Making a way of your own

Dear Lloyd,

I’m a licensed engineer. However, I don’t think it’s still relevant with what I’m doing right now. I work as a call center agent in Makati. I would nonetheless love to practice what I’ve learn. Do you think it’s still possible?

Ryan Francis Arandela
Meycauayan, Bulacan

Dear Ryan,

It is possible. To date, there have been so many impossibilities that were proven possible to happen and that they happened. You don’t need to look far in order to see what I’m talking about. The things around you are “impossibilities” centuries ago. Now, they are there, a way of saying that thinkable are doable.

The only question you need to answer yourself would be: Am I willing to pay the price of pursuing what I want? Having yes as an answer would lead you to the next question: What must I do to achieve what I what? There are many things to be listed. But, the hardest is this: How do I start?

At the onset, you must first understand the power of decision. Many people today don’t realize the value of the decisions that they make day in and day out. They oftentimes underestimate the results. Still, many of them are surprised when they fail. They look for reasons why they fall short.

This is the key: People don’t fail overnight. Like success, it is planned. Failure is a result of small mistakes that are habitually done every day.

Your problem is simply a matter of decision-making, which is the hardest among the steps you should take so that you’ll get what you want. The first step is always the hardest.

When you were still studying, you may have missed to think long term. That’s why when you got out of school you unfortunately landed in a career far from your choice. This happens all the time in almost 80% of our workforce. They get into the job that they hate because there is no alternative. As I see it now, you have an alternative. And you just needed someone to affirm your decision.

Let me share you my story.

I happened to take a course that has nothing to do with what I wanted. When I was in high school, my goal was to pursue mass communication in college. One day, I found myself enrolled in Electronics and Communications Engineering. But, it did not stop me from doing what I want. During my college days, I involved myself in our school newspaper and participated in journalism awards.

During my fourth year, The Manila Times got me in as a correspondent. When I was in my fifth year, the Office of the President in Malacañang Palace appointed me as technical assistant for youth affairs.

I’ve been in the same boat as yours. And trust me, if you’re serious enough to get what you’ve always wanted in your life, you can always get it. Did I become a full-pledge engineer? No. Am I happy with what I’m doing right now? Yes.

Many of us don’t understand the law of attraction. People must learn to find their passion first before they attract opportunities. That’s as simple as that. Staying in a job that you hate will only give you more headaches (and heartaches) along the way. It is not good for your company, for you and for every one.

I would suggest that you follow your passion. 95% of successful people are happy in what they’re doing. It’s because they are attracted with their passion.

It’s always easy to work on something you love doing. Though, it’s constantly hard to take the first step. Try reading the book “Alchemist” and you’ll understand more what I’m telling you.

Again, if you are looking for relevance, you must start taking a stand now. Getting what you want happens only when you start working for it. And by keeping an eye on your to-do lists, not long from now you’ll see the result of your decision.

And one more thing: Remember the law of a straight line. The shortest way between two distances is a straight line.

Don’t be distracted by the events and people around you. Look at your capacity to fulfill your dreams and constantly work for your qualifications. At the end of the day, it would be a question of how well did we do to realize what we’ve always wanted to have. While you still have time and energy, do it.

Your buddy to the top,

LLOYD A. LUNA