dream job

Best Money Tips: 5 Tips to Find Your Dream Job

Amy Lu — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 09:00:10 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on tips you can use right now to find your dream job, ways to create a positive money-saving mindset, and a guide t earning money with Airbnb.

How to Get Hired by Your Dream Company

Mikey Rox — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 08:30:13 +0000

Some people have a dream job; others have a dream company. If your dream gig is more of a "who" than a "what," you'll need to switch up your job-hunting technique. Use these tips, and hiring managers will be eager to extend you an offer at your dream company.

1. Do your homework

You'll give yourself a better fighting chance if you've done your homework before any face-to-face meeting. Find out who the C-level executives are and what the company's mission statement is. This ground-floor research will help you decide if the company's views are in line with your long-term objectives. It'll also demonstrate your dedication when interview day arrives.

"This means reading about the company in a variety of places — their own PR and website, articles about the company in industry publications, and the press," says human resources expert Laura MacLeod, founder of From the Inside Out Project. "Try to find someone who works or has worked at the company and pick their brain. Try your connections and '2nd degree connections' on LinkedIn."

Once you've done your research, use what you find to focus your pitch. Think about how you'll contribute to the company culture and its bottom line. Make your best case on why you're the best choice for the position.

2. Approach your search actively

If you're limiting your job search to passive online applications, you may be waiting a while for a call. Instead, take a more active approach to getting what you want by letting the decision-makers within the company's "hire-archy" know who you are and what you want.

"Your dream company is almost certainly looking for assertiveness, and this means attacking the process from the beginning," explains Ryan Naylor, CEO and founder of LocalWork.com. "When you hear about the job, whether it's through online job boards or an acquaintance, find a way to make contact with someone. Reach out through your network, locate someone within the ranks, and send them an email or call them on the phone. Use networking tools such as LinkedIn and even Facebook. If you make contact, you have a much better shot at getting that prized interview."

3. Take advantage of social media

Of course, the best people to network with are those on the inside — but don't discount those on the outside, either. Creating a rapport with your dream company's clients and associates could turn into a good word on your behalf. It may be a slow build toward the end goal (you'll want to establish a relationship before asking for references or favors), but if patience is your virtue, you can succeed in this endeavor.

Social media is a great way to make these connections. Check out the various platforms used by your dream company, and engage. Social media managers will then see that you're a constant presence and interested in the company. Leave comments and start conversations. This could be a great transition into reaching out directly via the platforms' messaging systems to inquire about how you can become part of the narrative permanently.

Some larger companies, like Google and Huffington Post, also have separate social media accounts just for job openings. If your dream company has a Twitter, Facebook, or other social media platform just for recruiting talent, be sure to give it a follow and check the feed regularly.

3. Set daily progress goals

Looking for a new job is a marathon, not a sprint. You can't expect to land an interview because you sent over one email attachment detailing your accomplishments. Sometimes it happens like that, but companies that have their pick of the litter usual require a bit more involvement in the hiring process. You need to remind them you're in it to win it, regularly.

"Do something every day that gets you one step closer to achieving the interview and the job," advises corporate trainer Chavaz Kingman. "The more often you submerge yourself in your dream company's ideals and goals, the more easily you'll be able to discuss these goals and ideals in your interview, and in turn on the job."

4. Adopt a "whatever it takes" attitude

Maybe you get a job offer from your dream company, but it's not exactly the position you wanted. Should you take it anyway? If your goal is getting your foot in the door by any means necessary, then yes. There are other factors to consider, such as taking a potential pay cut — you may be OK with it, or you may need to negotiate a salary you're more comfortable with. Either way, if you can make it work to accept this position, you should take it. The opportunity to work for your dream company may not come again.

Once you're hired, you can really make an effort to shine. Keep up the good work, and it will eventually show management you'd be better suited for the position you really want. Don't go stepping on anybody's toes to get there — you won't make any friends that way — but go above and beyond whatever your current job is so your boss will see that you're a dedicated worker.

5. Brush up on basic job-hunting techniques

Getting hired by your dream company takes a little extra legwork, but that doesn't mean you can skip the basics. First, polish up your resume to make sure it's current, spell-checked, and tailored to align with the company's needs. Focus on your successes and achievements, especially any that might be relevant to the job you want. (10 Resume Mistakes That Will Hurt Your Job Search)

Then, prepare for interviews. Yeah, this might be old hat to you by now, but you'll only increase your chances of nailing it if you go in confident and ready to slay. Ask other professionals you know if they'd be willing to give you a practice run and an honest critique. Have them test your knowledge of the subject matter and familiarity with the company background. (See also: How NOT TO Answer 10 of the Most Common Interview Questions)

Kingman suggests using the S.T.A.R. method when asked to discuss previous work accomplishments. Describe the Situation you were in; the Task you were assigned; the Action you took; and the positive Result of your contribution.

Last but not least, do a thorough social media cleanup. Get rid of unflattering photos, questionable text posts, and anything else inappropriate. Double check your privacy settings, and then view your profiles as an outsider to see what's still visible. Social media searches are a fast way for a company to get an instant feel for your moral character and "real" personality — don't let a few drunk selfies derail your chance at your dream gig.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Dream Jobs You're Never Too Old to Pursue

Andrea Cannon — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 09:30:12 +0000

Starting a new career shouldn't have an age restriction attached to it. Fortunately, there are a number of dream jobs that can be pursued at any age. Once you decide to put yourself first and pursue a career that you've always dreamed of, you're already one step closer. The worst restrictions that will ever be placed on your life are the ones you place on yourself.

1. Actor

Acting doesn't begin or end at any particular age. Studios are always looking for actors in all age ranges, so you can pursue this interest at any point in your life. For instance, Michael Clarke Duncan of The Green Mile didn't begin his acting career until age 38. There are myriad actors who didn't become famous until after age 30, including: Melissa McCarthy, Jon Hamm, Bill Pullman, Ty Burrell, Danny Trejo, Danny Glover, Ray Romano, Alan Rickman, Lupita Nyong'o, Kristen Wiig, and the list goes on and on.

2. Comedian

Careers in comedy can be pursued at any time. Famed comedian, Phyllis Diller, didn't make her debut as a standup comedian until age 37. Some could argue that with more life experience under your belt, you will have more funny observations. Begin with improv classes or perform stand-up at your local open mic to see how you feel in front of a crowd.

3. Musician

Music is another hobby that can become very lucrative and rewarding at any age. In fact, because it's true that practice makes perfect, one could argue that you would become better at your selected instrument with time.

4. Model

While modeling is typically considered a younger profession, that's not always the case. Designers are constantly looking for models of all ages, so while you may not book as many jobs as someone who began modeling in their late teens, it's still never too late to start. Model Valerie Ramsey didn't begin modeling until age 63.

