After months of networking, scouring job boards, and exploring every avenue that could possibly lead me to a nonprofit job, I was exasperated and convinced that the job I wanted was not going to show up in a timely fashion.

So I took a break.

And in taking that break, clearing my head, allowing myself to really think about what I wanted, it came to me.

I already had financial stability in my private sector job, so if the big thing missing in my life was the passion for my job, then I could find that. There was no need to search for financial stability AND passion all in one new job, in the middle of an economic downturn.  Baby steps, right?  Plus, it’s a lot easier to market myself to prospective employers when my experience comes with a pricetag that’s pretty close to free.

I now work for a nonprofit!  Woohoo!    I also didn’t have to take a hit on my salary or benefits.

The secret? It’s all a matter of perspective.  That’s it.  My nonprofit gig is my job now, and I’m still keeping my old position as a means of financing what I really want to do in life.  I don’t consider it my real job, however.

What more could I want?  Retaining financial security and getting to do work you believe in is the ultimate combo, and I got really lucky.  You don’t have to tell me that twice.  Some people work their whole lives without getting to that place, and I fully appreciate that I’m able to do it now, in the prime of my life, when I can dedicate my energy to a cause that can result in lasting change.

This lifestyle is not without compromise, though. The combined schedule makes my work hours something between “insomniac” and “insane”… which has been severely cutting into my blogging time, btw.  Would I change it?  Not at all.

The key to making it work for me is balance.  While I am not 100% in love with my old finance position, I do appreciate it for all the things it allows me to do.  I get to work on time, continue to be efficient, and take on new roles that allow me to expand my skill set.  In turn, that paycheck allows me to fulfill my passion by working with a group of incredibly smart, driven individuals who are striving to make the world a better place.

What else have I learned from this?  That the sky’s the limit.  If you figure out what you want and go for it, sometimes solutions present themselves in the oddest ways.  Just be open to exploring other avenues, and reevaluating your approach.  Redefining your wants in a more precise manner can eliminate all but the necessities and help focus your planning so you don’t get as frustrated spinning your wheels.

You know, I started this post several dozen times, but somehow none of my previous attempts seemed post-worthy.  I think I was trying to make sense of it all, to wrap it up neatly and package it with a bow.  But life doesn’t work like that– especially mine!– and I’m much more comfortable with this.

That’s all I got… for now.

Happily following my bliss,

RTW