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| Tips for Finding a Job You Love For many of us, it's not about getting a job—it's about finding a job that we love. After all, life isn't simply about survival. These tips will help you get beyond the rat race and find more meaning. 1. Ask who, what, where. If you're feeling dissatisfied with your current job, but aren't quite sure what's wrong, examine your situation closely. Are you surrounded by people you respect and enjoy? Do you live and work in a place you love? What activites make up your days? Basically, you want to determine if you're where you belong, in your natural habitat. You may find it helpful to ask friends and family where they think your niche might be, to get a different perspective. 2. Come up with your own definition of success. How society defines success may not match your own goals. Imagine yourself forty years from now: who do you hope you will be? Write down a list of your values and use it to keep you centered when others' priorities start interfereing in your life. 3. Understand how you're useful to the world. What are your marketable skills? What do you do that's valuable in a broader, non-monetary sense? Remember that in the working world, it all comes down to what you can do, not where you went to school or who you know. If you don't have the skills you need to get you where you want to go, investigate ways of developing them. 4. Maintain your focus. To get what you want, you first need to know exactly what it is you're looking for. However, doing the soul-searching it takes to figure this out is only the first step. After that, you need to work at eliminating as many things distracting you from your goal as possible. Many people say they'll get themselves established financially first, but because life is short this often turns out to be a mistake. Those who live the most fulfilling lives refuse to waste time on what doesn't matter. Don't chase after what you don't ultimately want. 5. Streamline your life financially. Becaues of money, many people find themselves unable to leave a situation that's making them unhappy. If you unclutter your budget you can gain the flexibility to take the risks that are sometimes necessary to achieve a dream. Take a hard look at your monthly expenses. Can you find a cheaper place to live? Are you willing to give up expensive vacations, at least for a few years? Can you scale down your entertainment budget? Many of us can find at least something that we're willing to give up for the chance to have a more fulfilling life. 6. Seek out those who share your values. Your network can't get you where you want to go if you don't have the right connections. Do what you can to meet like-minded people. Also find ways to make your values clear to your bosses and co-workers at your current job. You may discover allies that you didn't know existed, and you may find that your place is not as far away as you might have thought. If, on the other hand, you know that your perspective will be a problem at work, then you've confirmed that you're not where you're supposed to be. You'll need to find a new employer in order to succeed. 7. Don't be afraid of trial and error. Often, finding one's place is not about seeking what we want, but avoiding what we don't want. You may need to take the wrong path in order to discover your true calling. Don't be discouraged by your mistakes—they're simply opportunities for gathering more information that will make you successful in the end. Elsewhere on the Web
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