So You’ve Chosen A “Career”

I just have to look at the dictionary to be sure of what I write hereCareer– the course or progress of one’s life or lifework.  We tend to use the word career often and while we seem to have the right usage, it appears to me that we sell it far short of a complete meaning or application. Most often we hear it used as “chosen work”. Current concepts with regards to life and work is that most people will have 5 different careers in their lifetime. Anybody else see the misuse here? Our lifework is fast becoming a question of commitment.

When we look at the definition of career, the words which stand out for me are – “life” and “lifework”. It doesn’t say time period of work or current job. I clearly remember the “jobs” I had while attending Chiropractic College. They served a higher purpose, which was to earn enough money to allow me to continue in pursuit of my lifework – “Chiropractic”. I remember the challenges of the last two years of college – remember now this was before student loans, of working at three jobs, plus clinic, plus regular college courses. Looking back I would call this a serious pursuit. I think about the 50% of the class who dropped out over the years and wonder if they found a career in their lives. I know of a DC who took 8 years to complete the 4 year program – more power to him as I’m sure it would have been easier to drop out. He had a vision of his lifework and nothing was going to stop him from achieving it.
Many make the mistake of assuming that just because they have found their career, for the rest of their lives, the water will just flow downhill and all will be easy. I can guarantee this – there will be water shortages, flow blockages, floods and other diversions along the river bed; some so large that the downhill flow will seem to stop and you will find yourself in the middle of a great lake. Do not stop the forward motion; do not forget the intent of your career! At the end of the lake you will find the outlet and probably the ride of your life.If you are paying attention, you will have noticed that I slipped in the “INTENT” word. If you have had the good fortune and awareness to find your “CAREER” then you will find that along with this has come a clear understanding of the “INTENT” of the process. The mere fact that it is your “Lifework” suggests that there must be a level of intent or desired outcome involved.

Chiropractic has provided me that greatest of opportunity, to express a value of my life and I am thankful and humbled in its gifts. When I talk to others about Chiropractic I continually have a thought running in the background of the discussion; the thought being – If these people could only experience what incredible results Chiropractic has had for the people under care, they would literally “stand” in awe and respect. Children becoming responsive human beings, chronic illness disappearing, people regaining the ability to walk, asthma disappearing, and the list goes on. We in Chiropractic know these results because we have experienced these wondrous things.

Why?

Because we stayed the course and never lost sight of our lifework, our career. Part of any career is founded on the necessity of “earning a living” but if that is the only consideration then sadly it will not be a very fulfilling career. There will never be enough money to add up to the value of helping others; the personal value of what you do to enrich other’s lives. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have created a foundation to help people but in order to do this they had to build a career of making money first. This is the difference between a “job” and a “career”.

The job of making money (pursuit) versus a career of helping others (Higher purpose).  As a Chiropractor, or Chiropractic staff or Chiropractic advocate you have the opportunity to get the human value return by just offering chiropractic care.
How does it get any better than this!
Richard Barwell, D.C.

By Richard Barwell, D.C.

Dr. Barwell is the Founder and President of the Chiropractic Equity Offices, Inc. program, and has more than thirty years of experience in chiropractic practice. After graduating from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College with clinic honors in 1964, he started a family Wellness Practice in British Columbia. He has since established numerous successful practices, won several awards and guest lectured at various chiropractic institutions. Before establishing CEO, Inc. Dr. Barwell was the Director of Seminars and Programs at Quest and Executive Director of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance.

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