A chef-turned-salesman has taken to Reddit for advice about his future plans. The man, with Reddit username GibroniGV, posted a story titled “Lost motivation and drive.” In his story, Original Poster (OP) explained that he had suffered career setbacks and lost motivation. A Redditor reacted to the man’s story and advised him on what to do. Get more details below.
Chef Loses Motivation and Drive
OP, 36, began by stating that he used to be ambitious throughout his career as a chef. However, when the pandemic hit, he stopped working as a chef and became a salesman. OP started marketing food but had several negative experiences with his new company six months before his post. The encounters changed OP’s outlook on his future, leaving him jaded. OP began looking for a new job afterward but suffered multiple career setbacks. His job applications were all rejected despite his resume being updated several times.
Although OP was a chef, he tried to apply for different jobs and was confused about the future. He also lacked the motivation he needed to turn his career around. OP added:
“I don’t know if I want to stay in sales but I do not have any schooling past culinary school. I think about the hobbies I enjoy now but do not know if I should pursue as a career? I still have student loans so going back to school is kind of out of the question. I also live alone so my income needs to stay around the same.”
OP further shared that he tried being a hotel salesman but was rejected. The hotels cited his lack of experience in that area despite his long time as a hotel chef. Meanwhile, OP was reluctant to take entry-level jobs because the low salaries couldn’t sustain him.
OP concluded by asking:
“What would you do in this position? How do you know what you want to pursue for your career? I feel so stuck, unmotivated, and lost.”
Other Redditors Share Their Thoughts
A Redditor read OP’s story and shared their thoughts. The Redditor with username MySideOfDaStory advised OP to start a food truck business. They asked OP to think of something unique tasting only they could make and turn it into a Limited Liability Company (LLC).
However, OP responded, saying he had already tried an LLC. Unfortunately, it failed, and he didn’t want to do that again anytime soon.
How to Find Motivation After Career Setbacks
Career setbacks can be challenging to recover from. They can drain you of energy and make your effort seem futile. However, you must never give up. How can you stay motivated during career setbacks or find motivation if you have lost it? The first thing you need to do is to acknowledge the situation. Acknowledge that you are experiencing career setbacks and that you need a change. Then, evaluate the situation to see how you may have contributed to the career setbacks.
Once you take account of the issue, reframe the situation. Find the good in the bad situation. Rather than consider yourself a failure, think of your career setbacks as a way to reset. Are they pointing you to a career change, or do you need rest or new goals? Afterward, find inspiration and support. You can read stories of people who suffered career setbacks and how they recovered, especially those in your industry. You can also seek out mentors for constructive advice. Doing these will help you regain motivation.
#Clique, have you ever suffered a career setback? How did you recover from it and find motivation? Let us know in the comments.
