Don't Let Your Shadow Career Define Your Life
I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned “shadow careers” before on the podcast.
But I probably didn’t flesh it out as much as I wanted to. So this is it - me attempting to flesh it out. Not just for you - but for me as well.
Let me start by saying this is 100% me. It defines my current reality. And because I’m acutely aware of it - I feel the need to fully understand it, embrace it and proactively decide how I want it to influence my future.
But at the same time - I also understand this isn’t for everyone. We are not all the same. And my experience will not be shared by everyone. In fact:
There may be very few people who struggle with this as I do
Or, the opposite could be true. There could be hundreds of thousands of you who feel exactly the same way I do
So let’s start by trying to categorize people. Highly stereotypical - but helpful in defining where we’re headed.
Let’s start with the “perfect” people: People who somehow magically found a career doing the thing they love AND the thing they feel they were created to do. The perfect storm - especially if you’re getting paid well to do what you do. These people may have hobbies, and interests outside of work - but they would tell you their job is perfect for them - and that they would feel complete if it was the only thing they got to do
Next let’s talk about the “shadow career” people: These are those of us who are working a shadow career in order to put food on the table - but who are acutely aware of the fact that we were called to something more. It could be another career all together. It could be a creative pursuit. It could be a humanitarian or environmental pursuit. Whatever it is - you feel drawn to it. And you wrestle with the fact that your “shadow career” takes up the bulk of your life - leaving precious little time to do what you’re passionate about
Next up are the “unenlightened shadow career” people: These are people who have yet to figure out what they are passionate about in life. Maybe they like their current job. Maybe they hate it. But to them - it is what it is. A job. So they focus on that, and just keep moving forward. Deep inside they know there could be more. They may even feel a tug from time to time in a different direction - but they never give it enough time or space for it to fully take root
And finally, there are the “fully unenlightened” people: These are people who have never even thought about things like this. They work because they have to in order to live. They don’t take the time to figure out if they should stay in their job or not. And they don’t feel called to anything bigger than the work they are doing. Their days typically play out like this: Work all day, then after work, find activities to help you forget about your work. Their free time isn’t spent looking for more “enlightened” things to do - it’s typically spent doing as little as possible after a hard days work
Now before we move on - I said it was stereotypical - and definitely an oversimplification.
But for the sake of this article, let’s just assume there are large numbers of people who fall into these categories.
Can you place yourself into one of them?
Like I said earlier - I am 100% in the “shadow career” group. So this is why I chose to camp out here.
I’m not sure where this idea of the “shadow career” came from. And you’ll hear it discussed in a lot of places. But for me - these two stand out:
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
I think Steven says it best in Turning Pro:
“Sometimes, when we’re terrified of embracing our true calling, we’ll pursue a shadow calling instead. The shadow career is a metaphor for our real career. Its shape is similar, its contours feel tantalizingly the same. But a shadow career entails no real risk. If we fail at a shadow career, the consequences are meaningless to us.”
And this is it in a nutshell for me:
My “shadow career” isn’t bad - but it isn’t my passion either
It’s called a “shadow career” because when you work for someone else - you stand in their shadow
Typically they are the ones who are passionate - doing the thing they feel called to do - the thing they felt led to start
Which is great! And it can even be intoxicating - if you buy into the vision and can get as passionate as them about the future of the company or organization
But if you’re being poked and prodded about a whole other thing - it is hard to get (or stay) passionate about your “shadow career”
Over time it begins to present a problem - as it takes up 40-50 hours of your week - leaving precious little time for you to do what you’re called to do
And that’s when you have some decisions to make! Here are just three that seem obvious to me:
Ignore the calling:
Been there, done that, for years!
I was being tapped on the shoulder, I could hear the whispers in my ears, I felt all the feels
I had something I was supposed to do - something only I could offer the world
But I was busy…I had a job…I had a wife and family…
Who’s got time to do anything else?
And so I didn’t - I just refused the call - and put the ideas on a shelf
Make it work:
This is where I’m at right now - making it work
I read enough books, and listened to enough podcast episodes to realize one thing
You’ll never get anywhere without creating a plan, and putting it into place
Most of the authors I follow get up early, and write every day before going to their “shadow career”
So I finally decided that’s what I needed to do
I started getting up early and knocking out content
Now, I get up early three days a week to exercise and three days a week to write/record the podcast
It’s not easy - but it’s how things get done
Go for broke:
Now this option isn’t for the faint of heart
I also follow a few authors and podcasters who quit their “shadow career” in order to focus on their calling full time
Some had money stored up - and gave themself a set number of months to focus on it full time and then reassess
Others didn’t have money saved up - but felt like it was the right thing to do at the time
But regardless - this is what it looks like to be all in - to go for broke
It’s a gamble - so just make sure you understand the ramifications of your decision
Hope for the best but make sure the worst isn’t something you’ll regret
LANDING THE PLANE
I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard this before - but I heard it somewhere and something about it resonated with me:
“Your salary is a bribe they give you to forget your dreams.”
I know…that’s a little dramatic.
We all have jobs, and we all have salaries, or paychecks. There is nothing sinister about getting paid for an honest days work.
But at the same time - you can see where this quote came from. A regular paycheck, a solid salary is comfortable - it’s safe. And it could keep you locked in a hamster wheel - unable to break free to explore your own dreams.
So what do you think?
For me - there was no getting around it. I have a “shadow career” and I have a calling. Right now I’m following my dream by recording the Transcend Human Podcast each and every week.
But that is just a piece of the puzzle. There are two nonfiction books I’d love to get published. And then there is the fiction trilogy series that keeps tapping me on the shoulder.
Obviously - I’m not doing it all - but at least I’m doing something after years spent refusing the call.
My challenge to you - if you’re a “shadow career” person like me - is to take your next step. Whatever it is - just take that step.
Decide in advance - this is what I need to do in order to realize my dream - and I’m starting today.
Maybe it’s getting up early like me
Maybe it’s staying up late after other people go to bed
Maybe it’s accessing 2h a day in the middle of the day to get away and write, design, paint, draw, act - whatever it is you feel called to do.
I know it’s hard. I know it can be scary.
But on the other side of the fence I can tell you this: It’s worth it. Every minute of it. Looking back you will wish you made the decision sooner.
Thanks for checking in - glad you were here - and we hope this inspires you to take steps this week in the right direction.
Keep Transcending Human!