Doing the Work You Love
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by, Corey Wells

I have been receiving a few emails from listeners to 8Quotes about the current economic situation. Most of the emails revolve around the fact that people are in jobs they don’t like and want to get out. However the economic crisis is preventing them from taking that jump. Without knowing all the details it’s hard to help people in this area. However, I can offer some advice on how to stay motivated during these times. First let me share an article I recently wrote about this.

When we were young, we all knew what we wanted to be when we grew up. All my friends wanted to be policemen, firemen, pilots or rock stars. Yet, none of us ever became any of those things. As we grew older, we realized that our occupations must provide adequate income to pay our financial obligations. So we stopped dreaming and took the first job that provided us with some sort of financial security. We rationalized this by reasoning that a job is a job and we’ll find fun and happiness after work or on the weekends. But do we really find happiness this way? Wouldn’t it be better if we could work at what we really love to do instead of complaining about our work? Is it still possible to find a job that makes you truly happy? It’s never too late to try to find a job that we actually enjoy doing, but it does take a little time and effort.

Start out by finding what you’re good at and what talents you actually possess. Recall your youth and what you once loved to do. Remember the things that always came easier to you than others. Analyze which values are important and how these could all translate into possible occupations or careers. Be creative and don’t rule something out just because it’s not very “sensible.” Remember, you’re just exploring the possibilities. Once you have some ideas, share this information with those who offer the kind of positions you might be interested in. You might be surprised about the positive response you receive.

Wouldn’t you really rather enjoy what you do? Wouldn’t you prefer an environment where work becomes effortless, instead of draining? A job where you can grow and develop while tapping into your personal creativity. Wouldn’t that make you a better father, mother or spouse in the long run? Allowing yourself to realize your own ambitions can have a positive affect on everyone around you.

Now it’s not always realistic to run off and quit a good job that provides for you and your family. I am not saying you should do that at all. Instead take advantage of your down time and find your passion. I myself was in this exact situation. I was working as a Financial Adviser in one of the worlds largest banks. I was earning a significant income and at that time this industry had a very secure future.

But I had a calling. My biggest joy in life was helping people improve their lives. Whenever an opportunity came to help one of my friends or coworkers I got excited. The problem was, I couldn’t just quit a job that paid well and spend my time wandering the streets helping random people. So instead I used my free time to figure out what I wanted to do and then I slowly implemented my plan.

It all started with lunch hours. I’d spend my lunch working on my new business. I’d watch the clock counting down the minutes until I could take my laptop and head the cafeteria to work. It was in that crowded cafeteria that I built the my current business. After about a year of building and preparing I was finally in a position where I could leave and work on what I was truly passionate about.

It doesn’t matter what your goal or dream is… if you’re not working towards it in some small way then it just won’t happen. You can’t wish things true, you have to work them true. So figure out what it is you want and then find a way to go for it. Work on it during your lunch like I did, or stay up until midnight doing it. You are never given the gift of a goal or a dream without the accompanying ability to achieve it. So figure it out and find a way. I know you can make it happen.

And to the listeners that emailed me… How do you stay motivated? You start by figuring out what you’d like to do with your life, finding your passion, finding your voice. Once you’ve done that you work your bum off to make it happen. When you are moving in the direction of your dreams staying motivated is effortless.

If you have a question or something you’d like answered feel free to email me through my website and I’d be happy to help.

Today’s Quotes

1. “There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls”
   George Carlin
2. “Any project not worth doing is not worth doing well.”
   Richard A. Kashnow
3. “A leader is best when people barely know he exists…Not so good when people obey and acclaim him, Worse when they despise him. But of a good leader who talks little, when his work is done and his aim fulfilled, they will say, we did it ourselves.”
   Lao-tze
4. “You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question.”
   Albert Camus
5. “People make a lot of mistakes by feeling compelled to move quickly.”
   Norman Pearlstein
6. “Hire people who are smarter than you and get out of their way.”
   Howard Schultz
7. “We can’t reach our goals without significant continuous improvement in all areas.”
   Patrick J. Early
8. “You take risks in whatever you do. But if you understand, measure, and account for them, that should keep you out of trouble.
   Dennis Weatherstone