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I read a statistic this week that was quite shocking! A nationwide survey was taken, and out of all of the respondents only 50.7% were satisfied with their jobs.  These numbers have been rapidly declining since the 1990’s. Why is that?

For many professionals, work has just become a way to collect a paycheck. While it is noble to support your family even if the work is miserable for you, is that really what you were born to do? It is a sad day in America when the norm is to hate our jobs and belittle management on every decision that is made.

You Were Created for Something More

You see, I believe you were created for something more. You have been given unique abilities, desires and passions that can only be used by you.  So why do we spend our lives paralyzed by fear, guilt, and dread when it comes to our work? Can you really mix work and pleasure? There is a great quote by James Michener that states:

He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both.

Wow, can you say that about your work? If not, there is a career or a business that aligns with you perfectly. You just have to do a little bit of mining to discover it.

1. Identify Your  Key Drivers

Many people never take time to identify the things that energize them. It is important that you understand the difference between things you are good at and things that energize you. Just because your good at something doesn’t mean that is what you should be doing. If you are not spending at least 60% of your day working on things that energize you, burnout is ahead in your future.  There is a detailed test that you can take to discover this, but here is a simplified version. Write down the typical tasks that you do on a daily basis and put a star by those that energize yo. Now go back and place another star by those that you could do for 4+ hours without losing interest or enthusiasm. Those are some of your key drivers.

2. Consider Your Passions

We live in n entirely different world today. Following your passions used to translate into "eating beans and rice." Things are not that way anymore and the internet is the reason why. It leveled the playing field. You have tremendous leverage to pursue your passions today whether it is to start a business, be a consultant, freelancer, or finding a new career you love.  So, I challenge you to unpack those buried passions in your life.

3. Design Your Work Around Your Life.

Too many people have gotten this whole idea of work backwards. They find a job that might pay well and then design their life around work. Instead, choose to design a life plan first and once you have your plan design your work around it and find a new career.

There is so much more I want to share with you on this topic. The point is their are many people right now who are not happy with their work and I want you to know that you do not have to live that way.  You can find a career that you love.