Work. Home. Repeat.
You get a job, devote years of your life to it, and get
paid. That's usually all there is to it. Take into consideration how accurately
your job reflects who you are, if at
all, and if it fails to do so ask yourself what you'd rather be doing.
People who get jobs that are well-suited for their
personalities don't think of going to work as "work." Doing something they
enjoy adds purpose to their lives and getting paid is just a bonus, not a
determining factor.
Often times it takes people years, even decades, of working
in different industries and professions before they find the perfect job that
matches their own passions and interests. Once they do, it can feel like an
early retirement and less as one of life's obligations.
The first step starts with you. Those who feel it's time for
a career change need to weigh out the pros and cons of making that decision. This
is bigger than buying a car, but people actually spend more time deciding which
one to buy.
Careful time and attention must be paid to your goals and
desires. While people should be listening to their instincts telling them it's
better to be safe than sorry, sometimes happiness is worth taking those risks.
The thing to remember when looking for a new job is that
many companies are making it personal now. There's always been that notion of
it's not what you know but who you know and that definitely applies.
Another thing companies look for is how well you'll be able
to fit within the company culture. Usually the candidates that are hired aren't
always the most qualified but the ones that had the most chemistry with the
interviewer.
You want to put as little distinction between work and play.
Think about artist and athletes who don't just perform a function in their
industry, but are doing something they would be regardless of being paid professionally
for it.
Figure out what your favorite hobbies are, things that you'd
be willing to drop what you're doing right now and go do. Whether it's
shopping, working with cars or animals, there are places where you can do these
things for a living. Imagine spending your days working overtime voluntarily.
Just by rearranging your priorities and putting your own wants
out of life first can help you figure out how you envision living out the rest
of it. Some people are perfectly fine with going in to work and leaving it
behind once they exit the doors at the end of the day. Others might not even
have that luxury.
No matter where you are in life, if you're at the point
where you're asking yourself what it is, a career change might be in the cards
for you. Life is an ongoing learning experience, allow yourself to follow its
lessons.
