspective, you are going to give up fast. Making money starting at 22 years of age can taker until you are close to 35 years of age. Imagine building for nearly 15 years to get to the place in your career. Yet, it is what you must do so that everything you do eventually looks like it’s easy.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
OOPS, BIG MISTAKE: REALIZE YOU MADE A CAREER DECISION TOO LATE
“I shouldn’t have.”
i flubbed up
Pursuing the career you have always wanted and then it happens. You settle into the job and realize something quite depressing. That after all these years of building, you have finally arrived and now you feel as if you have made a career move that wasn’t in your best interest. How do you restart because at this point a lot of people just plow through it. Even if it is something they truly don’t want to do in life, they just stick it out. But what happens when you want to stop doing the thing you thought you really loved? Hopefully you are doing something that is easier to walk away from that is not too professional.
not that easy
Changing your career is not that simple when you work a professional job like a doctor or an attorney. Yes it’s been done before, Actor Ken Jeong (dentist) and author John Grisham (attorney). But notice it takes a very long long time because taking on these roles are totally different because they are specialized positions. And leaving a specialized position for a role in another field especially when you are of a certain age is tough. Comedian Joy Behar was nearly 40 years of age when she started in comedy. You have to give it up to people like that because trying something new middle age is tough because you are so set in your ways.
where do you go from here
Now that you know you have made the wrong decision, where to next? See, it’s easy to say , well you know what, I want to be a painter. How do you transition from being a pharmacist to a painter full time? Oh, and my I add, making a living? This is where so many people give up on the dream because they just are so used to living their current lifestyle, they are not starting over from scratch. So how do you get started? Most people who make the transition keep their days jobs. They work during the day and do their task at night. This way, over time they build up enough credibility to transition over. Yet even then it’s tough, because even though you love your dream, we like being secure as well.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
FEAR OF SUCCESS: WHY YOU MIGHT REALLY MIGHT HAVE A FAILURE TO LAUNCH
“What is to come of this all?”
making it big
We all think of making it big in our careers. But what happens when you are more afraid of getting success out of your career than actually failing? Because the failure is a guarantee in life. We are all going to fail in our ventures. But not everyone is going to be successful in what they set out to accomplish. And it’s because failing is so guaranteed that we are not truly afraid. Yet when you succeed you see what it has done to so many others in the same position. That crash of their success leaves us terrified to even pursue.
having it and losing it all
The phrase having and losing it is a lot more hurtful than never having it at all is a popular statement. Because we have an idea of what it means to be of means financially. But for the chosen few who have actually been in the position it hurts more to lose all of it. No one wants to work their entire lives just to lose everything they have ever worked for in life. Because now you have to live out your life knowing what it was truly like on the other side. And that hurts because for those on the other side, coming back to where you used to be is difficult. Because now you have to settle for something you hate versus what you love to do just to build back up.
too many people to please
You move from one place to the next and people say to you what’s next. Or worse they have their hands out ready for you to give them things. The majority of people have a hard time saying no to someone, especially when they are close friends and family. Now, eventually you have to get to that point otherwise you will slowly but surely turn into a parent. And it is not your job to raise other adults. Yet, when we reach a certain point in our careers, we feel almost this guilt because others are not where we are, which is odd. And people sometimes get this awkward feeling of surpassing people that don’t have your talents in your environment. You should never think that way because your skill is yours, that person’s skill is theirs. And just as you had to find your place, they have to find their place in society. It’s adulthood, it’s called figuring out your shit.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
HITTING A WALL: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF ABILITY
“Can’t think huh?”
i can’t go anywhere
Whenever you’re working within your career or on a career interest, you may find yourself stuck in a rut. And that is when you hit a wall and it becomes difficult to get yourself out. You try to do anything you can to get yourself out of this funk, but you can’t. And if you have never been in this place, it will test your will power. Me, I am working on screenwriting, my books, and photography, so I am always in this place of trying to come up with something new. And when I do it’s great, when I can’t things start to get a little rocky mentally.
in a dark place
When you can’t move past the point you are at in your career, you start to get these thoughts in your mind. These thoughts that range from I hate my life, to why am I still here on Earth. And this is that creepy place you don’t want to be. Because if you don’t remove yourself from this area mentally, you will find yourself slipping even further down from where you are at now. So what you must do is keep yourself distracted with something, even if it’s not your career sometimes. Yes, that won’t help you get out of the funk you are in, but it is a momentary thing until you can remove yourself into a better mental state.
