Dream job ingredients

While cooking up a favorite dinner last night before work, I started thinking about the ingredients I threw together in order to cook up this dream job of mine. Like putting together a great meal, I had a recipe for success that actually worked.

Ok, no job is really “perfect.” Yet my job is a perfect fit in that it works with my family life, provides just the right amount of income and is satisfying personally as a vocation. Was it easy getting here? Um, no.

At the core of my job is what started it all: desire. As a young adult I had no idea I would end up as a nurse. I started out as a doula because I fell in love with childbirth and wanted to help pregnant women. Then a plan began to form in my mind over a five year period—when my children were still at home with me. Ultimately I wanted to be a childbirth educator and labor and delivery nurse.

Before going to school, I shaped the world around me with faith and support—I knew I couldn’t do this by myself. Getting my family on board was easy and getting my spiritual life geared up was crucial. Then, I prayed myself through nursing school, orientation, my 1st couple of jobs, etc. Along the way I laughed and cried on the shoulders offered to me!

From the beginning I had to acquire skills. I had no idea how time consuming this task would be—and it started back on day one when I picked up my 1st book on childbirth. Being a doula was invaluable as a foundation and then nursing school kicked my butt. I accepted the fact that I signed up to become a lifetime learner and moved forward.

Somewhere in there I had gained enough experience to start shaping the job I have now. I paid my dues as a night nurse and was able to go part time. This coincided with my certification as a childbirth educator and, when a job at my hospital came open for a CBE, I jumped at the chance. Through much of this evolution, I blogged, which led to being able to write a little about what I now do! Finally, the pieces fell into place almost all at once. My recipe, as it were, started to take shape.

Here is the key to any good recipe: TIME! You can’t whip up a perfect beef bourguignon without lots of it–and the same can be said for creating a dream job. It took me 14 years to get here!

I believe anyone can cook up their own niche–like me, you throw together the needed ingredients and craft your dream job. With a dash of time and a pinch of perserverence, it will come together. Hang in there!

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