| 11,000 days. That's the number of days you'll | | | | and working in a field, job, industry that |
| probably work over your lifetime. You'll | | | | you have a passionate interest in. |
| likely have six or seven career changes and | | | | |
| 11 or 12 jobs in total. You may be wondering | | | | Others have done it and so can you. Sometimes |
| if you need a change now. | | | | it's easy to forget that we can change if we |
| | | | really want to. Although she was a prominent |
| 30 million people go to work each day to a | | | | lawyer, my client Sarah was dissatisfied in |
| job they hate. The harmful feelings permeate | | | | her work, and glad to take a few years off to |
| their entire life, putting a negative cloud | | | | have two children. She told me she hated |
| over the home, their friends and many of | | | | "practicing law." She found it boring, yet |
| their other activities. They may lack the | | | | she felt enormous guilt at abandoning a |
| know-how to change, may be afraid of leaving | | | | career she spent years training for and made |
| the security of a paycheck, or have a hundred | | | | great money in. We worked together, focusing |
| excuses for why it's okay to be so | | | | on her real interests and natural talents. |
| dissatisfied and stay at their job. | | | | Sarah landed a terrific new job as an |
| | | | executive director for a nonprofit |
| There is a better way to live your life. | | | | organization. She leads others, influences |
| Meaningful purpose is a driving force that | | | | policies, develops programs, and is a very |
| adds enthusiasm to your days. Taking a | | | | happy person. "I even make a great salary, |
| passion and making it your career -- living a | | | | but I love my job so much, I'd do this for |
| dream -- can be not just a wish, but a true | | | | free," she said. |
| and certain reality. Here are a few steps to | | | | |
| get the new career rolling: Do some | | | | Make a decision. Many people flounder for |
| self-analysis. Ask yourself -- What really | | | | years and never turn their dreams into |
| matters to me? What problem or wrong would I | | | | reality. They let themselves remain in a |
| like to fix? What do I enjoy? Where are my | | | | negative or stuck place. Only action can |
| interests and hobbies? What are my | | | | change your life. Read a book. Take |
| priorities? What is my secret passion? What | | | | vocational tests. Use a good |
| do I want to do with the rest of my life? | | | | career-management professional. Do some |
| Reviewing these questions can give you new | | | | career exploration and gather all the |
| insight to where you want to go. | | | | information you need. Then make a decision |
| | | | and go forward. Outline the action steps to |
| Use your unique genius and talents. Every | | | | reach your career goal. The only thing at |
| person is born with a unique set of natural | | | | stake is your happiness. Finding meaning, |
| abilities. Talents, such as managing, | | | | passion and purpose every day you go to work |
| creating, researching, training others, | | | | is the wonderful reward, so don't wait any |
| drawing, can all seem like easy work because | | | | longer. Begin right now and set in motion |
| you have a natural flair for them. True | | | | your own plan to live a happier, more |
| happiness comes from combining your natural | | | | satisfying life. |
| talents, developing and excelling in them, | | | | |