Key #1: Decide To Get The Most Of Your Career And Life

 

“You only live once.” Okay, maybe we do live twice, who knows?! But surely you agree that your lifetime is a unique opportunity. And only you can decide what you are going to make of it.

As humans, we have an inborn desire to achieve and improve. As we progress through life, we face many barriers. Just like going through an obstacle course, the faster you move, the more barriers you will find; the more new challenges you will have to overcome. And each time you encounter an obstacle, you have a choice to ignore it and stay where you are, or face it and learn what it takes to get past it.

By signing up or this e-course, you are already demonstrating your willingness to face the obstacles that are preventing you from moving ahead in your career to truly satisfying work.

Obviously you are not content to accept your current job situation over the long run. That could be because your current situation is intolerable, or simply because you want to achieve even more. Either way I commend you. It takes courage to keep progressing, although sometimes it may feel like you have no choice. Your courage and your desire are the drives that improve the world, one step at a time. And I want to encourage you to make the choice firmly and consciously to get the most out of your career and your life. Set your sights high.

With each new barrier you may wonder, is it worth it? Can I do it? Is it possible to change this situation?

And with each obstacle you face, you have a chance to go further towards your ultimate satisfaction.  Difficulties are the opportunities you need to help you grow.

And I want you to know that somehow, some way, somewhere it is possible to achieve your dreams.

The saddest thing is people at the end of their lives who regret the things they did not do. By deciding to give it your best shot, you may make mistakes, you may find dead ends or barriers that take years to overcome, but you will not regret your life. And chances are good that you’ll achieve much more than you thought possible.

In order to strengthen your commitment, I have a question for you.

What motivates you to find work that you love? What will you gain by pursuing it?

Tomorrow we’ll start picking some of the low-hanging fruit that will help you get closer to the work you love.

 

Want to know what previous students have said in response to Key #1?

I want to occupy my mind with topics I like to think about.

I used to work physically. Then I could let my mind wander. Now, my body is not as strong as it used to be, so my work has brought me to work inside where my mind is occupied all the time editing long documents. I am spoilt in a way, because I'm used to having the freedom to let my mind go where it will during my workday. What motivates me to find work I love is that I want to occupy my mind with topics I like to think about. I would not take more money to work in a line of work I do not enjoy thinking about, because work takes up a very significant part of my life and my life is important to me. By pursuing editing work in only topics I enjoy, I feel I am better able to serve myself and the world. I don't want to be checked out while I provide something I am really good at.

-E-course Alum

My List of Motivation

  • Satisfaction
  • Love
  • Influencing power
  • Be important
  • Growth
  • Better living standard
  • Help others to achieve their goals.

-E-course Alum

Planning a Fulfilling Career

I’ve recently relocated to Hong Kong to join my partner. In doing so, I left a longtime employer and a challenging but rewarding job. Now I’m blessed with the opportunity to step back and take time to assess how my skills and experience can be applied in a new context. That may mean continuing in a similar career to what I’ve done in the past or it could mean doing something very different. Either way, the process of discovering the possibilities and planning a fulfilling career is what motivates me.

-E-course Alum

New Opportunities

I have been given the gift of a “do over” with my move to Hong Kong. I left behind a job that left me drained, depressed, and exhausted. A few years ago, my husband decided to follow his passion. Now it’s my turn. I’m just not sure what that is any more. As a mother to a young daughter I’ve not thought as much about my own needs in a long time. Being in Hong Kong offers new opportunities but also presents certain limitations and challenges. But it’s time to take a step toward figuring out “what next?”

-E-course Alum

Work Provides an Opportunity to Learn

I am motivated to find work I love because I want to work (as opposed to take it easy / do nothing). I want to work because work provides an opportunity to learn, make a contribution, meet interesting people, and set and achieve goals.

-E-course Alum

Seeing My Potential

What motives me to find a job I love: it’s because I see my potential, I clearly know if I’m really into something, I can deliver excellent result and that satisfies me a lot, it makes me feel I am not wasting my time, I am progressing. When I love my job, I won’t feel confused, with the strong courage and desire, barriers won’t stop me to move forward. I need a job I love is mainly because I love being brave and not being intimidated by the obstacles and barriers.

-E-course Alum

People and Challenges

What motivates me at work are 2 things, people and challenges. You may be surprised why money is not involved, this is because I am a firm believer in that money cannot buy you everything (but of course, you will need it at a certain extent to survive). I thrive and perform at my best when I am given the necessary room to express my creativity and also a balance of pressure helps to keep me going and reminds me what I am here for.

-E-course Alum

Finding a Supportive and Nurturing Environment

What motivates me to find work that I love is if it is in a supportive environment. it must be a nurturing environment with positive energy where I’ll receive guidance. I am a very ambitious individual and being in a loving environment makes me able to focus on my contributions, and not competition with myself and others. having others keep the structure and me work within the structure also help as with creative minds one can dart from one idea to the other.

-E-course Alum

You Spend a Lot of Time At Work

I spend a lot of time at work. If work is not what I love, then part of my lifetime is not what I love. Just seems a real waste of life! It is about living right, so I become a better person in my daily life and to the people who matter most.

-E-course Alum

Making Sure I Choose Wisely

I’m driven to do what I was MADE to do. Not just to “make a living” or even worse just to “survive”. Imagine what slaves hundreds of years ago would think if we told them today we have CHOICES, but we don’t even choose what we love! A wasted life is also motivation for me to make sure I choose wisely.

-E-course Alum

Finding a Job You Love is Great

Finding a job, you don't hate is crucial to anyone's well-being. In my first job I reached a point where I had a knot in the stomach travelling to the office. Finding a job you love is great. Most of the time though it's somewhere in the middle. When younger enjoyment was as important as money and advancement. Switching jobs and seeking new challenges did not seem to be a problem.

-E-course Alum

Finding a Career I am Passionate about

What motivates me is that I know that I know I am meant to be doing something that I am passionate about. By finding it I will be able to give it my all and be the very best that I can be. By pursuing a career I'm not meant to be in, I'm not being fair to myself to do what I love! I hope that by finding my passion I will be happy and find the “flow” I'm looking for. I understand that there will always be challenges ahead but by facing these in pursuing my passion there will be a purpose to it all.

-E-course Alum

Motivation to Work

Motivation for me is when; I wake up in the morning with a urge to go to office- Friday afternoon/evenings, at work, is same as Tuesday- Monday morning same as Friday’s. The irrelevance of any day/period in a week to how I feel at work place for me is one aspect of motivation I have.

-E-course Alum

Find Work that I will Love

What motivates me to find work I love is the fact that I know that there is something out there for me that I will love doing. I have had jobs in the past that I have loved and others that I have really not enjoyed at all. I know that in the past I have let myself stay in bad work situations for too long and I should have taken action to make changes sooner that I did. I usually feel better just by starting to take action.I also know that I have a lot of years of work left ahead of me and I may as well be doing something I enjoy rather than something I don't enjoy.

-E-course Alum

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