5. Chef or Baker

Opening a bakery or starting a career as a chef can be risky. However, there is never an age limit when it comes to cooking and baking. People develop their skills and continue improving recipes over time, making them a better chef later in life. If you need more inspiration, Julia Child didn't even begin attending culinary school until she was 36 years old.

6. Teacher

If you decide later in life that you want to begin teaching students, be thankful that you now have more life experience under your belt so you can be a better, more well-rounded teacher. To begin pursuing this career, consider becoming a substitute teacher first to feel things out and see how you like the change.

7. Writer

Stan Lee didn't create his first comic book until age 38, and Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first Little House books at age 65. Whether you're interested in writing fiction, comics, nonfiction, or scripts — ideas can come to you at any age, any time. It's not too late to start writing and live the life you always dreamed of.

8. Artist

There are a range of artists with impressive careers that didn't start until later in life. Whether you're interested in painting, graphic design, illustration, or any other means of art, inspiration can come at any age. For example, Anna Mary Robertson Moses (aka Grandma Moses) didn't begin painting until age 78.

9. Fashion Designer

Designing fashion and jewelry doesn't begin or end at any age. In fact, Vera Wang didn't begin her career as a designer until age 40.

How to Get Started

Before you make the leap to your new dream job, make sure you are prepared for what's to come. For instance, if you decide to become a doctor at age 60, keep in mind that you'll need four years of medical school before you can even begin your 3-7 years of residency. It's best to pursue a new career or dream when you already have some money in the bank and you're financially set to do so. Make sure your family is also prepared for any changes that a new career may bring.

Whether you're ready to make the leap to your dream job or you're still contemplating things, you should at least begin by pursuing your passion now. Whether this means beginning cooking classes, taking a writing course, or simply figuring out exactly what kind of commitment it would take to be successful in your new career, it couldn't hurt to get started now. This will also allow you to become more realistic about what to expect and get more organized for the work ahead.

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The Real World Salaries of 8 Childhood Dream Jobs

Paul Michael — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:30:05 +0000

When we were kids, we all dreamed of being something special when we grew up. Flying to an international space station as an astronaut; selling out Madison Square Garden as the lead singer of a rock band; or even becoming President. But what do these jobs really pay, and why were we so attracted to them as kids?

1. Astronaut

Salary: $65,140 to $100,701

It may be a career filled with danger and poor working conditions, but the compensation doesn't really reflect that. NASA's own website lists the salary information as follows:

"Salaries for civilian Astronaut Candidates are based on the Federal Government's General Schedule pay scale for grades GS-12 through GS-13. Each person's grade is determined according to his/her academic achievements and experience. Currently, a GS-12 starts at $65,140 per year and a GS-13 can earn up to $100,701 per year."

It takes only two years of training to become a qualified astronaut, and although as children, we think it will be an amazing job, it's actually a little more pedestrian than that. Oh, and the hours are long — typically from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. We dream of flying into space, looking down on Earth, and doing jobs that will change the world. In reality, the daily tasks of an astronaut in space include exercising at least 2.5 hours per day, making detailed observations about the planet, studying humans in isolation, and doing a host of other small scientific experiments that could be considered boring homework, or infinitely fascinating — depending on your interests.

2. Rock Star

Salary: $17,667 to $202,903

As kids, the rock star lifestyle is one of those dreams that seems to have it all: money, fame, glamour, power, and freedom from the 9-to-5 grind. It's traveling the world, doing a couple of hours of work a day, and partying the rest of the time.

In reality, most rock performers are either scraping by on a small salary made from gigging, or are supporting their musical career with another job. Payscale places the median annual salary of a rock singer, or musician, at just $37,899. And that's not taking into account those years of living in a van, eating ramen, and touring small clubs.

Now, obviously some performers make millions of dollars every year. But make no mistake, they are the exception to the rule. Rock star status is almost impossible to achieve, and even before it happens, there will be years spent earning low wages on grueling schedules. It's a long hike to even mediocre success, requiring a lot of practicing, weekend and evening work, and years spent sleeping in low-end motels.

3. Pilot

Salary: $31,022 to $173,627

Payscale confirms quite a wide range for the salary of a commercial airline pilot. The median salary comes in at $63,738, which definitely seems low for the kind of esteem this job has always held. As a kid, hearing someone say they were a pilot, well that was like saying they were an astronaut. They fly huge planes across the world — how cool is that?!

Well, it's cool, but it is not all wine and roses. Commercial pilots never have a straight 9-to-5 job, and often work weeks at a time without a day off, keeping bizarre hours. After years of training, they must be able to respond under great pressure. But, on a long-haul flight, things can get pretty dull and tedious.

On the other hand, there's the other kind of pilot: the fighter pilot — like the ones we saw in movies like Top Gun and Iron Eagle. That comes with more training, more pressure, and yet, even less money. After 11 years as a fighter pilot, you can only expect to earn $90,000. However, AOL recently reported that fighter pilots are getting a $225,000 signing bonus due to a shortage of talent.

4. Doctor

Salary: $60,016 to $220,873

There are many kinds of doctors out there, and some kids will often say, "brain surgeon" or "plastic surgeon" when asked which they'd prefer to become. Kids are drawn to this position for the "superhero" persona it has. Doctors save lives. They can change the world for the better.

That's an attractive proposition for any kid.

Using Payscale's results for a general practitioner, you can see a large array of salaries. The median is around $141,000, but what so few kids ever take into account is the cost — in time and money — of getting to that position.

A few years ago, CBS news reported on the extreme debt that graduating doctors find themselves in. An average of almost $177,000 in student loans will cost over $419,000 to repay over 30 years. It takes many years of school and college to get the required qualifications, and that is followed by a residency. Most doctors are in their 30s before that can become independent physicians.

5. Firefighter

Salary: $25,913 to $73,125

As everyday heroes go, firefighter is up there at the top of the list. Firefighters are brave, heroic, strong, selfless, and they save lives. To this day, it's still one of the most popular costumes for young children at Halloween. And let's not gloss over the attraction people feel when the mere mention of firefighter comes up. They have their own calendars, and sex appeal is a serious plus to this career.

Of course, there is more to life as a firefighter than the heroics. When not answering the call, firefighters will spend a lot of time checking and cleaning equipment, and the station itself. School visits are common, plus firefighters are continually training. Working out in the gym is also essential, as firefighters need to be strong for those rescues. And let's not forget, this is a dangerous job. In fact, 64 firefighters died in the line of duty in 2014. For a median salary of only $44,078, this is one job people do not do for the money.