knowing your path
Knowing your projected path in life is crucial in getting yourself out of this mental state. When you know how far you want to go and it’s crystal clear then you can remove yourself from the down point to a much better place in life. Now, that doesn’t mean you will never be back in that place again, but it means when you know your path to a degree you can remove yourself quicker the next time you reach that point of the funk again.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
YOU’RE NO GOOD: DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO DON’T THINK YOU CAN SUCCEED
“You need a new circle dude.”
they don’t believe in me
Whenever you pursue a career you really want to do, you will always have people who doubt you. You have those that think you are no good, or not good enough. And they feel this way because they have an idea of how they see you. They can’t see past what you are, that is ingrained in their heads. Whenever you exceed the expectations of others they start to get upset with you. Why, well you’re not supposed to be more than what I see. Because my belief system means something. And if you are more than my belief, then you are going to be perceived as someone I will clash with in life.
watch the company you keep
Who are these people in your inner circle that feel they need to be the ones telling you that you are no good. Now granted, sometimes people make some good points and assessments of who you are, but at times they are more envious than anything. That’s when it’s time to choose a new circle of people. Because being around people like this can stunt your career growth. If all you hear are people telling you what is or isn’t possible, you start to believe in the voices. And before you know it, you’re producing garbage or quitting just to satisfy others around you.
look into their lives
Before you take the advice of someone or people that say to you that you can’t succeed, take a look at their existence. I am willing to bet you that they are doing something that they truly love. Because anyone that loves what they do are not going to sway you away from what you’re good at or love to do. People like to project what they don’t like about themselves onto you. They can’t see themselves in that position and they feel they are more talented than you. So how is it that you’re gong to be in that specific place in life.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
DO AS I SAY: WHEN YOU ARE BEING FORCED INTO A CAREER BY PARENTS
“You will be a doctor.”
parental oversight
As you are leaving high school and embark on the journey of finding your career path, you will find yourself feeling pressure. And that pressure will come from the people that are around you. Usually, it will be from your family. They may want you to study a profession that will satisfy them and much so for you to be happy. And a main reason is because they are the ones paying for your education. So this means choosing something you might not be that good in, but do it anyways so you get the help from them. Luckily for me, my mother wanted her children to pursue what we loved and were good at in life. This way we don’t have to worry about the regrets in life of what if.
be ready to turn away
You want to be in the career field of your choice, then be prepared to go at it alone. Because to think that your parents will just reach in their pockets and pay for you and not choose what they want, then you’re crazy. So be ready to look them in the face and leave everything they are willing to give you on the table. And here is the hard part because we want the treats that our parents are willing to give us. We also feel that we disappoint them when we make our own decisions. But it’s your life, so are in the business of satisfying them, or are you going to build your own life.
long road of despair
Taking on a career that you don’t like is a life long journey that will leave you unhappy. Sir the people around you are happy because they can brag and boast about what you do for a living. But the person who has to live the life that is you will be miserable. So choosing to appease others never pans out and all you do is pass it on to your children. And we will have nothing but multiple generations of broken people all trying to appease everyone around them.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
PRESSURE: WHEN YOU ARE FEELING THE HEAT IN A RELATIONSHIP TO MAKE MORE MONEY
“Step your game up!”
dough is important
We all want to make a good income, or what we define as a good income. But what happens when you are in a relationship where you feel pressure to make a certain amount of money, or be at risk of losing that relationship? This tends to happen more with men than with women. And when you are approached with this ultimatum, then you are begin scrambling for ways to make more money. But a career is not you scrambling to make money in a quick way so you don’t lose the person you are dating. A career is something you have to be willing to put a lot of time and energy into which can take years. And it’s not something that you gain by saying, “Ok, now I’m in this relationship, I need to be better.” You have to put in time, and have someone these that understands what you do or seek to accomplish.
who makes the most
The following pie graph are of the top jobs that men have worked in the year 2018 that researched by CNBC. And this is why so many, especially young men seek these types of jobs. They are the gigs that pay the most money so they can be looked at as an attractive
candidate for a monogamous relationship. Now, just because these are the the highest paid jobs, don’t mean that every guy who is employed under this title earns this amount. Usually, these top incomes are reserved for those that have the most years of experience and/or the best in their fields. So if you want to earn the money they do at the top, develop a skill that allows you the ability to be in this select few group.
