Stop Waiting. Start Moving.
I recently had dinner with a doctor who had just been released from federal prison. He was frustrated—angry, even—because he couldn’t find a job. As we talked, I realized he had job offers. The problem? He thought they were beneath him. One of those offers was knocking on doors selling solar panels.
I understand his frustration. I’ve been there. I’ve done the hard, humbling work. Cold walking. Knocking on doors. Trying to convince strangers to listen. It’s tough. But you know what’s tougher? Sitting at home, consumed by regret, waiting for the life you used to have to somehow return.
You Can’t Wait for the Perfect Opportunity
If you’ve built a successful career, it’s hard to imagine starting over in a job that feels beneath you. But here’s the reality—you don’t get to skip the hard part. You don’t get to wait until the perfect opportunity magically appears.
When I got out of federal prison, there was no high-paying, prestigious job waiting for me. Instead, I took a job as a receptionist at Sotheby’s International Realty in Calabasas. For three months, I answered phones. And you know what? I was grateful. Not because it was my dream job—but because it was a job. It was momentum. And momentum matters.
Action Beats Inaction—Every Time
Cold walking isn’t glamorous. It’s exhausting. It’s rejection after rejection. But it’s work. It gets you moving.
When I took that receptionist job, I didn’t waste time thinking about how I used to manage millions of dollars as a stockbroker. I focused on what was in front of me. I showed up. I worked. And that made a difference. It put me back in the mindset of contributing, learning, and proving—first to myself, then to others—that I was still in the game.
No Job is Beneath You
I know how easy it is to feel overqualified for certain jobs. But that’s the ego talking. This isn’t about what you used to do. It’s about what you’re willing to do now.
Selling solar panels? Answering phones? These aren’t career-ending moves. They’re stepping stones. And if you’re serious about rebuilding your life, you don’t have the luxury of being picky. You take what’s in front of you, and you get to work.
Stop Waiting—Start Now
Here’s the truth: The longer you wait for the “right” job, the harder this gets. Stop overanalyzing. Stop making excuses. Just start.
What’s one job you’ve been turning down because you think it doesn’t match your experience? What’s stopping you from taking that first step?
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Justin Paperny