6. Veterinarian

Salary: $50,476 to $109,252

Kids love animals, so it's no surprise that many children want to help them out when they're sick. Being a vet is a chance for kids to spend more time with animals, coming to their rescue, and being the hero. But what does it really entail, to earn that median salary of $72,709?

Well, it's a challenging job to say the least. Sometimes vets have to deal with horrendous injuries caused by neglect and that can be emotionally difficult. It's a job that can often go beyond the usual office hours, because animals don't always need help at convenient times. Plus, there is the need to constantly keep up with the latest techniques and medicines. But, for all of those challenges, it is said to be a very rewarding career.

7. Actor/Actress

Salary: $20,040 to $209,525

The fame. The fortune. The parties. The luxurious lifestyle. And all for doing what you love — which is essentially being paid to play pretend. It sounds too good to be true. And sadly, for most people who go into the acting profession, it is. The median income for an actor working in the US today is just $48,237. Not only that, but it's a career filled with rejection and disappointment.

Actors are constantly auditioning for roles, often competing with 20 or 30 other people for just one part. In the UK, only one in 50 actors makes more than £20,000 per year. Most are living below the poverty line. It's estimated that at any one time, 95% of actors are actively looking for work, with most getting side jobs in order to make ends meet. However, for those with luck on their side, as well as talent, there is a path to fortune and glory.

8. Police Officer

Salary: $30,897 to $81,653

Another heroic symbol for children of all ages, the police officer represents truth, justice, and the American way. Kids love dressing up as police officers, dealing with the bad guys, and chasing criminals who will never get away with it.

In reality, it's a tough, dangerous job; and as Payscale reports, it does not compensate well for that perilous lifestyle. The median income of a U.S. police officer is only $48,815. When not chasing criminals, police officers also have to deal with the other side of law enforcement: the mundane side. From speeding tickets and domestic calls, to hours of paperwork, it is not the glamorous job depicted in so many movies. Thankfully, there are enough kids fulfilling their childhood dream of becoming a cop, and thereby, are keeping the peace for us all.

What was your dream career when you were a kid? Share with us in the comments!

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: How to Find Your Dream Job in 2016

Amy Lu — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 20:00:09 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found ways to find your dream job in 2016, how to know if your holiday spending is out of control, and financial conversations to have before the end of the year..

Ask the Readers: What is Your Dream Job?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 15:00:12 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to SRK, Bethany, and Jeff for winning this week's contest!

For many of us, work us just a way to pay the bills, but if we can get paid to do what we love...ah, that's the life!

What is your dream job? What makes it the perfect job for you? What will it take to make your dream job a reality?

Tell us about your dream job and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

For Extra Entries:

You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

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If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, July 13th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after July 13th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Things People Who Have Their Dream Jobs Do

Linsey Knerl — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 10:00:05 +0000

While there are no hard and fast rules on how to get your dream job, there are some amazing consistencies among people who have their ideal careers. Some of these are arguably personality traits common to "A types" or high achievers. Other commonalities, however, are actionable habits that the rest of us can put into practice to reach our goals. (See also: Make Your Dream Career a Reality With Less Than $100)

Consider these five things you could be doing to have your dream job.

1. Get Up Early

So many people who are enjoying their dream job insist on getting up before the crack of dawn to demolish goals while the rest of the world is in bed. For the nine to fiver, this makes sense, but not all jobs are cut from the same cloth.

If you enjoy a career in a niche that operates on a different work schedule (restaurant work or athletics, for instance), getting up "early" may not be enough. It may involve setting the alarm for an hour before the accepted standard start time for your industry and busting down barriers at 8:00 a.m., 8:00 p.m., or anytime in between. The point is to be motivated enough to get a headstart on the day and take advantage of the extra time and energy in order to excel.

2. Do It Better

Being first to market with a solution isn't as important as it used to be. Now that technology creates a level playing field for everyone with a good idea, it's near impossible to take your brilliant "a-ha" moment to market before anyone else thinks of it. Instead, it's now more important to be the "best" rather than simply being "first."

Many technology services are proof of this phenomenon: Just look at how Betamax, Everquest, and Rio lost out to later, more innovative products. This can translate to the individual, as well. Most dream jobbers I know took existing ideas and made them more customer-friendly, more beautiful, or more affordable for the masses.

3. Be Likeable

One could argue that being great at your job is enough, and that personality is an added little bonus that can't hurt when needed. Unless you want your career to be mired in drama, however, being unlikeable can lead others to question your professional capabilities (just ask Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's "King" of bad buzz).

Unless you're independently wealthy and completely risk-proof, there is always a financial and professional incentive to play nicely with others. Being at least moderately likeable can get your far, and more traditional companies will be more likely to work with someone who won't constantly rock the boat.

4. Connect Socially With Professionals — Online

Millennials are figuring out that there really isn't much of a blur between online and IRL ("in real life") worlds, especially when it comes to social interactions. Applying that mentality to professional interactions could be the key to getting your dream job.

Sites like LinkedIn are making it all too easy to get your professional profile out there, yet too many professionals try to keep their online and IRL spheres distinctly separate. Here's an idea: Stop doing that. Being professional in all of your online dealings showcases your business potential, as well. Not only will you blow the socks off recruiters and talent scouts, but you'll never have to worry about your Tumblr account biting you in the backside because you posted something uncouth.

5. Remain Focused, Yet Flexible

Whatever field you decide to dominate, stay true to your strengths, and take every opportunity to polish those specific skills you feel will shine the brightest in your chosen specialty. If you program, be certain to stay top of new technologies; if you write, get down to the nitty gritty of your craft by reading widely and studying the best in your niche. But don't limit yourself to job offers or opportunities in your field. The best players stay true to their skillset, but are daring enough to go outside of their anticipated category of work. Co-mingle with others outside of your realm to see how your special skillset can be applied in different industries.

Of course, if you find that any of the above behaviors are out of your wheelhouse, you can always take the advice of Dirty Jobs guru Mike Rowe, who tells people to, quite simply, do away with the dream job mentality. Finding contentment in your existing job isn't a crime, and may lead to better overall satisfaction in other areas of your life.

Have you found your dream job? How did you get there?

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 5 Craziest Career Shift Success Stories

Brittany Lyte — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 10:00:12 +0000

The average American changes jobs — if not careers — multiple times in his or her lifetime.

Many of these career shifts, however, occur at the start of a person's working years, when they're zig-zagging from childcare to catering gigs in order to pay off car payments and college loans. But what about mid- and late-career changes — the kind where a person who's already established and well-respected in one field decides to swap that well-earned sense of security for a completely different path? (See also: 5 Ways to Find Your Dream Career)

Giving up a spot at the top of the ladder in one industry for one at the bottom rung in another can be unsettling and hard-fought, but the rewards — landing an energizing, successful gig that makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning — are well worth the risk of falling flat on your face.

