Do What You Love

Many of us dream of a rewarding career that makes the most of our talents. A job that we are happy to go to every day and that gives us great satisfaction.

But for many people, a job is simply a way to pay the bills, a place where they are just marking time until they can do what they really want to do.

That great opportunity is out there! And you can pursue it with a little confidence in yourself and an honest assessment of your strengths and talents!

Where Do You Start?

Identify what it is you really want to do in your career and what your best skills are. If you don't already have a clear idea of what these are, there are many free surveys on line that can help you. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is one that helps you focus on what kind of work fits your particular personality.

Exploring this area is fun and interesting even for people who have a pretty good idea of what they are want to do in their life.

What Now?

Once you have narrowed down the field that appeals to you, or if you already know what it is, look at what is holding you back. Is it education? Is it fear? Is it economics? Does it seem that this new career is something that may just not make enough money for you to support yourself?

Do an honest and comprehensive analysis of these factors. Write them down and tackle them one by one.

If you need additional education to achieve your goal, this can be challenging, but not impossible. It is difficult to go back to school while you are still working but anything worth having is worth working for.

Online courses make pursuing a degree easier than ever. Check our your local community colleges and universities to see what courses they offer, what the schedules are like and what the cost is.

Cost should not be a barrier. There are many scholarships and grants available for adult students returning to school. The financial aid office at the school is a great source of information in this area, as are online websites such as Fast Web. Check to see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement. There are also low interest student loans.

Fear is an enormous disincentive to moving out of an unhappy career situation. There are those negative little voices in everyone's heads that say things like "You can never do that.", "You are too old to change now.", "You are not talented enough.", "You don't deserve to do any better."

DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!!!! You can do anything you set your mind to. It is never too late. You need confidence in yourself and determination to make a change.

If you decide that your dream job is not going to make the money you need to support yourself and/or your family, don't give up yet!

You can always find ways to incorporate your passion into the practicalities of life. You can do what you love as a hobby or in your spare time. This can give you the opportunity to really hone those skills while still making a living.

Maintain Focus

Surround yourself with positive thinking and support. If people discourage you, keep telling yourself you can do it. Read books about people who have succeeded against the odds. Find a support group in your area of interest.

Research people who do what you want to do. See how they got into the field, what kind of education and experience they needed and what advice they have for someone who wants to go in that direction.

See if there are any internship opportunities in the field you want to work in. This can be a good way to get experience and get your foot in the door.

Never give up on yourself. Life is short, you deserve to be happy.