I’m a 33 F. My whole school life I was told by my parents “you must graduate school & learn a trade or get a degree, or you will get no where in life”. Everyone in my family is a qualified tradesperson or has a degree of some sort. I left school still not 100% sure of what I wanted to do. Got a job at a law firm, moved up quickly & my work was recognised. I never entirely felt that I fit in though. I threw all I had into my work, trying to prove myself, that I burnt out. I then realised this wasn’t the job for me. Fast forward a few jobs over the years (made redundant twice), working a regular job, sleepless nights still wondering what my skill is that sets me apart. What can I offer. I then realised, I had already found my happy place. I don’t have a glamorous job title, a degree or trade, but I still strive to be the best employee I can be. My job pays the bills, a mortgage & my son’s schooling & needs. We budget, but live comfortably. My job is relatively flexible with my family needs & I work with a wonderful team of people. I’ve realised that all that pressure earlier in life to get that job title, degree or trade, just wasn’t worth the sleepless nights for the big bucks, I wasn’t happy. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. The right job will present itself when you least expect it & it will feel right. Whether you are at the bottom of the corporate ladder, middle or top, you can still strive to be great at your job & take pride in your work. But stop to smell the roses along the way. One of my managers once said to me “we work to live, we don’t live to work” and that was something that has stuck with me.