Read on for our roundup of the most inspiring career shift stories from people who risked it all in the name of pursuing their true calling. If you've been looking for the inspiration to change your career path, this is it.

1. Trading Finance for Rum

After establishing a successful career at a hedge fund, Bridged Firtle decided to leave it all behind and start her own craft rum distillery, The Noble Experiment. The career swap required a lot of sacrifices — including giving up her posh TriBeCa loft to move back in with her parents — but Firtle tells The Muse it was well worth it to create something she's passionate about.

"I always wanted to own my own business, but I thought it would be in finance because that's what I jumped into in school," Firtle says. "I was evaluating my next move in finance to get myself to the place where I could open my own financial institution, and I was really hoping to get into venture capital just because new business excited me. And then I realized that I didn't want to be on the outside looking in anymore — I really wanted to get my hands dirty and own my own business."

Firtle says the most difficult part of her transition to small business owner from her cushy hedge fund job was taking on the pressure of being responsible not only for her own finances, but also for those of her business and investors. But she says she has no regrets.

"Doing it all yourself is the most empowering feeling," she says. "I was completely inspired to do this. That feeling was like nothing's going to stop me. If you have that feeling — if you have that passion for something — you will succeed."

2. From Corporate Finance to Cupcakes

Pam Nelson had a forward-moving career in finance for two decades. Then she was laid off during the Great Recession. Jobless and uncertain of her next move, Nelson decided to go all in when her friend suggested they open a cupcake shop together. She figured she'd try it out for six months or a year, then hop back into finance when the market recovered. But that was six years ago. Today she's still helping run Butter Lane Cupcakes, which has two storefronts in New York City.

"We decided from the very beginning that we only wanted to make chocolate, vanilla, and banana cupcakes," Nelson tells The Muse. "All of the variation comes from our icing, which is much easier to work with. Keeping it simple really helped us as newbies."

Nelson says running the business end of her own sweets shop is the most satisfying job she's ever had. But it's also the most intense. Even when she's not working, Nelson says there's rarely a moment she's not thinking about her work. After all, there's no one to pass the buck to if things go sour.

"It's great to have a paycheck coming in — and I've worked in the corporate world and I loved my job — but at some point there's some sort of powerlessness in not knowing who your next boss is going to be, or not having control over what your next project is going to be," Nelson says. "In small business, the good news is that it's all yours. You control your destiny and get to make the decisions. Of course, the hard part is that it's all yours. It's on you to make the rent and to make payroll, and if sales aren't where they should be, it's your job to scramble."

3. A Lawyer With a Green Thumb

Angela Newman felt unfulfilled as a property and planning lawyer. The long hours cut into her family time and the work itself wasn't satisfying. She felt drained. Stuck. And she wanted better for her professional life. So she left the Bar for her dream job as a self-employed garden designer.

"I wanted to find a career with more personal satisfaction, creativity, and which involved working with nature, and one that would be flexible, enjoyable and manageable with a family," she tells Career Shifters.

Newman says the hardest part of giving up her law career was realizing that she had worked so hard for so many years to achieve a certain level of success in a field that was never going to make her happy. The easy part was identifying and pursuing her passion. Her advice for others contemplating a similar career switch is to ignore the naysayers — and don't ever lose faith in yourself and your ability to succeed wearing brand new shoes.

"Do not be put off by what you perceive to be the stigma of 'giving up' what you are doing," she says. "I think this can be a common problem where people are in professional jobs that they don't like. My experience is that people very much respect and admire my decision to take a leap into the unknown."

4. From Engineer to Stand-Up Comedian

Dan Nainan was a senior engineer for Intel Corporation, a job that led him to take a comedy class as a means of overcoming his fear of public speaking. Turns out he had an undiscovered knack for being the funny guy. His slapstick impressions of American presidents during his "final exam" performance at a San Francisco comedy club wowed his co-workers so much that they decided to invite him to perform at a team dinner for 200 Intel employees at a tradeshow in Las Vegas. Nainan scored more corporate comedy gigs from there, eventually performing for 2,500 salespeople from around the world at Intel's annual sales conference. After two years of stand-up for in-house events, Nainan quit the company for a new career in comedy. He has since performed for President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Steve Wozniak, and Yoko Ono.

5. The Ex-Corporate Communications Exec Who Travels the World by Caravan

"I wanted a life in which I felt alive every day, contributing something meaningful to the world," says Diana Vermeij, a former corporate branding officer who left her cubicle behind to travel the world in a VW van that is her home and headquarters for her new career as a lifestyle design coach. Fittingly, it's a self-styled job that allows her to help others build a life that draws on their passions and provides them with a greater sense of purpose.

"Life really is too short to do work that doesn't matter to you," Vermeij tells Career Shifters. "I felt unfulfilled, unable to use many of my talents in my job. I wasn't doing what I loved most. I'd started to value (in my opinion) the wrong things (money, status, 'stuff') and I was feeling empty because of it."

It was a big shift. Vermeij was making good money working 70 hours a week in the chemical industry. But she says it was worth giving up that financial freedom and security in the pursuit of what shes says really matters — fulfillment and happiness.

"I had very much identified my 'self' with the work I did," Vermeij says. "When someone asked me 'Who are you?', I would say my name and start telling them about my work. I had to rediscover what I liked to do, what I got excited about, what my talents were and how I wanted to contribute to the world. I had to learn to quiet the negative, down-talking thoughts in my head."

Have you made an incredible career change? Please tell us about it in comments!

This article is from Brittany Lyte of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Quotes to Inspire Your Dream Career

Tara Struyk — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 10:24:03 +0000

Maybe you're sitting at work right now, bored out of your wits and struggling for motivation. Don't feel too guilty about it; you're in good company. In fact, most of the people around you probably feel the same way, at least according to a Gallup poll released in June. It found that 70% of American workers are not "engaged" in their work. Eighteen percent of that group hate their jobs so much they actively try to sabotage their company. (See also: How to Survive in a Job You Hate)

That seems pretty extreme, but the cold, hard world of cubicle-land can break even the best of us, including yours truly. Want to do something you love? Here are some words of wisdom to help get you there — and out of a job you hate.

