The Leading Edge: Embrace the Grind

I do a fair bit of travelling for my work, and I love when I travel out of the D terminal in Nashville.  I get to walk by this super cool mural painted by my cousin, Tony Sobota. (For what it’s worth, my Dad is one of 12 kids, so I have a squillion cousins.  And, while Tony may not be able to pick me out of a lineup, I promise I’d show up as a direct relation on a 23andMe DNA test)

The mural is a grandiose work of art that tells a story of a beautiful city, on display for thousands of people every single day. It’s quite an accomplishment – one I am certain Tony completed with an immense sense of pride.

I work with a lot of young, ambitious leaders.  Some express frustration that they haven’t found their dream job.  Others lament the slow pace of growth in their careers.  And I can see why this might be the case.  In our world of instant gratification, perfection should only be a click away, right?

Wrong.

For every overnight success, there are thousands of people whose careers are a journey of discovery, filled with twists and turns, disappointments and disciplined effort, that finally arrives at something the sages refer to as a “true calling.” 

Often this “calling” is something that was never on the radar to begin with.  It evolved organically by the mere virtue of showing up and giving your all to whatever was needed, born of hundreds of accidental actions and purposeful pursuits.

Take Tony, for instance.  Today, he gets commissioned to create giant murals filled with meaning, and custom art pieces for people who genuinely appreciate his genius.

Tony has also spent years drawing hundreds, if not thousands, of caricatures for kids’ birthday parties, some of which never even make it to the car for the ride home.

If you find yourself frustrated that you have not found your “true calling”, it can be helpful to remember that it usually takes years, if not decades, of grinding it out to find it. All the while, we’re learning, growing, building skills, and gaining perspective that will serve us when the moment finally arrives.

So, this one is for the younger, impatient, frustrated leaders out there.  If you are grinding and growing and haven’t quite found your niche.  Don’t worry. 

You’re doing it right.

Here’s to wishing all of you peace, patience and progress in your pursuit.