“Dan, the merry-go-round of my professional life has left me no farther than a few steps from where I got on and with a weak stomach.”

Many times a career path starts because of circumstances, rather than priorities.  Family expectations, chance occurrences, a friendly teacher, or seeking money can lead us down an unfulfilling career path.  It’s tough to make good choices at 18 that will be meaningful at 45.  Just recently, I saw a 44-yr-old client who opened with the comment, “I’m tired of living my life based on the decisions made by an 18-yr-old.”

"The man who does things makes mistakes, but he never
makes the biggest mistake of all – doing nothing.” 

- Benjamin Franklin

If your work life is not providing a sense of meaning, purpose and fulfillment, draw a line in the sand.  Decide what the ideal day would look like; how would you spend your time, what skills you would use.  Money is ultimately never enough compensation for investing one’s time and energy.  There must be a sense of meaning and accomplishment.  And yet a surprising thing frequently happens on the way to fulfillment and worthy contribution – rather than learning to live on “beans and rice” there is often the release of a financial flood. 

A former pastor, who is now a well-known artist, relates that his income is 8-10 times what it was previously.  And this while finding authenticity in his God-given uniqueness.   The frustrated corporate executive who is now a web content and book writer tells me that she has reduced her work week hours by 2/3 but has increased her income 3 times over.  Scott Adams, of Dilbert fame, escaped the cubicle and became a multi-millionaire with his “doodling.”

"The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon,
 but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to
put the other somewhat higher."

- Thomas H. Huxley

Life is too short for “merry-go-round” sameness.  If you take that image, you know that if you step off a moving merry-go-round, you will have momentum that will project you straight out in some direction.  But rather than allowing that to be a random choice, think through the desired direction first.  Then take that step, expecting the inertia to give you a jump start to a new level of success.  Believe that a life of purpose and meaning is your best source of financial success as well.  I hope it’s no secret that’s it’s easier to make money doing something you love than doing something you hate.  Success is not an accident.

From the Bible

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  Proverbs 3: 5-6 (KJV)

Direction for Today

What is an area of your life where you are on a merry-go-round?  How can you make that step off?

Dan's two Workbook & CD sets, 48 Days To The Work You Love and 48 Days To Creative Income were created to help you clarify what you were meant to do and develop a plan of action to make it happen quickly!