A seed is a great symbol of who we are. If we’re doing something we don’t really love—if we’re doing something just to exist—we’re not growing and thriving.
Far too often we are in jobs that we may like, but don't love. Deep down, we have a sense that there is something more we are meant to do. Something else that will fully tap into our gifts and make a contribution we feel good about. In my book Professional Destiny®—Discover the Career You Were Born For, I share stories of personal reinvention. Here, I've shared how I found the career I was born for and moved from marketing executive to author, now I'll share the journeys of others who have boldly traveled the path into doing what they love.
This story is about Marcie Finney—a former ad designer turned entrepreneur of "Seeds for Goodness," a fast-growing, eco-fashion brand that creates stylish, earth-friendly jewelry and adornments. It's an inspiring account of her choice to thrive, and make a difference. In Marcie’s words…
"My entrepreneurial spirit started eight years ago. I had been working in an advertising agency, but knew it was time for me to go out on my own as a freelance designer. I loved my client interactions and wasn’t getting enough if it in the agency, so I struck out on my own. I do love design and it’s a gift. In particular, I love seeing an idea come to life. Yet, I always knew I'd do something else, but I didn’t quite know what.
The first clue came when I was young—my friend and I teamed up in school and made necklaces. I even sold enough pieces to buy a pair of rollerblades! I always loved to make my own funky pieces, but that’s as far as it went.
Every year I take a trip to reflect. It’s a quiet time for me to ask myself: 'What do I want? Where am I going?' It’s necessary for me to pause and just get quiet. I went to Cabo and during that time, felt my life was going to shift. I knew it, but didn’t know what it was shifting to.
I always wear my jewelry even when I practice yoga. After Cabo, for two months straight, people would comment on a piece I was wearing. It was every day, everywhere I went—at yoga, at grocery stores, you name it. They’d say: 'can I buy your jewelry online? Will you sell me the piece you’re wearing?' I asked myself – 'do I need to do anything with this?'
Some of the best things come when you least expect it. I was going about my day and I suddenly got an intuitive message loud and clear. It was 'you need to work with seeds.' I didn’t really know what it meant, but I started to do research about seeds and I was blown away. The colors, the texture were unbelievable – and so me! The trumpets started playing!
I said 'I’ll do it' and the universal doors flew open. It’s been a little over a year journey now. Aveda became interested in my line and has become a large client and my jewelry is now in several retail locations. I feel like it has a life of its own and it’s a lot of work, but totally fulfilling.”
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From my conversations with many who have found careers that excite and fulfill them, there is an interesting common thread. All have an inkling deep inside of something that they love to do, they just need to get quiet to hear it, look for signs and, most importantly, heed them.
It’s interesting that Marcie chose the name “Seeds for Goodness” for her jewelry line because she wanted to remind people that all good things start from something small. Like a seed, you have to nurture your gifts in order to let them grow. You won’t reach your full potential by choosing complacency, or by choosing to stay small. A seed is a greater symbol of who we are. If we’re doing something we don’t really love—if we’re doing something just to exist—we’re not thriving. Seeds are meant to thrive. So are we.
Valerie Hausladen is the author of Professional Destiny: Discover The Career You Were Born For, now available at Amazon.com. She works with individuals and companies as a professional coach and consultant. Formerly, Valerie was Managing Director of the Austin office of WPP’s global advertising agency, Enfatico, President of Tocquigny Advertising and a former executive at Dell. She frequently blogs about her favorite subject of helping people discover the career they were born for, and shares inspiring stories of those who joyously reinvented themselves at her site: www.professionaldestiny.com.