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." — Confucius

You can't always turn your passions directly to profit, but you can use them as a guide to help you find work that engages you in the same way. Think about when you're doing something you enjoy. Maybe it's cooking or carpentry. It's like a time warp. Time flies by. When you're doing something you hate, on the other hand, the clock gets stuck. Time slows down. Your torture is prolonged. Find work that doesn't feel like labor. Your work will feel more like living. (See also: The First Step to Your Dream Job)

"Work to become, not to acquire." — Elbert Hubbard

For a long time, I stayed at a job that wasn't working for me for one simple reason: money. I couldn't bear to make even $1,000 less per year. I'd worked hard to get to that salary and somewhere along the way, I got all wrapped up in that number. I didn't need to make that much to pay my bills. But I didn't want to let it go. (See also: Define What Financial Success Means to You)

Money talks. I get that. And you have to eat. But if you want to do something different, keep your ego out of the action. When I finally gave up the old job, a funny thing happened. I started spending less. A lot less. Not just because I had less to spend, but because I suddenly felt happier with what I already had. I used to spend money because I felt I'd earned some pleasure. Now the pleasure comes free of charge.

"Dreams are extremely important. You can't do it unless you imagine it." — George Lucas

If George Lucas hadn't been a dreamer, he'd never have made "Star Wars." And, of course, the world would be a much darker place. If you can build something in your imagination, you're at least halfway to making it real. So, read things that inspire you. Buy travel magazines. Daydream more. Once you've planted those seeds, they never go away. All they can do is grow.

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." — Albert Einstein

Life is really one big experiment. Sometimes your theory proves true and you get the outcome you expected. Sometimes it proves wrong. But you learn and you keep tinkering. Finding a dream career isn't an exact science. That means you'll probably have to try — and even fail — at a few things before you find paying work that you love. Or you can just stick to the job you know (and hate). Up to you. (See also: How to Learn From Your Mistakes)

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." — Steve Jobs

Finding fulfilling work is about you. Maybe your mom expects you to be a doctor. Maybe you've spent your entire young life saying you'll be an engineer. Maybe you've already trained to be a teacher, only to find you can't stand the work. Here's the truth: the only person who really has to live with the choices you make is you. Your mom will get over it.

"Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me?'" — Brian Tracy

The best businesses deliver something of value. Sure, they do it for profit, but if value doesn't remain the focus, business suffers. If you can't deliver something of value — whether to your business or to an employer — your work suffers. And that's bad news for your career. Think of it as career karma. The more you put in, the more you get back.

"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." — Dalai Lama

In college, it's easy to get the idea that a career is a straight-shot trajectory straight to the top. In reality, it's a lot more... meandering. Sometimes you don't get the jobs or promotions or opportunities you expected. Sometimes you even get laid off. And you almost never get exactly what you thought you wanted. What that means is that you get something else. Something you didn't expect. Don't just toss it aside. Have a look at it. It might be pretty cool.

"All great changes are preceded by chaos." — Deepak Chopra

Change is hard. It hurts a little. Sometimes it hurts a lot. I'd like to say that I have lots of peace and wisdom when life is difficult and chaotic; in reality I'm a basket case. But I try to remember that the hardest times often lead to the best times. That's true in work, too. Making sacrifices for the career you want is hard, but sometimes you have to stir up a little chaos to create the change you're looking for.

What changes are you hoping to make in your career? What inspires you to work toward a dream job? Tell us about it in comments!

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This article is from Tara Struyk of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: What Is Your Dream Job?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 29 May 2012 10:36:17 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to NJJ, Lisa, and B for winning this week's contest!

Everyone has envisioned their dream job. Sports fans have probably considered job opportunities they could have working for their favorite team, travel enthusiasts have most likely thought about what it would be like to work for National Geographic, and writers have probably contemplated how to get a job working for their favorite publication. Whatever your priorities are in life, there is a job out there that would be perfect for you!

What is your dream job? Is it something where you'd make a ton of money? Be super famous? Have a flexible work schedule? Travel a bunch? Make a change in the world? Or...?

Tell us about your dream job and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below

For extra entries (1 per action):

Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment on this article telling us you did, or
Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, June 4th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after June 4th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Tell us about your dream job and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Make Your Dream Career a Reality for Less Than $100

Nora Dunn — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:24:12 +0000

Why are we constantly pinning our happiness on events yet to happen?

“I'll be happy when I get that promotion.”
“When the kids are out of school, things will be easier.”
“Once I'm out of debt, I can buy that new [whatever], and then I can move forward with life."

Maybe these examples are right on the mark.

Maybe that promotion will make you happy. Maybe each stage of your kids' development does become less complicated. And maybe becoming debt-free (and/or making a big purchase) will indeed mark the beginning of a new life for you.

Or maybe not.

What if reaching a benchmark you've been waiting for and working towards doesn't encapsulate the transformative qualities you'd hoped for? What if you could create the life of your dreams — now — for less than $100? Hundreds — if not thousands — of people have already done it...including me. (See also: Motivating Yourself and Others)

Passion-Based Business

Believe it or not, you don't need a fancy degree, large amounts of capital, or to be a high-flying entrepreneur to open your own business. More than anything else, you simply need a passion that drives you. The rest tends to fall into place from there.

In my journey to becoming The Professional Hobo, I knew I needed a change in my life. I took a leap of faith and sold everything I owned to pursue my dream of traveling the world.

With less than $100, I started a travel blog and combined my passion for travel with my financial planning skills to become an expert in writing about travel, personal finance, and lifestyle design. I earned credibility by “walking the talk” and creating a full-time financially sustainable travel lifestyle.

Merging Your Passion With What's Important

The key to any successful business is that it provides a product or service that is important to a reasonably sized group of people.

And the key to being happy in a successful business is that the product or service other people care about is also something you're passionate about.

Your passion will drive the business, and the fact that other people care about it is what will grow and perpetuate it.

Ditching the Planning

The problem with making big life changes or implementing new business ideas is our perception that lots of planning is required first. We need a business plan, a perfect website, and to have everything in full operational order before we open our doors to the public.

It feels safe to sit back and dot i's and cross t's. We can't fail as long as we're only planning.

But life happens while we're busy making plans. A lot can change in a moment (or week/month/year) of hesitation.

Although a good dose of planning is prudent, it's also a trap. We can become so mired in “the plan” that is paralyzes us from action.

When I decided to travel full-time, I had many questions and very few answers. At the time, I couldn't even properly define what a blog was! But I knew there was a convergence between my passion for travel, personal finance skills, and other people's desire to do something similar with their lives.

The Three Key Ingredients of a $100 Business

As I continue into my sixth year of full-time travel, my business can evolve with me. I can offer personal coaching, write books, give seminars, host TV shows, and more.

The three key ingredients required to make any of these business elements work are the following:

I have a product or service
There are people willing to pay for it
I have a way to get paid

The $100 Startup

The concepts above are addressed in depth in a new book called The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future, by Chris Guillebeau.