forgoing your life
If you are constantly working, you are going yo to be missing a lot of quality time with your significant other. So that will also start to be a problem as well. Because if money is a motivator to be with someone, then you can’t be around them the majority of the time. But then your relationship falls apart because you aren’t there most of the time. Here is where you actually lose productivity on the job that could help you earn more money. Mentally you are out of it, and now that wears on you in your career.
move on dude
Money does not work in the context of you make it because someone else want s you to make it. It happens when it happens. And rushing the process could actually prolong your journey through your career. So your best bet is to keep on going. Let that person be someone else’s problem. You don’t want to sacrifice your mental state in your career growth.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
GIVING IT ALL UP: KNOWING WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE THE JOB YOU WANT
“You want it, now sacrifice for it.”
give a little
For me growing up, I never really knew what I wanted to do. I had an idea of what I wanted from life. But it wasn’t until I stepped into society and realized that I wanted to be what I am currently pursuing. But there is another side to having what you want out of life. And that is what you must give up to get to where you truly want to be in your career. Some people have this idea that they are just going to walk into the world and start making things happen. It won’t take much work, but they’ll just come into it. Truth be told, you will lose a lot of fun time to be at the place in life. If you’re not interested in giving up fun good luck with your success journey.
feeling the pain
When not much is moving in your life, you will start to get this feeling that you are not accomplishing anything. But the reality is that your mall successes over time will contribute to the outcome. We just live in a such a right now society, that everything you do that does not happen immediately, you feel a lack of success. This instageneration where we get likes now, friends now, comments now, and shares now. But the time it takes to build that instaplatform has been a process which has taken years. We are the users who see the finished product outside the work put into the platform. So the work in the paradigm is s boring, it hurts to put the time into the work. I know this firsthand with my writing and photography. I know it will take such a long time, sometimes I wonder why I am doing it.
moving in circles
Once you get good enough to actually go out and start making moves for yourself, then you might want to connect to people interested in the same things as you. Making sure you surround yourself with like people can actually help you go farther. Because now you have someone to piggy back off of for ideas. And this is hard, especially if you’re not the most sociable of people, but you have to do so. But how else do you expect to be great in your career?
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
CAREER: INTO THE FUTURE
“Where do you see yourself?”
times to come
Ever since we were young children, we all had these ideas of where we would see ourselves in the years to come. In elementary school we have one idea, then high school another. But as we enter life the views change into something else. And for me, I wanted to be an attorney in elementary, a business executive after that, and now that I am an adult I found my calling in the arts. We go through these different changes in life because you have no clue who you are or what you want as a child. You have these visions because you don’t have a firm grasp on the world. Your strengths and weaknesses have not been put to the test yet. So it’s easy to say what you want until you are challenged.
what’s your plan
How can you see yourself anywhere in life without a plan to go along with what it is you are hoping to accomplish? Just saying I want to do something is not good enough. You must have something laid out and follow the plan all the way through. Because even with just a plan, you have to execute. And these are the steps that make it hard for people to sit down and focus in life. So many people don’t have a plan and never fully execute. Now, for those that do, they are one step closer to being where they want to be.
nurture your talent
I know I want to be a writer, filmmaker, and photographer, so I am constantly working on my craft. If I am not writing my screenplays or book ideas, it’s my blog, or when I am not writing it’s me out into the city taking photos. But outside the two, it’s my filmmaking. And that is what you must do, it has to be a daily thing you do. Once you start to get into that routine feeling change something. I recently just cut down the number of topics for my blog and changed to website appearance. It gives it a new look to the consistent writing everyday. Otherwise you will start to get that mundane feeling an get sick of it.
perspective
What are you good at? What can you handle? Do you have the sticktoitiveness to keep going? The idea of being somewhere in life feels so much better than actually pushing to be there in life. Because the vision is exciting, but the climb is not fun at all. You might hear people say they are in love with the process, but truth be told, who truly loves the process. Wouldn’t we love to have the idea and there it is on paper. Doesn’t work like that, so you have to put in the time to get where you want to be. And also have the rational mindset to know what you can do and your willingness to get there, as well as being practical about the time-frame to get there.
Personal Website: http://www.faheemjackson.squarespace.com
Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson
Twitter Me: @2320howe
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