It doesn’t exist. But there may be a perfect reason and the right motivation to get started.
The photo is from a decade ago—the year I began studying to qualify for the work I do today. It was far from the perfect time, yet I did it anyway. At that stage in life, I had a full-time corporate job and two kids under five. As expats, we had no grandparents, aunts, or uncles nearby to lean on. The news was filled with economic downturns and uncertainty—just as it often still is today. Investing time, energy, and money into an intensive study program, completely unrelated to my day job or previous degree, seemed like a risky and even irrational decision. I struggled to explain to myself how I would carve out the time and energy to make it work.
But here’s the thing: nothing is more draining than feeling stuck, unchallenged, or working in misalignment with your strengths and values. Managing your energy is different from managing your time. If you feel stagnant, underutilized, or increasingly cynical, and if you can find something that sparks your curiosity, passion, and sense of purpose, pursuing it will energize you—even if it means sacrificing some sleep or other comforts along the way.
When we engage in work we genuinely believe in, we face obstacles with more confidence, creativity, and resilience.
My story isn’t a glossy, overnight success tale or a simplistic “do what I did” encouragement. Rather, I hope it serves as an invitation to honestly assess what fuels or drains your energy and motivation. It took years to complete my studies and eventually launch a business. The path wasn’t smooth—it was filled with challenges, resistance, and uncertainties. But that was okay. I found a field and a process I genuinely enjoyed, so I wasn’t solely focused on the destination. Even my corporate job became more meaningful as I engaged in something that mattered alongside it.
And that resistance? It wasn’t coming from me.
What field or activity energizes you just thinking about it?
