How Could You Possibly Know What You Want to Do Without First Experiencing it LIVE!

For many years, I have wondered how young adults, or anyone else for that matter, can choose a career without REALLY knowing and ‘feeling’ the day-to-day experience.

Would you choose to play a sport or a musical instrument every day for years and years without ever having played before? Would you commit to live in a certain city or state, possibly for many years, or even a lifetime, without ever having visited the area or at least talking with people who have lived there? Without seeing pictures, videos, or researching what it really is like to live there?

This is what countless students do when it comes to choosing their career path. They may read about it, hear something about it through friends or family, or perhaps just hear that it either pays well or is a “good career to get into these days.”


But that is not enough. Not even close.

How could you know if a particular career path is right for you if you have not experienced it yourself, even virtually?
So, my advice for the week is this: Make sure you have a 3D experience for each possible career you consider.
An internship is ideal. Job shadow for a week, or just a day, if that is the only option. Check out resources online. Talk to people in the career you are exploring. Make a list of your questions. Meet for coffee and bring your list. See if you can stop in their office or work environment, even for just a short while, the longer the better. Talk to whomever you pass or meet there. Be sure to prepare some questions ahead of time.

You need to have the 3D experience. Afterward, listen to what your gut tells you! This is most critical. Did it excite you? Really excite you? Could you sense you would love the environment? Was your curiosity at such a high level that you wanted to hear more?

Remember, this may be the environment in which you could be working, so make sure you cover your bases. Make sure the shoe fits well. It will make all the difference in the world, in YOUR world, and, possibly, for your entire life.