Blog Post: The Childhood Connection to Careers

Those things that you enjoy as a kid, it’s amazing to see how they can come back later into your profession.  

Here’s a collection of people we interviewed who have taken a childhood interest and turned it into their career.  

Park Ranger: I’ve loved the outdoors since I was born.  Always have and always will.  

Tattoo Artist: I envisioned having this job when I was a teenager.  When I was 13 and handpoked the very first dot on my wrist and wiped it away, and saw there was still a dot, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.  

TV Host, Wild Kingdom: If I can step backwards a few years, as a child, my grandfather was a forester.  My childhood playground was 3600 acres of trees and wildlife.  My entire childhood was in wildlife, and in wild places.   

Goat Farmer: When I was 15 I was trying to decide what I wanted to do. My mom asked me what I liked to do.  Because that’s where you always start.  ‘What do you like to do?’  

We had woods behind our house and I’d spend a lot of time out there.  I’d say well, the only thing I know for sure is that I like to be outside.  She thought a minute and said, ‘Well, we all like to do that.  You’ll just have to get over it.’  

So I decided to go into information systems which ended up being accounting.  I sat in an office for fifteen years trying to figure out how to get outside.  Then eventually I decided I needed to be outside.  Because what your passion is at 15 is more than likely going to be your passion when you’re 30.

President, Phoenix Suns: My passion comes more out of when I was a kid.  We used to gather all the cousins and relatives almost every weekend in a town north of Seattle called Mount Vernon .  All the cousins would use my grandparent’s driveway and garage as a stage.  The garage door would be the curtain.  We would put on shows for all the family every weekend.  Because I was the oldest cousin, I got to be the director and help put the show together and see the results of what we did.  I really think there’s as much as that drive in what I do today as there is my love of sports.

Director of Communications, Georgia Aquarium: For me, part of the reason of why I work here is when I was five years old growing up in Boston , I went to the New England Aquarium.  I picked up a horseshoe crab and touched it.  I still remember that and I love those types of engaging experiences that really register with you and stick with you.

Child Therapist: My parents got divorced when I was 13.  They forced me to go to a therapist.  For about a month I was totally against it.  Then I was like, ‘Wait a minute.  This person is totally objective and they’re just listening.’  I didn’t realize you could actually do that for a living.  That’s where it all started.

Jordan Footwear Designer: I started drawing shoes in the 7 th grade on little 3 x 5 index cards.  My teacher, her name is Mrs. Weathers.  She used to keep them.  I actually used to get in trouble because I was drawing instead of paying attention.  

But I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember.  I just had a gift to be able to draw anything I could see.  For me, as the years got longer, I just started to channel it more and focus on drawing specific things.

Accountant: When I was a kid I used to watch the old westerns that were black and white.  There would be the guys in the white hats, who were the good guys, and then the guys in the black hats.  They’d fight against each other.  Now that I’m a CPA, I help young families and couples.  I look at myself as the guy in the white hat, and the IRS are the guys in the black hat.  My job is to help them keep as much of their money as they can and help them out.

President, Phoenix Suns: I think if you can honestly think back about what experiences led you to where you are, there’s big influences almost always in your childhood or early teen years.  You probably found something that you were drawn to or incredibly interested in or got great joy from.  If you’re lucky enough to parlay that into your career, you’ll almost inevitably be successful.  

Brett Farmiloe wants to know what you think about presenting information using this type of writing style.  Does it peak your interest?  Make you want to read more?  Or does it just flat out suck?  Let him know by commenting below.  It will help him as he formulates a book about Pursue the Passion.