Finding Your Dream Job

When elementary school teachers ask their students if they would like to be an artist when they grow up, most of them raise their hands. In fact, the same thing happens when you ask if they'd like to be a musician, fireman, doctor, trapeze artist, or anything else that sounds remotely fun, interesting, or exciting.

If you ask individual elementary age students what they want to be when they grow up they're likely to tell you at least three or four different things!

What happens to us as we grow? Why do so many of us lose sight of that excitement and wonder? Why do we work in jobs we don't like? 

According to a Business Insider article, up to 80% of people do not like their jobs!

Coincidentally, Entrepreneur Magazine has cited 10 Reasons to Start a Business in a Recession. They say it's best because goods are cheaper and you can hire better qualified people.

In a time when a majority of Americans do not like their jobs, and employers are looking for high-quality people, why not find your dream job?! Why not go back to your elementary school days and find those things that were exciting to think about. Go back to the joy of pretending you were an actor in a movie, an archeologist, explorer, or boat captain. Think through all the things you've done, all the jobs you've worked, and the extra-curricular activities you've participated in to unlock some long lost aspirations.

Now, do these things to find your dream job: 

1. Write down your thoughts. Jot down the things you think about most during the day. Do this for a few days or weeks and you'll find patterns.

2. Do a Google search. Type in some of the things from above and the jobs that deal with those things. Find websites, discussion boards, and blogs that talk about those things and see if they recommend employers looking for people to fill positions in your areas.

3. Ask friends. Too often we don't use our most valuable resources. We listen to Facebook friends when buying a new dishwasher, what movie to see next, or which clothes are in style, but we don't ask them about our careers. It can be amazing how a friend of a friend knows a company that's looking for people just like you!

4. Read books. There are plenty of great stories of people who stopped working the job they didn't like and found a dream job that turned their life around. It made all seven areas of their lives better; Spiritual, Family, Social, Physical, Intellectual, Career, and Financial. One of the best books for this is Jon Acuff's Quitter.

5. Pray. There's no one better at knowing you, the things you think about, search for, talk about, and read, than God. Ask him for guidance. Ask him to help you write things down, talk to the right person, or read the right books. You could even start with His Book.

Open up the Bible and start reading Proverbs. Read one a day and see if there's anything in there about Career and Financial matters, dealing with Family, Social interactions, Physical well-being, and how get better at your Spiritual life.

I guarantee you'll find things, in the Bible, about yourself that you didn't expect.

But don't worry if this list seems difficult, you don't have to do them all. Just pick one and get started. Then, if you're happy with the results, do another. Soon you'll find a few exciting leads and you'll be off and going before you can complete them all.