How to create your dream job is a problem I have dedicated my life to solving for myself and others.
I have always been fascinated with people who have ambitious dreams about work and make them happen. My grandfather was a self-made entrepreneur who built a
plumbing contracting business with his brother. My father was always fascinated with science fiction and mechanics as a young boy and ended up working as an engineer for
IBM for over 40 years, seeing that company go from selling adding machines to main frame computers to PCs. In my corporate career, I had the privilege of working for Chuck Feeney who co-founded duty free shopping and was a pioneer in combining altruism with business.I
n the development of the New World Method for finding and following a calling, I researched, sought out and interviewed many people who love what they do for a living, including teachers, business people, scientists, artists and entrepreneurs. In this study, I found that they had a few things in common:
? When they work, they often lose track of time
? They are curious about their craft or field of study no matter how long they have been at it, and continue to hone skills and knowledge
? They feel at home with their work, peers and colleagues who are also striving for excellence. They admire this “tribe” of other people who love what they do
? They can answer the following three questions:
What are you talents?
What is your dream?
What is your purpose?
I believe that anyone can find their calling and share the experience of successful people if they are willing to slow down long enough to do the work necessary to define their
goals and go after them. The journey is often difficult but always worth it. So before you can create your dream job, you need to explore, contemplate and answer these questions thoroughly for yourself before you can find out how to create your dream job. Once you can do that, your action plan for getting to your destination will be very personal and customized.
For some of you your dream job may exist in your current company or local community, for others your dream job may be a entrepreneurial pursuit you have to start yourself. Some of you have the education and experience to be in your dream job now while some of you may have to get more practice, education or experience before you can have your dreams. However, I know that your personal puzzle for how to create your dream job can be solved if you are willing to put the time and effort into the process.
Laurel Donnellan is president and co-founder of Three Giant Leaps. She has a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. Laurel's work has been influenced by her assignments in Fortune 500 companies as an executive coach as well as the study of yoga and traditional Native American Culture. She developed the Three Giant Leaps model which uses positive psychology and ancient wisdom to help people find fulfillment and balance in their work and life. She resides in Austin, Texas.
You can write Laurel at:
laurel@threegiantleaps.com