Can Money and Time Bring Happiness?

Can Money and Time Bring Happiness?

Many coaches are fond of saying, "If you had all the time and money in the world, what would you be doing now?" This is a great conversation starter and most people have an idea of what they would do.

The challenge is that we should not have to wait until something happens in our lives to do exactly what we want to do. We are a nation of such unhappy people because we think we have to work any old job to pay the bills. Although the bills do have to be paid, it would be more fun if we could do what we love instead of what we feel obligated to do.

Take Alice for example. Alice was working in a dead-end accounting job that she had done for 10 years. She hated the job and she hated the numbers but she did it because it was better to have a job than to be unemployed. Alice used to bemoan how much she hated the job until one day she decided to hire a coach to help her with a career change.

Alice explained to the coach that she just wanted to find another job. It didn't have to be anything fancy but it did have to have better hours than the accounting job. When the coach asked Alice the question, she replied, "I would take more time with my art."

The next series of questions from the coach were about the art she loved and how she wanted to present it. Alice beamed and talked for another hour without stop about what she did as an artist, how she would love to sell her work to help people and she gave the coach a really good idea that she wanted to be a successful artist.

Today, Alice is doing very well selling her paintings and craft work for a healthy profit. Although Alice is just one person in many people who have done the same thing, it takes courage to do what she did.

Don't Wait Until a Disaster Hits

Many people wait until they have a life threatening or life revealing moment before they start to do what they always have wanted to do. They have let their friends and family dictate what they should do with their lives. They are very unhappy with their choices but they feel that there is not other choice than what they are doing now.

Some people wait until they get laid off or fired to pursue what they want. It's almost as if they think they have to pay dues before they can choose something they really want to do. In my line of work as a consultant, I've seen so many people make changes after a divorce or a death in the family. They somehow are renewed with strength when something chaotic happens in their life.

Do you fit into this category? If so, then it may be time for you to make some changes. We know that change doesn’t come easy to most people and let's face it -- most of us hate to change. We are already into our routine and we don't like it when people interrupt it.

Flexibility Helps Find The Right Career Fit

In today's world it is important for people to be flexible and open to change as much as possible because you never know what life will bring to your door. However, we always have a way of dealing with it and keeping or lives moving. Why not do it with something we love?

When people answer the question," If you had all the time and money in the world, what would you do?" Most people do not have to hesitate for an answer.

In today's economy it pays off to think about what you would do and to create the work you love. The reason is because you can't fire or lay yourself off. When you are working for someone else you never know what will happen when you go to work each day.

I would say to you if you are still sitting and wondering what it is you would like to do, to go and research your options. You can always change your mind but there is so much information about a variety of careers these days that you can research just about anything. Take the question with you and begin to explore. Once you find something that you can truly get into I will assure you that you will also find the courage to do it.

Question to Ponder: Now that you've found something interesting, what can you do with it? Will you ignore it or get a coach to help? Check into next week's blog to give you ideas for how to get the most out of a coaching experience.