Job vs. Career vs. Calling: How to Tell Which One You’re In

 

People often talk about how we sleep for 8 hours a day, but they don’t emphasize that we work for 8 hours a day as well.

 

There are 24 hours in a day, and a third of that is spent working.

What you do for work will determine your happiness, in my opinion.

 

There are many people who hate their work.

They regret everything about it.

Waking up early in the morning, getting stuck in traffic, dealing with toxic coworkers, and more.

 

So, what do you currently have?

A job, a career, or a calling?

 

I believe you can have multiple at the same time.

Or worse…you may have none of them.

Let’s break down the differences and what it means for you.

 

The Differences Explained

 

A job is something you do with your body.
A career is something you do with your body and mind.
A calling is something you do with your body, mind, and heart.

 

A Job

A job is something a person does just because they need money. They learn a series of processes during training, and from there on, they just repeat those processes. There’s often minimal desire to improve. This person may have other priorities, or they just need the money, and that’s it.

 

A Career

A career involves using your mind to evolve. Let’s say someone starts in fast food with a job. They learn all the processes. Over time, they realize they want more out of this industry. They want to move from flipping patties to managing a store themselves. They start to spend time with the manager, learning different ways to improve. They are getting their mind involved to think of new solutions, asking questions that weren’t previously asked, and looking into the future. Now, they’re treating their fast food work as a career, not just a job.

 

A Calling

A calling is something entirely different. This is when someone’s heart is involved too. A calling works through you. Great people often say they were chosen to do something great. They’re just showing up at this point.

 

The Secret Ingredient for a Calling

 

Let’s continue the fast-food example.

This person started with a job flipping patties.

 

After a few years, they decided to treat this field like a career, and they’re improving rapidly.

Now, they’ve expanded and manage multiple stores and people.

But now what?

 

They need a narrative.

They can’t just say, “I’m here to make money.”

 

The narrative is stored in the heart.

If a calling is a combination of body, mind, and heart, then a meaningful narrative must be engaged.

 

For this person, it’s no longer just about managing fast-food stores.

They might say, “I am providing quality meals to people at all times of the day, so they don’t go hungry.”

 

See how that sounds?

It gives you chills, right?

 

The person with a calling works to fulfill that narrative.

Their goal is to bring that vision into reality.

 

The fact that they believe in this line of work so deeply allows everything else to fall into place:

  • Stocking items, dealing with customer complaints, managing different store owners, etc.

 

A calling needs a narrative.

That narrative helps you withstand challenges and enemies.

 

Not Everyone Will Agree with Your Calling

 

Tom Brady is one of the most iconic athletes of all time.

He considered football his calling.

 

But guess what?

His wife didn’t like that he continued playing football for so long.

He said he’d retire at a certain age, but when he didn’t, she got mad.

 

Eventually, they divorced.

Tom’s calling wasn’t accepted by everyone.

Where he saw football as a grand calling, his wife saw it as just a game.

 

It’s the same with sports commentator Skip Bayless.

Many people think he just talks trash for a living.

But he believes his calling is to break down sports for the masses.

 

What’s the takeaway?

 

Your calling might be seen as silly by someone else.

If you have no faith in it, you’ll throw in the towel.

But if you view your work as a calling, not just a job or career, you’ll continue to ride the waves.

 

A Calling Doesn’t Always Have to Be About Money

 

I’ve seen people put zero effort into their jobs.

They haven’t improved in years.

But you know where they have improved?

In being a partner, a parent, or a philanthropist.

 

They’re improving in other aspects of their lives.

That’s where their narrative is engaged.

 

I believe you can focus your calling on different things as well.

A calling doesn’t always have to be related to work or a company.

 

When evaluating others, evaluate them in the context of their lives.

You might view someone as mediocre in one area, but through the right lens, you’ll see they have a different kind of greatness.

 

Dangers of Misdiagnosis

 

Many people misdiagnose themselves as unambitious or a failure because they don’t know the difference between a job, a career, and a calling.

Start learning the difference so you can better manage others and, more importantly, better manage yourself.

 

I’ve seen plenty of situations where, when you look at someone’s entire life, you’ll see them transform from a “loser” to a “winner” real quick.

 

A job is something we do for a paycheck.
A career is something we do for a paycheck and advancement.
And a calling is something we do to make the world a better place.

 

For more insights into mindset and making an impact, check out the Level Up Mentality book:

🧠Ebook

🧠Paperback/Kindle

🧠Audiobook

 

– ArmaniTalks 🎙️🔥

 

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