Definition of Career

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines career as, “a field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especially in public, professional, business life.” However, Robert Frost said, “The difference between a job and a career is the difference between forty and sixty hours a week.”

So how do you ensure you are following the path described by Merriam-Webster and not just working the longer hours described by Frost? It really depends on the industry and profession. If you want to be a doctor or lawyer there are certain education and license requirements that must be met prior to being active in those careers.

However there are many professions that don’t have clear career paths. These include marketing, hospitality, business, and real estate. Careers in these professions can be formed by a mix of hard work, opportunity, and ingenuity.