The Crapshoot Career

A buddy of mine was visiting from Kansas City.  In all seriousness he said,

"You should become a used car salesman."

I looked at him with one brow raised and said, "Really?"

He then continued on to explain that there was a ton of money, but it took an odd and obscure personality to become a good used car salesman.  I laughed, but life has taught me that he is probably more right than wrong.  I probably would make a good used car salesman.

Why?

Because my initial reaction would be that I would be a HORRIBLE used car salesman.  And what I always thought I would be "horrible" at or would "never do" I ended up excelling in.

I don't know what to call it, perhaps a "reverse skill talent," but if life has taught me anything, it's that you are likely to be horrible at what you think you'd be good at and awesome at what you'd think you'd be horrible at.

For example, not in a million years did I think I would be a ballroom dancer/instructor, let alone an author, let alone a radio personality.  I even mocked and ridiculed such professions as fake or bogus.  It wasn't until harsh economic conditions forced me into taking a crap shoot at all three, all of which I excelled at, two of which are now my mainstay of income.

Banking?  Well, you all know the story.  I technically am the best analyst and economist I know.  My predictions about the economy and default risk of loans is near a 1.000 batting average.  However, that skill is not what matters in the banking industry, as much as how wide you can spread your butt cheeks and how wide you can open your mouth.

Regardless, why this is true, I do not know, but I have a theory.

Different personalities are attracted to different industries.  Analytical types are attracted to finance and accounting.  Creative types are attracted towards media and the arts.  Courageous types are attracted towards military and police.  But in an ironic twist, each of those industries are then FLOODED with those personality and aptitude types, thereby lowering the value of those personalities and aptitudes.  This puts not so much a higher value of personalities and aptitudes that would DIFFER from the traditional personalities and aptitudes normally associated with those industries, as much as it gives people with different aptitudes and abilities a HUGE competitive advantage.

For example my business background gave me a HUGE advantage over my touchy-feely, artsy, fartsy dance instructor competitors.  I was the first instructor to offer "field trips" to my students where I'd take them out dancing, thereby making my classes more attractive, and I also learned multiple types of dances so I could schedule a "batch" of classes.  So instead of just an hour of dance class, I would teach 3 hours of three different types of dance.  This allowed me to increase my radius where I could offer classes because I was generating more revenue per trip.  In short, and to this day, I am the only instructor from the Twin Cities to travel to far flung places like Mankato, Hibbing, Austin, etc.

The larger point is one that should provide GREAT hope and relief to you younger (or even older) types who are trying to find a job or your place in the world - your best career is likely NOT to be the one you're applying for.

This means that if you're a business major filing out yet another f*cking Taleo-Brass Ring online application, you may be better off walking down to the welding shop, learning how to weld, and getting a job at the Bakken oil field.

This means that if you're the drama major, you may be better off picking up an accounting class or two and becoming a staff accountant at the local beanery or theater.

This means that if you're a computer network engineer, your mind numbing job might be easily replaced by becoming an author or music composer.

Whatever it is, you might be shocked and surprised just how well you would do in fields you thought the complete antithesis of your skill set.  It's just a matter of taking a chance, applying and taking a crap shoot at anything.

In all seriousness if my book sales were to dry up, I would probably walk down to the used car lot and ask to be a salesman.  I would also pick up a saxophone and start playing because I think I would be horrible at it, which means I would probably rock at it.  You should do the same.

Think you'd make a lousy cop?   Then volunteer as a reserve officer to see if you're not wrong.

Think you'd make a lousy surgeon?  Then watch surgery videos and see if you don't immediately upchuck, but are one of those weird people who find it "fascinating."

Hate kids?  Sign up to substitute teach and see if those rug rats don't wear off on you.

Are you a pastor looking for some side income?  Consider a career as a porn star.

I personally cannot tell you what it would be, just that my experience has been that it's the complete OPPOSITE of what you think, and usually a lot more fun.