It features dozens of case studies of people who:

Followed their passion to create a business
Spent less than $1,000 — usually less than $100 — to get it started
Earn at least $50k/year in net income

They are normal people, most of whom don't possess extraordinary skills or education. They just had a passion, an idea, and the motivation to make it happen.

For some of them, their business started almost by accident when they realized the convergence between their passion and a market need. Others knew they had a good idea, but got stuck in the planning phases, and it was an unexpected first sale that actually kicked them into action. And for others yet, disasters like being laid off created an environment to seize opportunities that had been on the back burner for too long.

How to Follow Your Passion

Here are some related articles about finding — and chasing — your passion, and using it to create a passion-based business that makes your heart sing:

Do any Wise Bread readers have ideas for (or examples of) creating passion-based businesses? Please share in the comments!

This article is from Nora Dunn of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Find Unlisted Jobs and Win Every Salary Negotiation

Ashley Jacobs — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:36:18 +0000

Ramit Sethi, the New York Times bestselling author of I Will Teach You To Be Rich, recently did an amazing Q&A session on how to land your dream job.

He has given Wise Bread permission to highlight his best answers to these popular job hunting questions:

How do I find and land unadvertised jobs?
How can I grow my network when I don't know anyone with connections?
How do I explain a resume gap where I was a stay-at-home parent for 8 years?
How do I negotiate my salary when they said it isn't negotiable?
How can I get a job at a company with a strict GPA cut off?
How can I find out during the interview if a company is a great place to work?
How do I land my dream job in a declining industry?
What is the best way to ask for a raise?

1. How do I find and land unadvertised jobs?

This is a great question because the best jobs are not advertised. They are often gone before they even reach the market.

Constantly have your network find jobs for you

The most important thing is to find powerful mentors with great connections to find the dream jobs for you. Reach out to your network systematically. Let the people in your network know that you're looking for a job, and most importantly, exactly what kind of job you're looking for.

Your key network contacts are very busy people. Make sure you do your homework before contacting them. Know exactly what you want and communicate it succinctly.

What if I don't have a network?

Some people might say they don't have a powerful network because they didn't go to a fancy school or came from a rich family. That is a poor excuse. Your network is a lot bigger than you think. They include:

friends and peers
older people
alumni from your college
people who used to work at the company you want to apply to

The last group is great because they are more likely to tell you the truth about the companies you want to work for.

2. How can I grow my network when I don't know anyone with connections?

Create friendships with people by helping them out and adding value to their lives. This way people will know that you are able to perform and deliver as an employee. How do you do this? Make sure people know you are dependable and reliable.

How do I get started?

Start with coffee shop meetings with people to ask for their advice. Follow up with them to let them know you utilized their advice then be sure to contact them from time to time to find out if there is anyway you can help them. Listen to people to find out what the challenges are in their lives, then try to help. Networking requires that you give in hopes that one day it may come back to you. At it's core, it is about helping someone else before you ask for anything in return.

Also, start reaching out to understand the lay of the land. Find people who work or worked at companies you are interested in and take them to coffee. Ask them for their advice, not a job. Doing this will help you find who you can help and who may be able to someday help you.

Isn't using your connections "cheating?"

It is important to cultivate relationships with the people you know because top performers know that the people around them help them. If you've got an advantage, don't think twice about using it.

3. How do I approach the job search after being a stay-at-home mom for the last eight years?

One of the most important things about finding the job of your dreams is to differentiate between what to pay attention to and what not to pay attention to. You have to be able to focus on what is important to you right now. Right now what's important to you (and the hiring manager) is the fact that you are trying to get a job.

How do you show the hiring manager you are worth hiring and get the job?

Do your research! Have a solid understanding of the potential job titles you are interested in as well as companies you are interested in. Then narrow it down to one job title at one company and do elaborate research. Take people to coffee and ask questions. Do research online. Know the challenges of the position and everything else about the it so when you sit down in front of a hiring manager you can talk about the position better than the hiring manager can. Demonstrating why your experience is incredible has more weight and relevancy than the fact that you were a stay-at-home mom. Focus on your research and the person you are trying to get a job from.

4. How do I negotiate my salary when they tell me the salary isn't flexible?

This is a classic scare tactic companies use because people are naive and terrified of negotiating.

Why does a company tell you this?

If a company tells you this, chances are you did something wrong during the interview process. Average candidates put the company in control of their salary during the interview process by making it clear they have no other options, other offers, or maybe even telling the interviewer how much he or she was compensated before. It's game over before the negotiation process even starts.

Top performers set the stage in advance for salary negotiation because they say things like "at my last job I was very well compensated and I am certainly looking for compensation that is a good fit for me but I'm also looking for a better fit in terms of my values and what I want to do with my career." Subtle comments like this make an impression on the interviewer so that the interviewer knows when it's time to negotiate salary, it's game on.

How do you make your salary negotiable?

Have multiple offers. Do your job search with multiple companies and time the offers so that you can get a bidding war going.
Make it clear throughout your engagement with the company that you want to be evaluated on the value you bring to the company.

If you have already been told your salary is non-negotiable, how do you negotiate?

You have to make a case for why you should be given a higher salary. How do you do that?

Get comparable salaries from payscale.com, salary.com, and glassdoor.com.
Show them why you are worth the money and why you deserve to be at the top range of the pay spectrum by talking about what you are planning to do with the company.

If this doesn't work because you were an average candidate and put yourself in a non-negotiation bind, make an agreement with the interviewer that if in six months you have done an extraordinary job for the company, they will revisit negotiating your salary. Make sure they put that in your contract. In your first 30 days at your job, ask the company what would constitute you doing an extraordinary job. Have them write it down and be ultra specific about things. Ask them for numbers, hit those numbers, then blow past them. This will show you are a top performer and salvage your salary negotiation.

5. How can I get a job at a company with a strict GPA cut-off when I have a low GPA?

Unfortunately, you can't. It is better to focus your time and energy on jobs that are more appropriate for you than to go for the one in a million chance you might get a job despite your low GPA. If you excel at the jobs you do qualify for, you may be able to go back one day and apply for opportunities that are currently out of your reach.

6. How can I find out during the interview process of the company is a great place to work?

This is a great question because young people should focus on making better decisions about their career as opposed to how much money they are going to make. During the interview process it is important to find out if the company is a great place to work by doing your research. How do you do your research?

Use websites such as glassdoor.com, salary.com, and payscale.com to read reviews from current and former employees.
Use Google to search for reviews and interviews about what people are saying about the company.
After doing basic online research, reach out to people who work or have worked at the company, take them to coffee, and get their advice. People love talking to young people because young people are viewed as more innocent and they like to stay abreast of what young people are doing.

