Chase Your Passion...Not Your Pay
Statistics tell us that only 19% of the US population love what they do. Twenty five percent hate it! And the rest could take it or leave it! Unfortunately the people who either hate or are neutral about their jobs will find it difficult to succeed, regardless how hard they try or how long they work at it! How do you know whether you should stay in your current job or switch career

Chase Your Passion… Not Your Pay

Statistics tell us that only 19% of the US population love what they do. Twenty five percent hate it! And the rest could take it or leave it! Unfortunately the people who either hate or are neutral about their jobs will find it difficult to succeed, regardless how hard they try or how long they work at it! How do you know whether you should stay in your current job or switch careers? Find out by answering the following seven questions:

1. When your opportunity clock rings in the morning, are you anxious to get up and go to work?

2. Are you excited to be in your current profession?

3. Do you love what you do? (Note I said love not like - there is a big difference!)

4. Do you feel privileged to be part of your current company or organization?

5. Does work seem like play to you?

6. Are you wondering why you are being paid for what you do?

7. Are you looking forward to work, at least four out of five days each week (80% of the time)?

If you answered YES to all seven questions you are in your dream career and are on your way to the top. If not read on, so you too can find out how to "work" less and enjoy more.

AVOID SEEKING PERFECTION
But first, regarding question number seven. Why not a 100% of the time? Because there is no perfect job; every job has some aspects that you will not care for. For example, I am a professional speaker, and love what I do. At times I have so much fun speaking that I wonder why I am being paid so well for it. It almost seems that I should be paying the audience. (Pretend you did not read that, especially if you are a meeting planner!) But there is a down side to professional speaking. It is traveling, especially airline travel, (I call it cattle herding), and being away from my wife and my own bed. So, for me, traveling is the other 20 percent. That's the price I happily pay to do the things I really love to do. (That's why Superwoman, that's my wife of 32 years and business partner, tells prospective clients: "Wolf speaks for free, but he charges for travel.")

FIND YOUR PASSION
Here is another way that you can find out if you are passionate about what you do. Imagine that you have just won the BIG ONE. Six million dollars in the Lottery. What the heck. We're dreaming here, so lets make it 30 million! Assume you take the next 12 months to "get everything you have always wanted to do out of your system." You buy yourself that dream house, purchase the Rolls Royce, go on several "once in a life" vacations, set aside enough money for you, every family member, relative and anyone else who has ever been nice to you. Having put that behind you, ask yourself: What will I do with the rest of my life? And what ever pops in your head at the very moment you ask that question, is what you should start pursuing right NOW!

DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS NOR THE EDUCATION?
Get yourself a temporary job to help pay the bills. Make time to get the skills and the education you need. Watch less TV, go to fewer ball games so you can go to school in the evening and study on weekends. Do what ever it takes to prepare yourself for your dream job. After you have prepared yourself, work part time in your dream job. Can't get paid for it? Volunteer. Do what ever it takes, pay any price, make any sacrifice, just do it! Once you are certain that you have found your dream career, give up that temporary job. Not getting paid as much as in your former job? Not to worry. Just stay with your dream job. I've finally learned after more than 40 years of working that overnight success takes a long time. But I've also learned that once you find what you LOVE to do you will make more money, much more money than you have ever thought possible. Want proof? Look at the people you admire. People who have made it to the top in their chosen profession. I bet you that virtually all of them, love what they do. And by the way, it does not matter what profession they are in because there is no such thing as a "glamour" profession. A friend of ours lives in a $1.5 million mansion and has more money than he'll ever be able to use in his life-time. His profession? He is a plumber! Yes, he owns a plumbing contracting company, but most importantly he is passionate about what he does. On the other hand I can introduce you to many a lawyer, physician or others who are in so called "glamour professions" who do not care for what they do, and who have trouble paying the mortgage.

In short, finding something that you are passionate about, something that will seem like play to you will "turn you on," and will enable you to function at full throttle. As a result you will succeed faster, and live a happier, healthier, and more prosperous life!

© 1999 Wolf J. Rinke
Source: Wolf J. Rinke, PhD, CSP is a management consultant, professional speaker, and author of 12 books including The 6 Success Strategies for Winning at Life, Love & Business, Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1996, $12.95). Available in bookstores, from Amazon.com or by calling (800) 828-9653. Dr. Rinke can be reached at 410-531-9280, e-mail or on the internet at www.wolfrinke.com