Hey Cake Fam!
Today is a post from my girl, Carleigh. If you’re new around here, Carleigh is the bread to my butter here at The Cake by Hannah. She helps me reel in my vision and crazy ideas to make them a reality. Every visionary needs a practical person who makes the steps, A-Z, to achieve said dreams. That’s Carleigh for me! Everybody needs a Carleigh! I always love when she says she has a word to share, and I know this will bless you all. A huge part of my own story is that I found out the whole system I believed I wanted and worked so hard for wasn’t what I thought it’d be, and it ended up destroying my soul hehe… But seriously. I wasn’t made for a desk and I felt ashamed by that for so long. I am team FIND WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY! But, there will always be hard work required. I fear that our generation CAN be the generation who wants all the things, but doesn’t want to put in the work. That’s not where I stand- not even close. You have to be willing to work the small jobs you didn’t want in order to get to the dream. I failed at that along the way, but thank goodness for a God full of grace.
So, here’s Carleigh’s story and how she figured out what works best for her! We believe in hard work, family first, and having fun all the way through.
xoxo, Han
If you ask me, one of the most difficult parts of adulthood is finding your “dream” job. Navigating the many requirements and hurdles that come with getting your degree, the interview process, and starting a new job can be so overwhelming that if we become unsatisfied with what we’re doing, starting that process all over again seems so daunting that we often just settle. We settle for a job that’s comfortable, or guarantees a consistent paycheck, or even one that we hate just so we don’t have to take the risk involved with trying something new. Trust me, I get it. The point of this post is not to make you feel bad for where you’re at or tell you that you’ll only be happy in life if you’re in your dream job (although I think that certainly helps). What I want to do today is talk about some things that I’ve learned about myself and what I need out of a job, and then challenge you to do the same. Maybe you aren’t in a place right now where you can quit everything and chase after your dream of traveling the world, but maybe you can make a few small changes to optimize what you get out of where you are now or help you plan for what you need in the future.
First, identify your learning style. This is a quick and fairly accurate online quiz to take if you’re unsure! Even if you’re not in school, knowing your learning style is also important to being successful in your work. Do you need to discuss projects with others to work through them? Do you enjoy hands-on work or face-to-face contact with customers? Do you need lists and charts and as little face-time with others as possible? These are all needs that you can identify through knowing your learning style and are really important to consider in comparison to your job responsibilities!
Second, identifying your ideal work environment is crucial. This is one I learned the hard way. Because I can be very type-A and enjoy organization and planning, I thought I would thrive on a set schedule, in one building where I did the same thing everyday. Turns out- that was NOT for me. I need to be in an environment that changes and keeps my attention. I love to work in coffee shops with the bustle of people, background noise, and espresso machines running. Working in silence drives me insane, but I also need to be able to be alone when I want. I can’t be in a job where I have to be somewhere at a set time every single day and I can’t leave until a certain time. It makes me feel trapped and doesn’t allow me to work when I’m feeling focused or inspired. I love putting my headphones in and jamming to T Swift while I crank out my work. I love being able to meet up with Hannah to work so I can talk about my ideas and get her feedback. I love getting my fav Starbucks drink and people watching while I work. These are things I need in a job- but what about you? What type of environment do you need to focus best? Quiet? Background noise? Someone to talk to while you work? A place where you can get up and take breaks or leave and come back? Figuring this out will help you be more productive and might show you what type of job would be best for you.
Because it took me such a long time to figure out what I wanted to do for a job, I’m so passionate about helping others figure it out for themselves too. I also believe that I was able to be successful in school and now in my work because I took the time to figure out what I needed and worked best for me. Take even just 5 minutes today and ask yourself some of these questions I posed, or take the quiz if you don’t know your learning style. You are worth the time it may take to figure out what you need, and it may be just what you need to get fulfillment out of your job or career that you’ve been looking for.
Thanks for reading friends. I’d love to hear what you discover!
xoxo,
Carleigh
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