Yesterday while waiting in line at Subway to order lunch I was struck by the similar looks on each employees face working there. Each look said the same thing, “When is my break.” Not only did their expressions speak loudly to this truth, but the way they performed their job and interacted with each customer. No joy, no enthusiasm, just doing it because they have to. And that’s a damn shame.
But this isn’t me pointing my finger and laughing at the people who work for minimum wage. That shit’s hard, and sometimes it’s all people can do. But no, I was struck by the thought that what is it these people “should” be doing instead. I mean, what are their dreams, passions, the things that keep them up at night? What could I bring up in conversation that would allow them to talk my ear off for a good hour or two? Those are the things they need to be doing. (And I hope they’re pursuing them, or at least I hope they have someone in their lives that encourages them.)
Life is hard and we all know it. Some of us will work our whole lives at jobs we hate. I know this, I’ve seen my Dad do it. But now, more than ever, we have opportunities growing like wild fire to get out there and crush the norm under our feet. I think Gary Vee said this at his talk this year at SXSW, but it’s like the California gold rush right now. We just need to be completely honest with ourselves and figure out what we’re passionate about. I know I’m still searching my heart and figuring it out one day at a time.
It takes time. Slow down. Don’t rush it. Make sure you take time to build a solid foundation. I came across this video this week and it inspired the crap out of me. If you have any creative bone in your body then it will speak to you as well.
The video is shot and narrated by photographer Zack Arias.
Awesome Kyle!
Some great Friday encouragement.
Love this Quote
” Slow down. Don’t rush it. Make sure you take time to build a solid foundation”
.-= Aaron Irizarry´s last blog ..UX Lessons From The Zombie Apocalypse =-.
Thanks Aaron. That’s something that I constantly remind myself of. I’m always in a rush to get things done and become super impatient when they don’t happen right then. Check out that video too.
I’m pretty tight with my peeps at the Subway by my house and I think you’re totally right. There’s like 1 in a dozen people that really enjoys being there. Most of them have a scowl on their face because someone got to go on break before them.
I’m currently satisfied with my employment, but if you read @garyvee’s book #crushit, you really do get a sense of urgency to go out and kick ass on your passion… or at least fill your free time with hustle instead of slack.
.-= Dave Rupert´s last blog ..<audio>, the silent browser killer =-.
Exactly man. I’m not saying go out and quit your job today so you can begin building on your passion. That’s just not a smart decision. And God gave us brains for a reason. But if we can get off our ass and do something in our free time then we can be that much closer to quitting our day jobs and doing something we love for a living.
Great article kyle, its so easy for us to get in this head-space of not being satisfied or grateful for what we have and to want more. Especially in times like these when people are fighting to keep their jobs, we are so lucky to work in an industry we love.
Great video find by the way.
.-= Matt´s last blog ..WP CoOp =-.
Matt, I agree with you that we are fortunate enough to be in a line of work that has so many opportunities, but I wouldn’t say we’re lucky. We all have a choice to make in the morning. And it’s these choices over the years that have led us each to where we are today. More of the point I was trying to make in this short article was how the majority of people today don’t really do much with their lives, and how I wish that they would. But sadly, the tv, the xbox, the so many other stupid distractions are keeping a generation of people from their hopes and dreams.
Kyle, I completely agree. When I refer to luck perhaps I just mean being grateful for where we are, I’m sure we all worked hard to be where we are… I know I did.
Sometimes however I find myself feeling selfish that if everyone took the steps to follow what they wanted, there would be fewer people doing the service jobs we need… however that would make for a more interesting and dynamic culture hu? Its easy to get lost in those “alternate reality” places of games, movies and other things and not take the time to truly get more out of life.
Very interesting…loved the video. I’m at a stage where I’m pretty much half way thru my life. When I step back and look at what I’ve done – and not done – it really gets me thinking. Lately, I’m really starting to question my actions, motives, results, and next steps. Man, life is short and it won’t be long before it’s over and you’re standing before the big guy saying, “Those talents you gave me, here’s what I did with ‘em.” Right now, I’m not convinced he’d be too pleased with his current return on investment…
.-= Garth´s last blog ..Next Steps =-.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about Garth. Thank you for keeping it real. I want to be the guy laying on my death bed with a smile on my face because I know I loved enough, cared enough and worked hard enough in this life. Not that that will justify me, but that hopefully I won’t have any regrets. But I can’t help wondering if in the failures and upsets in life we actually grow more.
The other day I thought about the end of Schindler’s List – where he was distraught about how much more he could/should have done (even after all those he had saved!). I think when you’re really caring for and loving others – you’re never going to be satisfied. You’ll want to do more and more. Not for yourself, but for those around you. This isn’t me right now. Hopefully things change…
.-= Garth´s last blog ..Next Steps =-.
