Since dad and I stopped working together, we don’t get to see each other as much during the week. I’m often busy juggling the kids, their activities and fitting in my work, while dad is busy doing things he didn’t have time for when he ran his business. It’s not necessarily a bad outcome from stopping the business, it’s just how life has evolved for both of us.
So it was lovely to sit with dad as he drove me into the city to attend an end-of-year Christmas get-together with our old plumbing crew, the week before Christmas.
As dad drove me into the city, and the traffic crawled as we got onto the highway ( I don’t miss working in the city that’s for sure!), I admitted I didn’t feel like I was where I was meant to be. I have had this feeling for a while. In fact it’s a feeling I’m well acquainted with. But I’ve ignored it and just focused on being the ever-present mum and meeting my writing deadlines each week, while also building this blog.
My dad said, ‘I can tell you exactly where you need to be. You need to be doing what you’re doing now. No one can write like you and no one can talk like you. You’ve found your gift girl, you just have to dig deep and build it.’
I never expected being a plumber would lead me towards a career in blogging. It’s pretty remarkable when I think about it.
It really is true that you never know where a career in the trades will take you.
I know we need more skilled workers on the tools. There was a decrease in apprenticeships last year and a decline in apprentices finishing their training.
But being on the tools isn’t the be all and end all of getting a job as a tradie.
My trade story shows you just never know where a career in the trades will take you.
In some ways, I’ve felt guilty that I have been writing a plumbing blog, but I haven’t been on the tools for 3 years. How can I write a plumbing blog if I haven’t been on the tools?
Why the hell can’t I? If I enjoy it and it helps people, then why not? And it allows me to be the mum I always wanted to be.
At the end of last year, I crazily took on some new writing work. I was a bit pushy in getting it. And then when I was sent my topics, I felt way out of my comfort zone. I was writing about things I had no idea about. I messaged a good friend to tell her I didn’t think I was capable of producing what was expected. But my friend assured me I could do it.
And I did. And I was proud that I got the work done and I surprised myself with my skills. The articles have yet to be edited so the feedback might not be good, but at least I dug deep to produce the work.
What I’ve come to realise, (and it’s a lesson I’m bringing into this new year) is I should never fully be satisfied on where I am because I should always be striving to do better.
Saying yes to a new opportunity and digging deep to produce good work has built my skills and confidence up.
Saying yes to something could take you somewhere you never anticipated, or it could just build your confidence for the next time you feel out of your comfort zone.
So my encouragement for you this year is dig deep and build yourself up.
It’s pretty simple, but I reckon it has the potential to see advancement in new territories, and that can only be a good thing.
