Love the one you're with.

Doesn’t everyone love their job? Isn’t the phrase, “Thank God it’s Monday!”? We as Americans are spoiled to the point we need to love our job or it becomes the bain of our existence. We dream about the job that is easy yet pays six figures. Of course you work hard, you deserve six figures. I’m sure you’re the only one that’s been overlooked by the boss. Generally people make what they deserve and if you feel slighted, America is still free enough you can look for the next opportunity where the boss will truly see your talent or strike out on your own and offer a product or service directly to the consumer so they can acknowledge and admire your skill. In broadcasting this is more true than ever before. Can anyone give an accurate number of content distribution channels. For goodness sake we have a 24/7 World Fishing Channel on cable, of course I could name a score of equally niche channels that sound ridiculous to most, but fishing sounds about as boring as you can get. Having said that if you’re stuck working at a bait shop and you want to be a videographer the opportunity is there.

How do you leap from day job to dream job? The first thing I always recommend is find someone who completed the process you want to go through and learn from him. He will have learned from the process and can help you go through it faster and less painfully. Jon Acuff wrote a book called Quitter.


In the book he talks about the journey from depressing day job to fulfilling, meaningful, glorious dream job. His dream job is different than my dream job but I, and you, can learn from his transition. He talks about starting slowly and setting out towards a goal, not simply leaping off the end of a pier and hoping the yacht will arrive in time to float under your feet and give you a lifetime of pampering and luxury.

The reason I titled this blog, ”Love the one you’re with” is because the habits you exhibit at your current job will most likely carry over into your dream job. My first full time job in broadcasting was at a country music station in southern Indiana. We didn't pay "Hot Country" like Garth Brooks, we played traditional country like Loretta Lynn. I didn't like the music, but I did like the opportunity to learn and of course the paycheck. To this day on my key chain I have a little cowboy hat trinket the station was giving away. This helps me to remember where I started and that I don't have to like the content in order to work hard and make a living. Habits are made every day. I know you think once you get rid of your boss everything will be peaches and cream and your attitude about work will change but an attitude of criticism is hard to shake. No matter what your dream job is there will be others involved. Clients, distributors, suppliers, etc. and they will at some point rub you the wrong way so use your current job as an exercise in patience with those who aren’t as gifted as you. Maybe, just maybe, an improved attitude at your current job will earn a promotion or raise and make that job more tolerable as you work toward the dream job.

Jason Troyer
Denver, CO