Many people would readily agree that all professions, from
doctors and priests to caretakers and undertakers are important to society.
Yet, society would obviously do quite well without professions like crooks,
gangsters, bandits and burglars – just to name a few.
It is no secret that some professions are deemed to be more
honorable that others. Notwithstanding that, some of us are simply not "cut
out" for certain professions. For example, those who feel faint at the sight of
blood are probably not suited to be surgeons. Those who have difficulty dealing
with death may not want to be coroners, undertakers or funeral directors.
Similarly, people who suffer from vertigo would not be good
pilots or astronauts. While many of us would not choose to be a police officer
or soldier because of the inherent risks; there are those who would not to
become sailors or deep sea divers because they cannot swim.
How does one choose a profession? More importantly, what does
one look for when choosing a profession? Conventional wisdom suggests that we
need to find our passion and go for it! As you already know, your passion is
that which you are naturally good at and enjoy doing. It is usually, though not
always, recognizable at an early stage in life.
For example, some children are "gifted" artists; others are "born" swimmers. We have also heard of those who like to work with their hands
or build things while others have a knack for working with numbers.
How does one measure success from one profession to another?
Sadly, the pay scale is one of the many ways we rank professions or determine
its value to society. In reality, that is a floored measure because garbage
collectors are regarded as being at the bottom of the barrel yet all the great
cities would ground to a screeching halt if they did not collect the garbage.
Can we measure success by the amount of money we make or by our
power, fame or wealth? If that is so, then politicians, singers, movie stars
and Hollywood folks must be in the right
profession? If yes, why are there so many stories about divorce and adultery
being rampant among those professions?
If not money, does success in a profession bring happiness?
Unfortunately no! Society is filled with "successful" people who are still
searching for happiness.
With some concern, I noticed that some singers who
enjoyed phenomenal fame and success died relatively young – Bob Marley 36 years
old, Elvis Presley 42, Michael Jackson 51. Reports are that many of them
misused various drugs to the point of becoming dependent or addicted. If these
are correct, where is the relationship between success and happiness?
On the other hand, there are comedians, those who brought
happiness to other people – they made people laugh. Henry “Henny” Youngman lived
to 92, Jack Benny lived to 80, Red Skelton to 84, Milton Berle to 94 while Bob
Hope and George Burns lived to 100 years. Did they find their passion? You bet!
