CPACareerCoach.com

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“The merry-go-round of my professional life has left me no farther than a few steps from where I got on and with a weak stomach.”

Many times a career path starts because of circumstances, rather than priorities. Family expectations, chance occurrences, a friendly teacher, or seeking money can lead us down an unfulfilling career path. It’s tough to make good choices at 18 that will be meaningful at 45. Just recently, I saw a 44-yr-old client who opened with the comment, “I’m tired of living my life based on the decisions made by an 18-yr-old.”

If your work life is not providing a sense of meaning, purpose and fulfillment, draw a line in the sand. Decide what the ideal day would look like; how would you spend your time, what skills would you use. Money is ultimately never enough compensation for investing one’s time and energy. There must be a sense of meaning and accomplishment. And yet a surprising thing frequently happens on the way to fulfillment and worthy contribution – rather than learning to live on “beans and rice” there is often the release of a financial flood. A former pastor, who is now a well-known artist, relates that his income is 8-10 times what it was previously. And this while finding authenticity in his God-given uniqueness. The frustrated corporate executive who is now a web content and book writer tells me that she has reduced her work week hours by 2/3 but has increased her income 3 times over. Scott Adams escaped the cubicle and became a multi-millionaire with his “doodling.”