7. How do I land my dream job when it's in a declining industry?

This is a great question because many young people dream of working in a glamorous job such as media, journalism, or entertainment. Because these jobs are in such high demand and there are many people looking to fill these jobs, employees don't get paid a lot and many of the jobs are getting outsourced.

The bad news: You will be competing against hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people for these jobs.

The good news: Many of these people are average (or even terrible) at what they do especially when it comes to their job search.

So how do you make it to the big leagues?

A lot of it boils down to luck. But you also need to get out there and talk to the people you admire. Find people who have your dream job, reach out to them or get a warm introduction to them, and ask them how they got to where they are. Give them a little background on yourself in regards to who you are and what your career aspirations are, then offer to meet them at their convenience to talk. Offer to take them to coffee or dinner at a restaurant of their choosing. Ask them for five minutes of their time so they can tell you what decisions they made to get where they are now.

The overall strategy: Don't be an average candidate.

Talk to the top people. If you can't get to someone in the top tier of your industry, go for the second or third tier and work your way up. Ask then what differentiates them from the rest of the people in their field, then try to do what they do.

8. What is the best way to ask for a raise?

Here are the five steps to follow to ask for a raise:

Find out what your boss wants. Make your boss look great. Does your boss want his boss to see the results of what's going on on your team? Or does he want to go home at 5pm to play golf?
Let your boss know you want a raise. Ask what it would take to get a raise and what ultimate success would look like to him or her.
Let your boss know you are working towards that. It is vital to tell your boss what you want and that you are gunning for it in a positive way.
Execute what it would take for you to get a raise and exceed what your boss wants.
Ask your boss to discuss your raise based on the fact that you have done what he or she has asked and more.

Keep in mind that there is one characteristic that will help you get a raise: having other options. If you have other job options available to you and you aren't getting your raise the second or third time you ask and you deserve it, follow the lead of other top performers and seek out your other options.

This is just small sample of Ramit's tips on how to land a dream job. He provides a lot more actionable advice in his free newsletter. For example, did you know that 93% of your job interview's success depends on nonverbal cues? Click here to get additional free job hunting advice from Ramit.

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Turn Your Passion Into A Living

Silicon Valley Blogger — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:00:02 +0000

We all want to have a job that we love — something that would get us excited about getting up and going to work in the morning…right? Who doesn’t want that? But this is often far from the reality we actually do experience.

So what does it really take to make this happen?

Finding your dream job or life's work may not be as hard as we all make it out to be if we decide to take action towards this goal. By coming up with a strategy for making it happen, you may just surprise yourself with the ideal job (or business). Here are a few simple tips on how you can get started on the road to a more fulfilling work life.

1. Find out what it is you love to do.

You know yourself the best. A few questions you may want to ask yourself: What are your skills and interests? What is your passion? What do you like to spend time doing? The first step may be the trickiest to get through, but this exercise should set the tone for you. Brainstorm about what it is that you would love to do. If you already know what that is, then fantastic! If not, then write every idea down that you come up with and explore those ideas fully. Get creative. Make long lists and remember that no answer is wrong. Explore every avenue of interest that you have and consider what it is that could get you excited and motivated every day. For instance, if you enjoy writing, perhaps you'd like to try to make money blogging or to work on self publishing a book. If you enjoy developing software, then there are many platforms through which you can seek creative growth: how about developing iPhone or Facebook applications?

2. Start small, try things out and take action!

Next, get to it. Start small and test the waters (so to speak) by doing side gigs, by freelancing or by teaching lessons in something that you’re good at. Advertise your services on Craigslist or other job forums. Find ways to fit these efforts into your schedule and make time for them. If you need money to fund your venture, budget for this by building a "venture fund" in a free savings account that addresses a specific savings goal. If you need to finance your ideas and happen to have good credit, you can opt to apply for a loan at a peer to peer lender. But without taking action, your dream job remains just that...a part of your dreams and ongoing hopes. This seems obvious and intuitive, but many people never realize their goals because of inaction. You have to make time to make change. By taking these steps, you can validate and turn this career into a reality for yourself.

3. Find ways to support your new career.

As you start establishing yourself in your area of work, find other ways to support your passion. Teach lessons in your chosen field and grow your knowledge in this area. See if you can become an expert in this field. Join networking groups that could use or refer your services. Continue to research and learn what you can about your profession or career on a regular basis, as it's important to keep abreast with the latest developments in your field.

4. Continue to promote yourself professionally.

Join related professional groups that are financially feasible and realistic. Promoting yourself online has never been easier than it is now. On the web, you have many free avenues that allow you to keep marketing yourself (e.g. Craigslist is free; blogs are usually free to create; there are free classifieds in online local publications; you can advertise in your local paper, etc.).

5. Gain an online presence.

You may be interested in creating an online presence or joining specific online interest groups or forums to help you enhance your learning and grow your professional network. Build a website that becomes your calling card (e.g. put your website on your physical business card as well) and put samples of your work on your web site. Make sure that you supply sufficient contact information so that your customer base can easily get in touch with you.

And finally, share your aspirations with the people you know — who knows, someone in your own circle may turn out to be someone who could help you with your endeavors. Word of mouth is and has always been the best way to build a business or career, and if you’re not capitalizing on this, you could be losing out. Make sure your family, friends, associates, etc. know about your business or employment position. When you love what you do, it will be obvious, and you’ll see that people will notice.

Have fun getting there! It can be a very fun journey.

This article is from Silicon Valley Blogger of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Simple Ways to Find Your Passion

Henri Junttila — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:00:02 +0000

Passion, passion, passion. That's all we hear nowadays. Everyone's telling you to follow your passion. But do you have a clue what yours is or what to do about it? I know I didn't just some time ago.

Passion is a concept that seems impossible to grasp, until you grasp it. What I noticed in my own life was that you have to be willing to put yourself out there. You have to be willing to make mistakes. You have to be willing to try.

If you don't try, nothing will happen. When I was looking for my passion, I was motivated by the negative. I thought about dying old and regretting my whole life. If I would at least try and fail, I would be happy.

I am not talking about trying for a few weeks; I am talking about persevering for your whole life, until you die. If that's what it takes, then that's what I was going to do. Having that determination in your life can really open doors.

With all that said, let's look at 5 simple ways you can find your passion. Remember, this isn't meant to be a path filled with roses. If it was, more people would be doing it.

The journey can be tough, but the rewards are more than worth it. Imagine doing what you want, from where you want and when you want. If you're instantly thinking of excuses, then this article is probably not for you.

1. Brainstorm

Get a pen and a piece of paper, or better yet, grab a microphone and start recording on your computer. Talking is the best way to be spontaneous, and brainstorming is all about letting your brain get it all out.

