We just returned from keynoting at the Thrive Conference, and after sharing the story of how we got to where we are today, one question stuck with me: What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was in elementary school I wanted to be a veterinarian. That felt normal — I loved animals the way many kids do. I even asked our dog’s vet whether I could be an intern when I was in fifth grade. Then my ambitions shifted to zookeeper, and eventually to something I called a “cat house designer.” I’d read about a person who built an elaborate home just for his cats, and for a time that felt like the perfect future career.
After a while I realized that was a pretty narrow path, and I moved on to dance. My mom had been a dance education major, so I assumed I could do it too. I quickly discovered I didn’t have much flexibility or rhythm, so dance became a hobby rather than a profession.
From there I wandered through the creative fields — interior design, fashion design, costume design, wedding planning — and somehow ended up as a blogger. In a way, that turned out better than any single childhood aspiration.
Samantha, on the other hand, wanted to be a weatherman because she thought that would let her “track Santa.” That made us laugh, but it also captures the imaginative logic kids often use when they picture their futures.
I’ve even tried to influence my son Arlo by playing dance videos while he eats, hoping he’ll pick up moves from those cool kids on YouTube and fulfill my unachieved dream. It’s a joke, but I’m genuinely curious and excited to see the careers he’ll imagine for himself.
So tell me: what did you want to be when you grew up? Did any childhood ambitions come true, or did you head in a completely different direction? Are you working in something remotely related to that early dream, or is your life a total left turn? Leave a comment below — I love hearing those stories.