Career Optionality
My dad's passion for D-Day fuels a tangential career adventure
To many, my father is not the first person you’d think of as a career adventurer. He has worked at the same law firm for 40+ years. Nonetheless, elements of his story exemplify the true meaning of being a career adventurer.
My guess is that most people associate moving from job to job as an example of a career adventurer. To many, this likely represents someone willing to take risks, to embrace adventure.
I believe this is an overly simplified definition of a career adventurer. It misses the true idea: career adventuring is about finding passion, possibility, and energy in all of your work, whether you are paid for it or not.
To one, fueling possibilities means moving from one job to another. Another might find satisfaction within the same field or gig by taking on new challenges.
D-Day History Fuels Adventure
My dad has practiced law for nearly five decades. His passion for litigation runs deep. He’s racked up accolades and personal accomplishments.
Yet, one of his coolest career adventures is centered upon June 6, 1944: D-Day. While he might not be a “official” military historian, he is a true expert on the subject.
His expertise isn’t singular. He shares it with others. I’m writing this now for two reasons. First, this month marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day. My dad is helping many remember the importance of this date. To date, he’s guided hundreds of people in D-Day / Normandy exploration. Second, it’s a great example of being adventurous without job hopping.
Books & Tours: Fuel for Camaraderie and Commemoration
My dad has three book shelves filled with D-Day books. The books aren’t “for show.” He’s read everyone one of them, potentially multiple times.
Christmas gifts used to be easy. Buy Dad a D-Day book! Now it’s impossible. He has all the books. Dad loves the books. Yet, he enjoys sharing his knowledge with others more.
Dad has lead tours of Normandy for the past 15 years. It’s his side-hustle. I don’t know the exact count. He’s probably lead 7 or 8 tours. He’s taken friends, family, and recent acquaintances to Omaha Beach, Point-du-Hoc, Utah Beach, and many less well known but equally important stops. He builds presentations for friends and community. He even creates personalized D-Day handbooks for guests on his tours. My wife and I have one from his 2014 tour. He loves it. His guests do too.
More Than a Side Hustle
This is so much more than a side hustle. It’s personal. It’s an opportunity to connect with new people. It’s also an opportunity to connect with his late father.
His dad served in WWII. Grandpa built the gliders used to drop troops behind German lines. I’m sure anytime he goes to Normandy, he thinks of his dad. I do.
I’ve been fortunate to go on three trips with him. The first time was to test the concept. The second time was purely to enjoy the full tour with others, to see the fruits of his labor. On the third, I was his photographer, doing a photo shoot for presentation material and possible curation of a website.
He’s built an expertise and credential that would allow him to have an entirely new career. He could be a docent at a museum. He could write on Substack. He could build custom itineraries as a D-Day travel guide.
This is exactly how you career adventure. You identify an interest that excites you, whether it’s part of your current gig or not. Then, you explore. You build knowledge. You test paths. You reassess. You leap or stay put. It’s up to you.
Unique but Not Really
My dad’s career adventure is unique. There probably aren’t that many lawyers who moonlight as D-Day guides.
Yet, the theme isn’t that unique. Most career adventures begin with passionate experimentation and exploration.
I saw this story play out dozens of times as the Director of Innovation for a startup incubator. I worked with many founders who started their businesses while employed elsewhere. Their businesses started as hobbies and passion projects. They became viable entities that generated income.
One of the more memorable examples is a popular sports analytics company. Over breakfast one morning, the founder shared his story. He previously was a consultant. In the evenings he’d track analytics for one of his favorite sports. His wife noticed that he had a lot more fun when he worked on this versus his day job. So, he eventually leapt from consulting into the side hustle.
There’s a lot more to the story. Making the leap likely wasn’t easy. He needed to create a business. He needed to find investment. Neither of these tasks just manifest out of nowhere. They require hard work, networking, and a lot of luck.
Nonetheless, the point is he created career optionality by exploring a side hustle. Ask yourself, “How might I explore something new that I’ve been putting off?” Then, carve out the time to explore. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Just enjoy it.
Thanks Dad!
I appreciate my dad’s passion for D-Day. It’s been a great way for us to bond. It’s also been a good example of incorporating outside interests into one’s life. It’s June, the time to celebrate fathers and the time to remember D-Day. This year marks the 80th anniversary.
Thanks for reading!
Paul G. Fisher
Love this post