“If you deliver on what you’re asked to do, even if you’re not passionate about it, you will earn the right to do thing you love.” That was part of my answer to the young man who asked me, “What advice would you give someone wanting to go into the church communication field?” As I reflect on that answer, I believe it applies to anyone starting out a new career.

I remember talking with someone who confessed not being very good at his job because it wasn’t challenging and not at the level he wanted it to be. He did the minimum required because he felt under-utilized, doing work well below his skill and intelligence capacity. His boss had a different take, “he’s lazy,” said the man to me. “I had a lot of faith in him and wanted to give the kid more important work, but at the end of the day he couldn’t even execute the trivial stuff, so I didn’t give him more responsibilities.”

So the vicious cycle begins: you’re bored so you don’t perform and your lack of performance limits your opportunities. You see where this is going. I remember running a Summer Day Camp that was in bad financial shape when I took it over at the church I was working part time in my early 20’s. I had no business running a camp and, at the time, I didn’t know anything about it and had never seen myself in that position. However, that was my opportunity to show my boss that I could lead a team and grow a business. After 3 years, I grew the attendance 4 fold and the budget by 500% and brought in enough profit that at age 24, I became the Executive Pastor of the church and my boss moved his office off campus. I had earned the trust and confidence of the Senior Pastor and of the church board to do a job that, looking back, was way bigger than my experience and education.

You might be stuck doing a job that you think it’s not a good fit or that under utilizes your gifts. Don’t make the mistake that many people make by doing the bare minimum while you wait for that great opportunity to come around. Chances are that it will not. Roll up your sleeves and get the job done. That is the fastest way to your dream career.

Where are you in your career?