You’re Not Doing What You Thought You’d Be Doing (And Why That’s More Than OK)

Most people I know—talented, driven, successful people—are not doing exactly what they thought they’d be doing in their lives or careers.

Not even close.

They’re not living out some neatly-mapped 5-year plan. They didn’t follow the blueprint they laid out in college. They aren’t sitting in the dream job they once obsessed over. In fact, many of them have pivoted so many times, they’ve lost track of which version of the plan they’re even on.

And yet…

They’re making an impact. They’re showing up. They’re evolving. And some of them are more fulfilled than they’ve ever been—not because things went according to plan, but because they let go of the plan long enough to start living with purpose.

That’s the unlock. And it changes everything.

We live in a world that sells us the myth of perfect alignment. That if you’re not fully living your passion every minute of every day, you’re somehow failing. That your LinkedIn headline should exactly match your soul’s calling. That the job title should reflect your entire identity. That fulfillment comes from getting everything right.

But I’ve found the opposite to be true.

Some of the most fulfilled, impactful people I know are those who’ve learned to infuse meaning into whatever they’re doing—regardless of whether the job description reads like a dream. They’ve discovered how to inject their unique gifts, strengths, and passions into roles that, on paper, might look like a detour.

Because when you start seeing your work as a canvas, not a cage, that’s when things really start to shift.

The truth is, our paths rarely unfold in a straight line. Life isn’t a staircase—it’s a jungle gym. It’s messy. It’s unpredictable. And sometimes, it throws you into places you never thought you’d be.

You might be in a job that pays the bills but doesn’t light your soul on fire. You might be sitting in meetings wondering, How did I end up here? You might be doing great work while still secretly nursing the feeling that you’re meant for something more.

And that’s not a reason to check out.

That’s your invitation to show up differently.

Instead of waiting for the perfect role to appear, what if you started crafting it right where you are?

What if you brought your storytelling skills into your sales role, your love for mentoring into your engineering job, your creative fire into that “boring” analytics position?

What if you made your current work the training ground for your future mission?

Because here’s the truth: You are not stuck. You are strategically placed.

And the way you show up now? That determines where you go next.

Let’s go even deeper.

What if the disconnect you feel isn’t a sign you’re lost—but a sign you’re waking up?

That gnawing sense of misalignment? That restlessness? That tug to do more, be more, give more?

That’s not something to silence. That’s something to listen to.

But don’t wait for a lightning bolt of clarity or the perfect job posting to start acting on it. Start weaving those passions into the work you already do. Start leading with the values that matter most to you. Start building a personal brand and presence that reflects the entire you, not just your current role.

Because when you start showing up with authenticity, alignment begins to follow.

Not overnight. But it comes.

This isn’t just philosophy—it’s personal.

I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a sales leader or writing books or co-hosting a podcast. That wasn’t in the plan.

But the deeper I got into my career, the more I realized something: What I do is less important than how I do it. And what started as a job turned into a calling when I stopped waiting for perfect alignment and started infusing passion, purpose, and heart into everything I touched.

I started helping others rise. I started writing down what I was learning. I started building a brand around the values that mattered most to me—faith, resilience, authenticity, and the relentless pursuit of impact.

And everything changed.

So here’s what I want to tell you:

If you’re not where you thought you’d be, you’re not alone. If your dream job still feels far away, you’re not behind. And if you’re still figuring it out, you’re not broken—you’re becoming.

In fact, you’re probably closer to your purpose than you realize. Because purpose isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. And it reveals itself in the trenches—not the mountaintop.

So stop waiting.

Stop searching for the perfect role to bring your whole self. Bring your whole self now. Bring your story. Your scars. Your creativity. Your fire. Your faith. Bring your unique superpowers to the table—every single day—and use them to elevate the people around you.

Because when you operate like that? Something wild happens.

The more you connect meaningfully… The more you keep learning… The more you infuse passion into the present moment… The more you give yourself away in service of others…

…the more things start to fall into place.

And maybe one day, you’ll look around and realize you didn’t just find your dream job.

You built it.

Right in the middle of the life you never planned—but fully chose.

Keep showing up. Keep becoming. Keep lighting the way.

#Purpose #CareerGrowth #Leadership #Authenticity #FaithInTheProcess #Reinvention #PersonalDevelopment #Motivation #Sales #GrowthMindset