I Went to Buy a Car — and Left With a Lesson on Work Happiness

I was at the local Subaru dealership when a salesman approached me.

From the moment he started talking, I knew – he genuinely believed in what he was selling.

His eyes lit up as he described all the features of different models. I thought, “Wow, this guy really loves these cars.”

He told me he’s driven a Subaru his whole life. Then he pointed to his brother, who was just pulling out of the lot — in, you guessed it, a Subaru. Turns out their whole family drives Subarus.

He wasn’t trying to sell me a car. He was sharing something he believed in.

No script. No sales gimmick. Just his authenticity.

And that made me think — not just about cars, but about work.

Reconnect With Your Why

You don’t always have to change careers to find meaning.

Sometimes, it’s about reconnecting with why you started. To realign with your values.

Part of the reason I burned out was a feeling that my work wasn't impactful. But when I started working in remote areas, it reminded me of why I became an optometrist in the first place.

Ask yourself:

"Why did I decide to get into this career in the first place, and does that still resonate with me?"

Belief Drives Work

Do you still believe in what you're putting out into the world?

If the answer is yes, keep going.

If no, it’s time to reconnect with your why.