Those Who Can't Do - Teach

I have always wondered about this saying, which comes from a satirical context in the play by George Bernard Shaw "Man and Superman". Right away, it seems like a barb to teachers everywhere, of any kind. Only, we know better. Teachers and mentors can only do what they do by gathering decades of knowledge and experience, and the willingness to pass on their gifts to others coming up in the world.

If I think about this saying at a personal level - it's absolutely true. I tried to do what I thought I was supposed to, for too many years - get a college degree, find a high-paying job in a corporate office somewhere, ignore my burnout, and dream about vacations I never take. Whew, pretty awful, right? Since I was part of a mass layoff last year, I have spent way too much time focused on trying to get a degree (one course at a time) and having a full-time job called "job hunting". All these months later, and I'm not seeing the results I thought I would; it really is a different world in 2025 when it comes to finding new employment.

In the spring of 2025, I realized that maybe I'm just not supposed to play this game. I had built a pet care business in the past, and it worked out really well for a good amount of time - even though I had no prior experience. I asked myself why I was trying to get a degree just so I could put on my resume that I had one, when I could use the many free or monthly paid subscriptions to online certification courses that were more aligned with business creation, marketing, client relationships, and the like. Why was I spending 5 or 6 hours a day (seriously!) job hunting, customizing resumes, following up, or looking for new network connections, when that time was much better served building a business for myself, taking courses, and looking after my own health - mental and physical.

The relief I feel today knowing that I don't need to fit a cookie cutter mold, in order to have my vision of success in a career, is immeasurable. I'm not saying that any of this is easy, or without stress, but it sure is simple. Focus on what I want to accomplish each day, track my progress, and analyse my results from time to time. It's certainly helping me stay grounded in today, not worrying so much about all the tomorrows yet to come.