As a Life Coach, I have been privileged to work with many people all over the world to successfully enhance the skills and competencies that they require to retain and excel in their demanding jobs, deal with very challenging boss, coworkers and situations, get the desired promotion, or transition to their longstanding dream career. In the process, I learnt the following:

We are generally going to be as happy in life as we are in our career, for if what we spend so much time doing is not aligned with our Life Purpose, we labour in pain. Yes, some people may be well paid, but they will never feel well if their hearts are not in what they do.

We spend a larger portion of our wake time pursuing our career, thus placing it akin with every other important aspect of our lives. We cannot completely separate other areas of our lives from our career, but MUST ALWAYS ensure the APPROPRIATE balance between them.

If we consistently complain (inwardly or outwardly) about our career, place of work, boss, coworkers, projects and everything related to our career, we will never progress in it. In fact, this attitude is a recipe for failure not only in the current career but in every other future career. Like Martin Luther King once said, "If a man hasn't found something he would die for, he is not fit to live". This is applicable to your family, values, spirituality and yes, your career as well.

God created us for specific careers based on the strengths and weaknesses he graciously bestowed upon us. While we may sometimes have to go through other jobs to finally find our Life Purpose, we only achieve the highest level of job satisfaction when our career is aligned with our Life Purpose. Basically, if you won't do your current job for free, were money not an issue, you are probably in the wrong career!

Without considering the impact of living a dream versus fulfilling a designated purpose, most people seek jobs that they may not have been created for - because of the associated prestige and income, while parents innocently groom their children from infancy for jobs that may hardly/never bring fulfillment to their children. This is why survey results indicate consistent declines in job satisfaction rates. This is why the number of people who wake up in the morning without looking forward to the job they spend 75% of their wake time is increasing!

Instead of saying, "I don't know", I commit myself to finding out the answer. Instead of saying or even thinking, "This does not concern me", I choose to be loyal to my employer by shepherding the matter to where it belongs. Since my manager is likely busier than I am, I take initiative, keep him out of matters than I can handle, and provide him with prompt updates on my successes and challenges. Meanwhile, I am always on the alert for cues, clues and feedback on how I may be able to do things better; for I am convinced that if I wasn't created for this job, I wouldn't be this happy doing it. Basically, like Apostle Paul, "Whatever I do, I work at it with all my heart, as if working for God, and not for people"; and God has tremendously blessed me - even through people that others may consider unpleasant. No doubt, "If you love your job, you will never have to work forever".

In our next Career Crusade coming up on Saturday, November 1st, 2008, we will be sharing some awakening insights on the following:

• How to determine your Career Purpose
• What recruiters look for in your Resume
• How to effectuate a successful Job Search
• What to watch out for in Interviews
• How to position yourself for Retention and Promotion
• How to strategize your Career Transition
• How to leverage the POWER of Networking

For a mere career investment of $40 CAD, this workshop is designed for the unemployed; self-employed and business owners who wish to translate their vision into workable objectives; and the employed who wish to enhance their skills and competencies, long to be promoted, or contemplating a Career change towards a longstanding dream job. So extend this exciting opportunity to your friends, families, coworkers, congregations and communities. The first 10 people to register get a transferable coupon for a free one hour session of Resume Building and Career Progression Planning with a Career Coach, which is valued at $75.

Despite the ugliness of the world, we are BEAUTIFUL within. Despite the weakness of the body, we are POWERFUL within. (Alex Nosa Ihama)