Mike Rowe is best known as host of The Discovery Channel’s ‘Dirty Jobs’. The TV personality is hugely popular and gets a ton of fan
mail, but one particular letter really caught his attention: a young
fan had written to him in search of career advice. Rowe’s response
was brilliant – when you read it, you’ll see why.
mail, but one particular letter really caught his attention: a young
fan had written to him in search of career advice. Rowe’s response
was brilliant – when you read it, you’ll see why.
Hey Mike!
I’ve spent this last year trying to figure out the right career for myself and
I still can’t figure out what to do. I have always been a hands on kind
of guy and a go-getter. I could never be an office worker. I need change, excitement, and adventure in my life, but where the pay is steady.
I grew up in construction and my first job was a restoration project.
I love everything outdoors. I play music for extra money. I like trying
pretty much everything, but get bored very easily. I want a career that
will always keep me happy, but can allow me to have a family and
get some time to travel. I figure if anyone knows jobs its you so I was wondering your thoughts on this if you ever get the time! Thank you!
I still can’t figure out what to do. I have always been a hands on kind
of guy and a go-getter. I could never be an office worker. I need change, excitement, and adventure in my life, but where the pay is steady.
I grew up in construction and my first job was a restoration project.
I love everything outdoors. I play music for extra money. I like trying
pretty much everything, but get bored very easily. I want a career that
will always keep me happy, but can allow me to have a family and
get some time to travel. I figure if anyone knows jobs its you so I was wondering your thoughts on this if you ever get the time! Thank you!
– Parker Hall
Here’s Rowe’s brilliant reply:
Hi Parker,
My first thought is that you should learn to weld and move
to North Dakota. The opportunities are enormous, and as a
“hands-on go-getter,” you’re qualified for the work. But after reading
your post a second time, it occurs to me that your qualifications are not
the reason you can’t find the career you want.
to North Dakota. The opportunities are enormous, and as a
“hands-on go-getter,” you’re qualified for the work. But after reading
your post a second time, it occurs to me that your qualifications are not
the reason you can’t find the career you want.
I had drinks last night with a woman I know. Let’s call her Claire. Claire
just turned 42. She’s cute, smart, and successful.
She’s frustrated though, because she can’t find a man. I listened
all evening about how difficult her search has been. About how
all the “good ones” were taken. About how her other friends had
found their soul-mates, and how it wasn’t fair that she had not.
just turned 42. She’s cute, smart, and successful.
She’s frustrated though, because she can’t find a man. I listened
all evening about how difficult her search has been. About how
all the “good ones” were taken. About how her other friends had
found their soul-mates, and how it wasn’t fair that she had not.
“Look at me,” she said. “I take care of myself. I’ve put myself out there.
Why is this so hard?”
Why is this so hard?”
“How about that guy at the end of the bar,” I said.
“He keeps looking at you.”
“He keeps looking at you.”
“Not my type.”
“Really? How do you know?”
“I just know.”
“Have you tried a dating site?” I asked.
“Are you kidding? I would never date someone I met online!”
“Alright. How about a change of scene? Your company has offices
all over – maybe try living in another city?”
all over – maybe try living in another city?”
“What? Leave San Francisco? Never!”
“How about the other side of town? You know, mix it up a little.
Visit different places. New museums, new bars, new theaters…?”
Visit different places. New museums, new bars, new theaters…?”
She looked at me like I had two heads. “Why the hell would I do that?”
Here’s the thing, Parker. Claire doesn’t really want a man. She wants the “right” man. She wants a soul-mate. Specifically, a soul-mate from her zip code. She assembled this guy in her mind years ago, and now, dammit,
she’s tired of waiting!!
she’s tired of waiting!!
I didn’t tell her this, because Claire has the capacity for sudden violence.
But it’s true. She complains about being alone, even though her rules
have more or less guaranteed she’ll stay that way. She has built a wall between herself and her goal. A wall made of conditions and expectations.
Is it possible that you’ve built a similar wall?
But it’s true. She complains about being alone, even though her rules
have more or less guaranteed she’ll stay that way. She has built a wall between herself and her goal. A wall made of conditions and expectations.
Is it possible that you’ve built a similar wall?
Consider your own words. You don’t want a career – you want the
“right” career. You need “excitement” and “adventure,” but not at the
expense of stability. You want lots of “change” and the “freedom
to travel,” but you need the certainty of “steady pay.” You talk about
being “easily bored” as though boredom is out of your control. It isn’t. Boredom is a choice. Like tardiness. Or interrupting. It’s one thing to
“love the outdoors,” but you take it a step further. You vow to “never”
take an office job. You talk about the needs of your family, even
though that family doesn’t exist. And finally, you say the career you
describe must “always” make you “happy.”
“right” career. You need “excitement” and “adventure,” but not at the
expense of stability. You want lots of “change” and the “freedom
to travel,” but you need the certainty of “steady pay.” You talk about
being “easily bored” as though boredom is out of your control. It isn’t. Boredom is a choice. Like tardiness. Or interrupting. It’s one thing to
“love the outdoors,” but you take it a step further. You vow to “never”
take an office job. You talk about the needs of your family, even
though that family doesn’t exist. And finally, you say the career you
describe must “always” make you “happy.”
These are my thoughts. You may choose to ignore them and I wouldn’t
blame you – especially after being compared to a 42 year old woman
who can’t find love. But since you asked…
blame you – especially after being compared to a 42 year old woman
who can’t find love. But since you asked…
Stop looking for the “right” career, and start looking for a job. Any job
. Forget about what you like. Focus on what’s available. Get yourself
hired. Show up early. Stay late. Volunteer for the scut work. Become indispensable. You can always quit later, and be no worse off than
you are today. But don’t waste another year looking for a career
that doesn’t exist. And most of all, stop worrying about your happiness. Happiness does not come from a job. It comes from knowing what you
truly value, and behaving in a way that’s consistent with those beliefs.
. Forget about what you like. Focus on what’s available. Get yourself
hired. Show up early. Stay late. Volunteer for the scut work. Become indispensable. You can always quit later, and be no worse off than
you are today. But don’t waste another year looking for a career
that doesn’t exist. And most of all, stop worrying about your happiness. Happiness does not come from a job. It comes from knowing what you
truly value, and behaving in a way that’s consistent with those beliefs.
Many people today resent the suggestion that they’re in charge of the
way the feel. But trust me, Parker. Those people are mistaken.
That was a big lesson from Dirty Jobs, and I learned it several hundred
times before it stuck. What you do, who you’re with, and how you
feel about the world around you, is completely up to you.
way the feel. But trust me, Parker. Those people are mistaken.
That was a big lesson from Dirty Jobs, and I learned it several hundred
times before it stuck. What you do, who you’re with, and how you
feel about the world around you, is completely up to you.
Good luck –
Mike
Mike
