Achieving Your Dream:
A Happy And Successful Career

Contributed by Timothy Burch

In the beginning of the movie Joe Verses the Volcano we see Joe, an average man working in a job that he hated because it was safe. There were no risks involved in that career. The product was horrible and the environment drained him more than even he knew. His boss could not understand why he was unhappy and the sum of his life was running him into the ground. At the end of the movie we see a new Joe. A man who has found himself, found love, and achieved the success that he always wanted. All that he had to do was jump into a volcano.

Many of us feel the same way. We go to work and feel as though the world is draining us of life. We are producing a product that we do not care about for someone that we generally do not enjoy. To some of us the way out to real success, where we are excited to go to work and happy with our lives, seems like a drastic and impossible move--like jumping into a volcano.

Fortunately there are more ways to achieve happiness in your career and life. Though the idea of jumping into a raging inferno of doom does fit, there will be risk. Nothing great was ever achieved without a certain amount of risk. When determining what you want to do, you cannot start with the opportunities that are immediately around you. You will have to look carefully at what you want from a number of different angles to know what you are supposed to do. Here are 5 questions you can ask yourself to help you figure out what you truly want.

1. If I could do anything in the world (for work) what would it be?
   I know that this sounds a bit like when you were in elementary or middle school but the truth is that your old teachers knew a lot. This question is good because it helps to isolate your desires. Until you know what your desires are, there is no way to achieve them and no way to have success and happiness. Figure out what you really would like to do if there was no one, including yourself, telling you that it was not impossible.

2. What are the most important things in my life?
   You need to know these because they will define the priorities in your life. If you have a family, where do they fit in? Do you love to fish, paint, or write? How much time would you like to spend doing that? When your priorities are mixed up, your success will become lost.

3. What are my core values?
   Many times people think of values as how they use their time and energy. This is true, but most often they fall into the category of intangibles—ideals and standards that you will be known by. Do you value honesty? Is character important to you in your workplace? This will help you know who you could work for and what you could do. Once you develop your values set them as the foundation of your life. They must be immovable. If the foundation shakes, the whole house will fall in. Messing up your values will keep you from having the success you dream of.

4. Am I fit to do what I always wanted to do?
   Now that you know what you want to do make sure that you are able to do it. There are programs and schools that will teach you how to go from a beginner to an expert in almost anything. All that is needed is your dedication. You can learn how to build space shuttles. You can learn the intricacies of psychology. If you are going to be working with computers, and almost everyone is, there are many ways to learn. There are training programs out there from the most basic computer courses in Microsoft® Word or Excel® to some of the most advanced programs out there, such as architecture programs or intricate engineering programs. A proverb says, “He who is excellent at what he does will serve before kings.” This is all too true. Become the best at what you want to do and the position will become available. It is amazing how many doors open up when you’re the best in your field.

5. Am I willing to do this for the rest of my life?
   This is a difficult question. It is hard to know, without a doubt, if you are going to be happy doing something for the rest of your life. If you are fulfilled in your position you will want to stay there. This will not happen unless you are willing to continue learning and growing so that you are continually the best there is.

Being happy and successful at work and with your life is not easy. It requires you to look inward, know your desires, and work hard to put yourself in a place to succeed. Sometimes this feels a lot like jumping into a volcano, but remember…nothing of any great worth was ever achieved without great risk.

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