Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Tip#343: Childhood Clues To Your Ideal Career – The Blind Side


I had another astounding synchronicity happen recently. A few weeks back, as I explored new opportunities to motivate people, I found myself back in an area of Toronto I grew up in during public school. I knew this had a profound meaning about my childhood and wasn't sure what.

Just days later I went to visit the new Metro Hall Employment Services in downtown Toronto. It's the flagship for new state-of-the-art facilities helping job seekers develop and manage their careers. The centre was so futuristic and bright that it felt I was on the starship Enterprise from the 2009 Star Trek movie! See here

I was then introduced to an amazing online assessment tool at Careercruising.com called Career Matchmaker. You just answer a series of detailed questions asking for your preferences of work, skills, activities and environments you enjoy most and it matches you up with ideal careers.

My top 3 were:
1) Actor
2) Motivational Speaker
3) Corporate Trainer

I was stunned to see what number one was because when I was a child I wanted to be an actor. Now I saw the connection for the reason I returned to my old public school area. I was being reminded that performing to make people smile was what I loved most at school. I loved drama classes and connecting with audiences. It wasn't just illustrating or doing art which I did as a successful business... it was performing with a purpose to make people happy!

The Blind Side 2009

Based on a true story, The Blind Side film features a 17 year old named Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) who everyone thinks would be a great football player because of his enormous height and size. Unfortunately he doesn't do well during his first football practice.

The key to his success is discovered when Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) looks into Michael's academic records. He had scored low in every aspect except one where he scored in the 98th percentile in "protective instincts".

This discovery reveals that Michael's ideal position in football is to protect the blind side of the quarterback (left tackle position). So when Michael is made to understand his position on the field he excels instantly and soon drew the attention of numerous University football coaches. Today the real Michael Oher became Left Tackle for the Baltimore Ravens.

Leigh Anne cared for Michael's potential so she had persevered to help him be the best he could be. She helped him discover his inner strength, talent and ideal career! Isn't she a woman you'd want to watch out for you like a guardian angel?

Inspiring Themes:
• Talents, Skills & Gifts
• Self-Confidence & Self-Esteem
• Career Transitions
• Supportive Relationships
• Indestructible Optimism


Rediscover What Makes You Shine

So if you feel stuck in your career or what to do with your life, go back to your childhood and rediscover your natural gifts and talents. Contact your parents or others that knew you as a child and ask what they remember you being good at. Unearth the memories of the activities that made you shine as a child.

Sometimes what we were born to do gets lost along the journey through adulthood. Take the time today to pause and recognize if you are doing what you enjoyed doing growing up.

Related Tips:
Tip#178: Childhood Passions - The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch – Star Trek
Tip#310: Find Your Place In The World - Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
Tip#334: Power of Persistence – Billy Elliot


ASK ABOUT MOTIVATORMAN'S
Social Media Consulting services for helping:
1) Individuals manage their career & connections
2) Organizations manage their message
See more info here under Consultations: www.motivatorman.com

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Specialist
For Individuals & Organizations

© Emmanuel Lopez 2010

5 comments:

Ms. Pitaro said...

Emmanuel,

This post is very special. I knew what I wanted to be when I was five and only recently have I reconnected with that dream. If you recall our last meeting when I had a stream of consciousness moment of all the creative things I wanted to do with my life that seemed so remote from my current incarnation but felt so right and in line with my true spirit. I recommend that everyone reconnects with their childhood dreams to see that somethings are determined early on in our lives and we keep struggling with ourselves until we recognize our true inclinations.

Josie

Anonymous said...

How's this for a childhood clue-- a few months ago, visiting my parents, i came across a kindergarten report card from when i was 5 years old...

the teacher's handwritten final comment was "I wouldn't be surprised to see Kirby with a career as an artist or architect"...

decades later, that's exactly what i do: http://nu4ya.posterous.com/cubist-crystalline-collage-cocoon-continued

Emmanuel Lopez - Motivatorman said...

Hello Josie and Kirby,

Thank you very much for sharing your comments about your childhood gifts. Very synchronistic that you both mentioned age 5!

Emmanuel
Motivatorman

Head Health Nut said...

This was a great post and fantastic movie illustration, Emmanuel!

And thank you for sharing these wonderfully helpful links to the City of Toronto's Employment Services. I'll definitely be using their online Career Matchmaker!

Steph @ Live Lighter.org

Emmanuel said...

Hi Steph,

You will love Career Matchmaker tool. It's like it taps into your soul's mission on Earth!

Emmanuel
Motivatorman