My Journey To Helping The Passionate Find Their Purpose
While standing in the hall monitoring 11, 12, 13 and some 14 year old hormones walking around, I looked across the hall and my co-worker was about to go off. She turned around and the student began yelling, “You ain’t my momma! B***, my momma bought my clothes! You can’t tell me what to f**king wear!”
I thought, oh, boy, it’s just the first week of September. We had been in school a full month, twenty days. You see, I live in the south. And we start school insanely early. As I’m writing this piece, my husband began pre-planning, today. Like, the third week of July. His students return next Monday.
I knew what I didn’t want.
So, to continue my story, we had been in school for 20 days. So,… at this point. I know I’ve got to deal with this sh*t for the next 9 more months. Once my colleague calmed down, I said. “You know, there’s something wrong with this scenario. What other job in America, where you are cursed out before 8 am. And, by someone who is NOT paying taxes!”
I knew then, it was going to be a long difficult year. And, it actually was. No matter how much visualizing, praying, meditating, (I even anointed my room with blessed oil) that year was horrible.
I stayed sick more than I was well. By the time I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia, I knew I had to do something different. The day I was home on bed rest, sick leave, I began looking for more work.
When can you start? Is almost always a question asked on applications. YESTERDAY! Is what I wanted to say. But in reality, I posted ‘next week’. There is something wrong with our school system, which I’ll post that soap-box in another posting, but this one is about finding a new job. This is how I got to this place
I knew I wanted something new. I knew what I didn’t want. I didn’t want to be in front of children under 18 years of age. At least on an 8–3, M-F basis. Oh, by the way, did I tell you I had a student to drop her pants in the front of the room full of boys that same year? Anyway, back to why I decided I needed to make a major career move. But, this time, it had to be the RIGHT move. Not just one because it paid money.
Yeah, I think teachers actually can have PTSD and I might have some phase of it, but anyway, this is how I got to this place.
I think about how major movements occur. Usually from an outright backlash of someone saying ‘no’, I’m not doing this one more thing. That’s it. Rosa Parks comes to mind, and I’m sure there’s others. Okay, I’m adding my name to the list.
However, I wanted this next career move to be something I was truly passionate about. I really wanted to help people. So, I tried several things. Apple call center, teaching English online, transcribing, blogging, academic writing, etc. Anything in the writing sphere. But, what I found was that I was again only settling on what would bring income. Because, at the end of the day, the bills are still rolling in.
I think happiness at work is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.
In all my ventures, I did learn this. I actually LOVE teaching ESL online. I am so happy to be working at this company. Although it’s part-time, and a bit sketchy at times. (Like, Carnival and Chinese Spring Festival on the same 2 weeks, and most recently World Cup) can effect my income, who would have known? Now I know and can plan accordingly.
But now, I’ve figured it out. Well, at least I think. But really, I want to help people be happy in their professions. I think happiness at work is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. I’ve written before about people not being happy at their work. How To Fix Being Pissed Off.
I didn’t want to be one of those types of people. Working my entire life and pissed at something I do for 80% of my time on this earth. Hopefully I go to heaven. But if I don’t, why spend life on earth in hell and then be there eternally? This is insane to me.
Now, I’m really happy, helping people find their purpose. I enjoy being a service to others. If there is anyway I can help someone get to their happy place, I’m going to do my best trying. I read a lot of meditation books, listen to podcasts, anything to help me, help my business. My most resent read, “Awaken Healing Energy Through The Tao, by Mantak Chia.
I wish I knew about meditating, visualizing and managing your thoughts 20 years ago. I know I would have made a lot of different decisions professionally, but as a podcaster once stated, the journey is the process. If my journey had not been what it was, I wouldn’t be here to tell you how to do it.
I see some people in this space offering services to help people find their purpose an create a profession around it. Some are older than me, some are younger. I have to say, there’s something to be said about age and experience.
Having helped several clients, I am at a point that this is truly where I belong. I don’t regret my journey. I needed that, so I can be here, a service to mankind.
Genola Johnson is a manufacturing and supply chain and logistics English As A Second Language teacher, who lives with her husband and two super model daughters in Atlanta. She helps passionate people craft a profitable profession with the foundations of their life’s purpose. You can find her on GEBJohnson.com Follow her on Twitter@gebjohnson.com or IG gebjohnson
