I’m sitting on a cruise ship right now, somewhere between islands and reality, after having one of those conversations that sticks with you long after it ends. This morning, I met an older couple—retired, wise, and just plain kind. We started talking about careers, purpose, and life’s winding roads. It didn’t take long before one of them said something that hit me square between the eyes:
“You’ve got to do what you were built for.”
Simple. Obvious. But man, it landed hard.
We’ve Got It Backward
Think about how much pressure we put on young people to choose a career path before they’ve even lived a damn day in the real world. Eighteen years old and expected to make a life-defining decision? Go to college. Pick a major. Choose a profession. Lock it in. Don’t screw it up.
But how the hell are you supposed to know what you’re built for without ever trying anything first?
It’s backwards. We treat career choice like a single decision, when in reality, it’s a discovery process. You don’t pick it from a list—you stumble into it by doing things, screwing them up, learning what you love, and learning what you can’t stand.
My Resume Was a Mess Before It Made Sense
Before I found my path in IT—and later in information security—I wore a lot of hats. Here’s just a handful of the jobs I held:
- Convenience store cashier
- Security guard
- Stock broker (yep, that happened)
- Bill collector
- Loan officer
- Warehouse worker
- Bartender
- Furniture installer
- Warehouse manager
None of those jobs were glamorous. Some I hated. A few I was decent at. But every single one taught me something about myself—what I value, how I work, and what kind of problems I’m wired to solve.
Eventually, I found a groove in tech. Then came security. And that’s when it all clicked. That’s when I finally realized: this is what I was built for.
The Tragic Part? Some People Never Get the Chance to Explore
Not everyone gets the luxury of bouncing between jobs. Some people get locked into a path early—maybe because of expectations, bills, fear, or just lack of opportunity—and never get to try things. They grind through a career they don’t love, not because they’re lazy or broken, but because they never had a chance to figure out what lights them up.
And it’s not just sad—it’s a waste of damn good potential.
If You’re Young and Don’t Know What to Do Yet—Good.
Try stuff. Screw up. Take jobs that don’t make sense. Flip burgers. Sell stuff. File paperwork. Dig ditches. Whatever. Every experience gives you clues.
And if you’re older and still figuring it out? You’re not behind. You’re just still exploring. That’s allowed. In fact, that’s how it’s supposed to work.
What You’re Built For Might Surprise You
Some people are built to be doctors. Some are built to code. Some are built to pick up garbage at 6am and keep our streets clean. Some are built to lead. Some are built to quietly support.
There’s no moral hierarchy to any of it.
What matters is whether you find that thing—the one that fits your wiring—and do it with everything you’ve got.
So… What Are You Built For?
It’s a hell of a question. And the answer might take years to find. But it’s worth the search.
Because once you find it, everything changes. Life gets heavier in meaning but lighter in burden. Work feels less like a job and more like a calling. And you finally feel like you’re home—even if you’re floating somewhere out at sea.
Stay curious. Stay honest. Keep exploring.
You’ll find it.
-Evan
