Living well is not the secret of happiness
Despite the excellent financial rewards, Andrew found it difficult to get excited about trading commodities from a desk and his colleagues often found him absorbed by the websites of leading watch companies.
One of his friends said, “You came into banking because it’s where your friends are. You have no real passion for it. Why don’t you look for work you really love? Maybe you should be in the watch business.”
Time to make a change
Andrew talked things over with his wife, then carrying their first child, and they decided he should study watchmaking at college. They could live comfortably on his savings until he qualified and found work.
With his natural eye for design and a curiosity about how mechanical things work, Andrew has found his true vocation.
He now works as a technician servicing luxury watches costing thousands of pounds each.
He doesn’t have the fancy car he could afford as a banker, but every day he gets paid for doing something he really loves.
Are you like Andrew?
Andrew’s story is a familiar one. Many people find themselves working all day checking how many hours are left before they can go home.
Think about any of the famous business people you know. For example: Sara Blakely (SPANX), Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Elon Musk (Tesla), Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post), Tim Cook (Apple), Gisele Bundchen (Sejaa Skincare), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook). Do you think they sit all day at their desks wishing they were at home?
Start with a passion
These highly successful entrepreneurs all share a common quality: they’re passionate about what they do. This helps them become successful business people but also great leaders.
Those who work with them are encouraged to share the passion and the excitement becomes impossible to ignore. Success usually follows. But even if an idea fails, the passion never fades.
What blows your hair back?
If you feel unsure about the direction your career should move, ask yourself what really makes you passionate. Designing clothes? Photography? Sport? Flying model aircraft? If there’s something in your life that you never grow tired of, try to build a career around it.
Billionaire businesswoman Sara Blakely, for example, was so aggravated by having to wear uncomfortable pantyhose while working in photocopier sales, she invented and patented a new garment.
In a few years she has made such a success of her product range she’s now ranked in the top one hundred of the world’s most powerful women.
Wherever you look for people who have achieved success and happiness by following their passion, you’ll find people like Sara. And Andrew.
Try this:
Look for a part-time activity that involves something you’re passionate about. Let’s say you’re into photography. Very few of us are good enough to make it as a top-rated professional in such a competitive field.
But you could start a camera club in your community and satisfy your passion in that way.
Whatever your passion, look for ways you can put it to good use without affecting your income and job security. Working at something you really enjoy will make hard work seem more like fun.
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