I think that’s part of the cross we’re told to carry. But remember what Matthew 11:28-30 says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
So thank God that He loves us so much and is willing to listen to all our gripes, complaints, fears and doubts.
“It takes time. Slow down. Don’t rush it. Make sure you take time to build a solid foundation. ”
Great stuff Kyle. That video is great too. I always find it so hard not to rush it, and I have burned myself out at times. It’s hard, but patience is virtue. I find my foundation getting stronger every minute of every day. I force myself to slowdown and enjoy life and my family. I want to enjoy my journey to succeed with my goals, not reach them and wonder what the eff happened in the process.
.-= Josh Cagwin´s last blog ..This is my quote. Do you have one? =-.
Thanks for the great post Kyle. It was just 4 years ago when I was one of those Subway employees (well actually at a pizza place) and felt the same exact way. What the heck am I doing? What do I even want to do? How the heck do I get off this path to nowhere?
Luckily for me, the encouragement did flow all around me. My wife (girlfriend at the time), simply told me to stop thinking so hard. Stop trying to focus on “what will make me the most money” and focus on what will make me the most excited and enjoy to do the rest of my life and take action towards it. Sometimes we ended wasting all of our time thinking of the ‘ifs’, ‘ands’, or ‘maybes’ when all of that time could be spent doing and succeeding.
She reminded me that happiness and willingness to improve and be educated in something will lead to be more successful in whatever it is you do. But if you cant filter out the distractions in life it’s tough to even find that desire to do something. I think it’s important to remember that the distraction never end either.
Thanks again for that reminder man! Have a great weekend!!
.-= Josh Hemsley´s last blog ..March “Mad Libs” Madness!!! =-.
Yes. The distractions will never cease. And it’s hard learning how to see through all the muck that swallows so many of us up on a day-to-day basis. That’s awesome that your wife (girlfriend at the time) was such an encouraging force in your life at that time. I am so thankful for my wife as well being such an awesome supporter of me and my passion.
Also, I’ve been in those dead end jobs before and hated every minute of it. That’s why my heart went out to those people working at subway. I tried to make eye contact with each one of them and smile at them. Sometimes all it takes is a smile to turn someone’s day around. I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s true.
So true Kyle. All of you have made great points. I feel lucky to be in a career that allows me to be creative. I have been an artist since I was 4. I guess it was meant to be.
Although I have also worked in ‘corporate’ creative environments and jobs that take WAY too much of my time. (I will never sit in a corporate cubicle again. I don’t care how much it pays.)
I know what you mean about the Subway employees. I notice this too sometimes. I always think – maybe this is just a transition job for them while they are working on their goal for their dream job. I hope for most people it is.
I am also following another dream of mine – to have more time with family and more time to volunteer. I am currently attempting to change my work life so that I only work 24-30 hours per week for a reduced salary. (I would much rather have the time than the money.) I am attempting this because I am realizing more and more that life is passing me by very quickly, and I feel like I have not had enough time with family and friends – or to volunteer, which is what I want to do most of all. I currently spend about 11 hours each day away from home – sitting at a desk or in the car driving. My commute is 2 – 2.5 hours round-trip each day depending on traffic. I get home at 7 or 7:30, and barely have time to prepare or eat dinner. My entire work-week is working at a desk and sleeping (as I am sure it is for many people). After a decade of this, I am ready for a change – for more family time during the week, working out more regularly during the week, and volunteer work. I think a lot of people are starting to feel this way. I have been seeing a lot lately about following your dreams and having more time to ‘live’.
Although I have no complaints about the type of work I do, and I certainly don’t want to sound ungrateful. I love being creative, and I love programming and problem-solving. I just want to do it a little bit less each week so I can have more time to ‘live.’ I hope it happens soon. My plan is to keep trying until it does. Life is too short to give up on trying.
Thanks for the inspiring blog post Kyle!
Kyle, I always love to hear your perspective. Personally, there is one thing that I have noticed about this idea. I think that it is easy to also be miserable, even if you are doing what you love. I think this gets to the core of what satifies in life, and I strongly believe that finding love in your work won’t prvoide that satisfaction. U and I both know what satifies, and you have to have your mind focused on that whether you are getting paid to blog or scrapping the poop of a toilet. I think it all comes down to your perspective and focusing on God & family, not work.
I’m glad you’re my husband. I love you.
.-= Amanda Steed´s last blog ..My Heart Has Begun to Sing =-.
Wow. This really hit me hard.
