Follow Your Bliss — or, the Real Reason Dr. Kutner Killed Himself

Someone once asked me a question that really bothered me. Basically, I was asked if whatever I had done that particular day was worth the cost of an entire day of my life. Would I trade a day of my life on Earth for whatever experiences I had or accomplishments I made that day?

Because of course, that is what we do every day. Whatever you did yesterday, you spent a day of your life doing it. Since we’re all going to die one day, each 24 hours we’re alive has a lot of value. But are we spending it well?

If you have a job that isn’t fulfilling and meaningful, then probably not. We can’t all be so lucky as to work as astronauts, emergency room surgeons, rock stars or the Prince of Wales. But anyone can have a job that is worth spending your precious life on, if you really want it.

I was reminded of all this today. On this week’s episode of House MD, one of the title character’s staff doctors, Dr. Lawrence Cutler, killed himself. If you haven’t watched the episode yet, that was a spoiler — so don’t read it.

Anyway, the characters spent the episode trying to make sense of his death, which no one had foreseen. Those of us watching the show tried to figure it out too.

But today we learn that actor Kal Penn, who portrayed Dr. Cutler for two seasons, voluntarily left one of the highest rated programs on television. Why would an actor, who has starred in a handful of popular movies and whose career is just now breaking through to stardom, quit the show that was making his career as an actor?

Because the 31-year-old Indian-American from New Jersey has accepted a position as the associate director of the White House’s Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs. No, really. Not on some TV show — it’s the real White House.

A man who already has what many would consider a dream career is giving it up, at least temporarily, to pursue something he finds more meaningful and important. Good for him.

If this man can leave a great career for a greater one, why can’t you give up the job you hate for something that might make you happy?

Of course, Kal Penn has money. He can afford to make major changes to his life. You may feel you don’t have the financial freedom to switch careers.

But you’ll never know what opportunities may be available to you until you start looking. A great new career track isn’t going to come looking for you — you have to go out and find it.

Tags: Advice, Barack Obama, career challenges, career choices, career path, House MD, Kal Penn, television

Worried About Job Prospects? Obama’s Speech Gives Hope

Most Americans a very worried right now about their economic and career prospects.

Yesterday, President Barack Obama spoke to a joint session of Congress, but also spoke to the American people, to help allay those fears.

Some excerpts:

I have come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.

I know that for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others, and rightly so. If you haven’t been personally affected by this recession, you probably know someone who has: a friend, a neighbor, a member of your family.

… It’s the worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless nights. It’s the job you thought you’d retire from but now have lost, the business you built your dreams upon that’s now hanging by a thread, the college acceptance letter your child had to put back in the envelope.

The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.

But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before…

Now is the time to act boldly and wisely, to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity.

Now is the time to jump-start job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy, even as we make hard choices to bring our deficit down. That is what my economic agenda is designed to do…

And tonight I am grateful that this Congress delivered and pleased to say that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now law.

Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs. More than 90 percent of these jobs will be in the private sector, jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges, constructing wind turbines and solar panels, laying broadband and expanding mass transit…

Because of this plan, 95 percent of working households in America will receive a tax cut, a tax cut that you will see in your paychecks beginning on April 1.

Because of this plan, families who are struggling to pay tuition costs will receive a $2,500 tax credit for all four years of college.

And Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits and continued health care coverage to help them weather this storm…

You should also know that the money you’ve deposited in banks across the country is safe, your insurance is secure. You can rely on the continued operation of our financial system; that’s not the source of concern…

First, we are creating a new lending fund that represents the largest effort ever to help provide auto loans, college loans, and small-business loans to the consumers and entrepreneurs who keep this economy running…

Second, we have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and refinance their mortgages…

Third, we will act with the full force of the federal government to ensure that the major banks that Americans depend on have enough confidence and enough money to lend even in more difficult times..

We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again…

So tonight I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be a community college or a four-year school, vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma.

And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself; it’s quitting on your country. And this country needs and values the talents of every American.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. Thank you.

Tags: Barack Obama, Congress, education, Employment, hope, speech, stimulus package, stimulus plan

Weight of Words

If you’re reading this blog, you are dancing on the front lines of Newbie New(ish) Media. Yep, anyone with a bad recipe for banana nut bread or saccharine pics of their kids at Halloween now have (relatively) free access to the cyber airwaves and the denizens who troll them. Never has there been so much said about so little to so many.

So when in this cacophony of clutter real messages need to leak through, who the hell can find them? Given the propensity of our A.D.D. addled populace to jagged off kilter on REAL issues requiring REAL focus, can we expect any sort of reaction to the relevant anyway?

United States President Barack Obama had an editorial published in the New York Times today. He’s pitching his stimulus plan and because he’s President, and presumably a good writer (or capable of hiring them), he gets an Epic Win in a top rag. But will it trickle down to anyone really? There’s likely to be more buzz about the fact that he did it than on the actual content. How many voters/economic sufferers/citizens/malcontents will read about that he wrote it rather than actually read it? What’s wrong with this picture?

Here’s part of it: The value in being published is diminished because anyone can now be published. Three minutes with Blogger.com and you’re Gutenberg. Your voice isn’t earned, it’s become part of a scream that no more warrants mass attention than assembly instructions for an Ikea coffee table. We’re all drowning in it and ironically, this blog is contributing to it. Or is it? Hmmmmm.

Are you someone with something to say? Are you going to be that voice out of the crowd that draws crowds? We don’t know that, but we do know this: If this is the sort of thing you’re on fire about, make a career out of it. Slick and cynical? Try AdvertisingCrossing.com. Positively pernicious? Try PRCrossing.com (Nah, we’re just kidding). Broadband bent? How about TelecomCrossing.com? See? Some people have important things to say. You just have to know where to look.

Tags: Barack, Barack Obama, clutter, Employment, employment crossing, employmentcrossing.com, noise, obama

Barack’ing and Bar’olling in a Tough Job Market

Let the bidding begin! Just weeks after opening its doors to applicants, the Obama transition team has been bombarded with hundreds of thousands of resumes from people looking for jobs in the new administration.  The main problem for all these Obamanizers is the sheer volume of competition they will face.  There are only 8,000 open posts and they are 300,000 and growing.

What’s more is that all reports indicate that they are extremely well-qualified. Popularity aside, Obama’s team is experiencing something many employers are–too many qualified applicants competing for too few jobs.  So the question becomes, how does anyone manage to stand out in the crowd? What is the difference between a successful candidate and an unsuccessful candidate?  Is it how you showcase your strengths on paper or does good old networking really get the job done?

For many, tough economic times coupled with stiff competition have made job hunting a dreaded task.  But like the saying goes, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  You have to keep focused and not get discouraged.  There still are jobs out there and the harder you work to find them, the quicker you will become one of the lucky 8,000 that learned how to stand out in the crowd.

So why not let EmploymentCrossing take you that extra step? Why not show all the employers out there the rockstar you truly are?  And make sure you don’t forget about our exclusive, for rockstars only, free trial  offer.

Tags: Add new tag, Barack Obama, Jobs, new administration, rockstar, tough job market