If you censor yourself, brainstorming will not work. So grab your microphone, and start saying everything that comes to mind when you think about the things you like to do. Don't worry if you go "off-topic" — just let it flow. Do this for at least 15-30 minutes. When you start running out of ideas, keep pushing, because that's where the magic happens.

2. Engage

It's all well and good to analyze and dream about what your passion is, but nothing measures up to taking action. It doesn't matter if you're not sure about something. Do it anyway, because that's the best way to learn.

Think you like gardening, but aren't sure? Start reading, take a course, and engage with the online gardening community. The people that are living the life they want take action. They are as afraid as anyone else, but they do it anyway.

3. Failing

Something that helped me a lot was asking myself "what would I do if I couldn't fail?", which helped me gain the courage necessary to start my blog. Asking yourself the right questions can often get you into the right mindset, which helps you take action.

I'm a big believer in doing stuff, even if you don't know exactly what you're doing. I've learned through personal experience that the sooner you take action, the sooner you can re-calibrate (if necessary).

4. Observe

What have you always liked doing in your life? I realized that I've always enjoyed writing. I want to become an excellent writer. But I've also always enjoyed natural health and working out.

I believe we all have many different passions, so don't worry if you can't decide, it might just be the fact that you have many things that you like to do.

Something I want to emphasize though is that you have to pick one and focus all of your energy on it if you want to make something happen. You can always come back to your other passions later.

5. Accept Fear

Everyone deals with fear. If you're having trouble finding your passion, you're most likely afraid of something. Accept the fear. Easier said than done, right? But it truly is that easy.

When you make the decision to do things even if you're afraid, you'll see a dramatic shift happen in your life. You have to make living the life you want THE priority and not let any fears or obstacles stand in your way.

It's okay to do something crazy now and then. I am following my passion and I'm feeling better than ever, but I'm still afraid now and then. The way I get through the fear is to think of what I really want to accomplish.

If you want to live a life that you actually care about, then you have to put in some work. You have to bust a few fears and take action.

Guest Post Blurb:

This is a guest post by Henri Junttila, a freelance blogger who also writes about self improvement ideas for conscious people. If you want to keep up with his life-changing updates, subscribe to his feed. Read more articles by Henri:

This article is from Henri Junttila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Find Your Passion

Philip Brewer — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:00:02 +0000

I always knew what I wanted to do. What I wanted to do changed over time, and at any particular time I wanted to do more than one thing — and sometimes I wasn't sure if any particular thing that I wanted to do would turn out to be satisfying or remunerative. But there were always things I wanted to do. It turns out that this is not universal.

Some people really don't know what they want to do. Since I always did, I'm not sure that I'm really the person to ask about how to figure out one's passion in life. But when I talked recently about ways to arrange your life so you can follow your passion, more than one person asked in the comments about how to find your passion. I did some thinking about it, and decided that maybe I had an idea or two after all.

Editing too early

I used to think that the main reason people couldn't figure out what they wanted to do was not because they didn't have any ideas, but rather that they had ideas, but figured they were impractical. The things they wanted to do (playing video games, snowboarding, going backpacking) seemed to offer no hope of making a living.

In fact, of course, there are people making a living doing each of those things. There are admittedly few professional video game players, but there are plenty of jobs testing video games, as well as jobs designing them, coding them, writing the stories, and drawing the art. Likewise snowboarding and hiking support very few as professionals, but do offer opportunities for guides, instructors, writers, and so on.

There are many ways to follow any passion. If the problem is time, maybe you can start small and make incremental progress. If the problem is money, maybe you can barter for access to the expensive stuff you can't afford. If the problem is complexity, maybe you can follow a few narrow side branches now and work your way toward the main branch. The key is simply that you shouldn't assume your passion is impractical without giving some real thought to all the many ways you might follow it.

If this is what you're doing, the solution is easy: brainstorm. Make lists of things you want to do without editing. Don't paralyze yourself by trying to figure out your one true calling in life, just write down two or three dozen things that you want to do. Start with easy stuff. Maybe you want to visit your family or scuba dive off Grand Cayman or learn pottery. Then broaden your thinking: What do you do when you have control over your own schedule? What list of activities for the day makes you jump out of bed? If you had enough money that you didn't need to work, how would you choose to spend your time?

Go for quantity — this stuff is the raw material of what you want to do with your life. Get a day or two of distance from the list, then go through it and categorize the ideas. Some are just things you want to do once. Some will likely be things that you don't really want to do at all. But among the others are likely things that you have a passion for, even if you haven't realized it yet.

At some point, think about what you do that's of value to other people. That's important in two ways. First, it's something you might be able to get paid to do. Second, something that's important to others has a greater chance of being deeply satisfying.

What if your passion really is impractical?

Some passions are fundamentally impossible. We don't know how to go faster than the speed of light or backwards in time.

Other passions are simply beyond our capabilities. Most of us will never play major league baseball, no matter how strong our passion. I would argue, though, that this is simply a matter of being too specific. If playing baseball is truly your passion, then play baseball without worrying about what league you get to.

Most passions, though, are totally doable, they simply aren't adequately remunerative, which brings us back to where we started, choosing between a dream job or a day job.

What if you have no passions?

As I say, I used to assume that everybody had a passion. I eventually figured out that really wasn't true: Some people really can't think of anything they want to do. These people are often unhappy. In fact, they're often miserable.

Often the cause-and-effect goes the other way around. People who are severely depressed are unable to think of anything that would make them happy, but the underlying problem is a matter of brain chemistry, not lack of passions. Treat the depression and they will find their passions again.

For people who aren't clinically depressed, but simply can't think of anything they want to do, I'm not sure I have much help to offer except to suggest an incremental approach. Think about which aspects of your life are most satisfying and do more of that and less of the other stuff. On a smaller scale, do the same in each area of your life. Which parts of your job are most satisfying and which are boring or annoying? What would your job look like if you did more of the former and less of the latter? Could you talk to your boss about restructuring your job to look like that? I talk some about that in a post called find work worth doing and then I talk about other aspects of it in a post called how to get a job — learn the secret from a bad movie. (Both of those posts got some good comments, too.)

It's perfectly normal for your passion to change over time. The days of having just one career are almost as far gone as the days of having just one job — and that's okay. A couple years ago, several of the Wise Bread writers (including me) did a group post called what is your dream job. I talk about how my dream job changed from programming to writing.

There are a few other posts on Wise Bread on finding your passion. Here are the ones I could find:

I'd be really interested to hear from readers who had to struggle to find their passion. If you're one of the people who couldn't think of what they wanted to do, but then eventually figured it out, please comment below on how you did it.

This article is from Philip Brewer of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

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