I see so much of myself in this post that its ridiculous. Unfortunately, I’m very much one of those Subway workers, but with a difference—I definitely don’t earn minimum wage. In fact I earn quite a healthy living, which was, when I’m really honest, all I ever really thought about in terms of what I wanted to do. I’m so far from doing what I “should” be doing that its not funny. Unfortunately, with every day that goes by it gets harder to change my situation and I’m at the point where I can no longer see any way of doing what I want to do with my life professionally, without sacrificing almost everything else that I want from life. That saddens me immensely.
Anyway, thats already too much of an overshare from a total stranger, so I’ll just say thanks and be gone.
.-= Dean´s last blog ..Screw It, I’m Done =-.
Dean, first off, thanks for your comment man. Never apologize for wearing your heart on your sleeve. It’s good to be a little sensitive sometimes. Secondly, don’t sell yourself short. You can do whatever you want to with your life. Even if it seems like the obstacle in front of you is too big to climb. I hold fast to the truth that the only thing constant in life is change, and I’m here to tell you, a change is gonna come. So please don’t let money stand in your way if your heart is telling you to go a different direction. But I also understand we all have commitments and can’t just up and change our lives on a dime. But with a little planning and time we can do anything. God bless.
Kyle, man, totally awesome. I really needed something like this. I went freelance full-time almost 7 months ago now and it’s been pretty tough on the pocketbook. But just like the guy in the video said, I get to sit at a coffee shop with my wife at 10 am (she only works 3 days a week), and it’s the best thing ever. I get to spend time with my son in the morning before he goes to the mother-in-laws for the day. It’s great. I don’t think I could ever go back to working an 8-5 like I was.
I’ve been having a hard time finding my real calling that will actually bring in the money for me to stay freelance but I think this video and post has really helped. I thoroughly appreciate the time you took to blog on this and know it’s a very big inspiration. Later.
An older gentlemen and I were discussing the speakers at a conference a few months ago. You know the people I’m talking about. The one’s who write the blogs and books we read, own the companies we want to start, and give to the community what they’ve learned from their experiences. I was talking to this man about how intimidating and naive I felt being in a group like that, and he responded with something that has really changed the way I look upon the people that I idolize. “They are all just people”. Those five words have really stuck with me since then. The people I idolize, whom I had somehow built up on a pedestal of untouchable height, are not inhuman. Not to say I don’t still greatly admire these people, but it helps me to think I’m much more alike them than unalike them. As the video put it, they’ve all “sucked” at one point. They’ve had their dark days, and they also have the people that they admire. Their experiences have brought them to where they are today, and our experiences can take us the same direction. We just have to keep practicing, and strive to be the best we can be. Maybe then, someday, we’ll be able to give to our communities like the people we idolize have given to us.
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I love that people are encouraging others to stop being lazy and useless and push them into their passions. Gary Vee’s message is truly a good one and you’ve added to it well Kyle.
Thanks for writing this, it got me thinking so much that I wrote a comment here, but it got so long, it turned into this:
http://www.komodomedia.com/blog/2010/03/shut-up-and-embrace-joy/
.-= Rogie King´s last blog ..Hud Growl Theme =-.
You’re the bestest.
Great post Kyle. I think about this day and night. I use to work at a restaurant and saw it like a dead end job. So I decided to quit that day. I was lucky enough to have a place to live and now I am grateful my life is a lot different. If you don’t make something for yourself no one will.
- Henry
This is the kind of stuff you want to read. Your post really made me think.
This is also global thing, while I live in Helsinki, Finland, I see those faces everyday. And some days, I’m one of them. I just got to be honest with myself.
I think I’ve haven’t found my passion yet. Or it may that I have, but haven’t yet realized it. One thing I’ve realized. Your passion, when it comes to life, it isn’t what you expected or thought it would be. It isn’t that glamorous, cool or something trendy, that you can show off. No. It will something better. It will touch you in a way that you’ve never experienced before. It’s about finding your place in this gigantic puzzle we call life, and expressing yourself through that. Whatever it may be.
It will require some work. It will require some time. It can be really hard. But it’s all worth that. There are people that do things “the right away”, get good grades, hop on a praised career, start a family, buy a house with a fence and station-wagon, and suddenly they realize it’s not what they were looking for. They were told that this is how you they should live, and forgot their passions while listening. They feel miserable and try to reach to time where when it still was possible. That’s fucking sad and wrong.
Life is now. There’s no time to waste, but you’re right. Your passion will grow with you and there’s really not over-night success. Go slow. You’ll get there. We’ll get there.
.-= Karri´s last blog ..Sick of being sick =-.
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I believed passion do change over a certain period of time and on different stages of life. You have to constantly re-discovered your real passion and keep them going.
By the way, don’t you think that this site need at least a contact us page? Pardon me, but I just could not find any contact details. Thanks.
.-= Aidan´s last blog ..Winners of Onextrapixel’s First Anniversary Giveaway Contest =-.
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