Inquisitive workmates, friends or close relations have most likely asked anyone involved with Personal Development: “What are you doing all this for?”
Perhaps these questions have caused you to pause and reflect for a time? But did you bail out of giving an answer because you couldn’t find the words, felt ashamed or just didn’t want to go there?
I’ve been there too. And I remember that some of their generally well-meaning questions made me somewhat ashamed that I even needed to focus on personal development. It was real easy to start looking for what might be really “wrong” with me to have created the PD need in the first place.
Heck, I thought maybe I should just go recycle all those PD books and tapes and CDs. And settle for whatever may come…
Fortunately, I was able to engineer a change of mindset to deal with these self-doubts. And that change became centered on the belief that the best of Personal Development is all about developing the potential of the whole person. It’s definitely not about focusing on faults, limitations and lack of ability.
This new mode of thinking became effectively hardwired after I decided to enroll with the International Coach Academy in Winter 2004. I already had a successful IT role in a global financial services corporation and was not looking for a full-time coaching role. Although part-time participation in a mentoring project with other staff was in the early preparation stages.
My self-proclaimed objective throughout the 1.5 years it took me to complete the Certified Professional Coaching program, was to find out how to use my personal development experience in a self-coaching context. During the program I made the following two life empowering discoveries:
1: A realization that “raising awareness” is the secret to becoming more alive and to the very act of living itself…
Number 2: I am able to choose my degree of responsibility for most or all of my actions.
‘Never-ending change’ is now almost a documented procedure in many global companies! I was therefore not at all alarmed to hear that a major IT outsourcing project was about to get underway!
With the knowledge that outsourcing was about to make an appearance in my world, I decided to concentrate on applying my two discoveries to help coach myself smoothly out of a 20 year employee mind-set and into the new and uncharted waters of Internet business ownership – and all this in under two years! This PD-coaching stuff rocks!
Concurrently with the outsourcing project, I also made it a daily habit of asking myself this question before the start of almost every major task: “What is the point of doing this?” This felt weird but I soon got used to it. What remained tricky was to remember to pose the same question when the task was completed!
Do you want to give it a go? If you do, you might be shocked to realize that you often don’t really know why you are doing any one particular task – it just appeared on your to-do list. And once you begin to question your reasons for engaging in probably 80% of the stuff that comes your way – the time for changing the game has probably arrived.
Over time, the answers I got from repeated use of this question helped me to see that I really was able to choose to accept more or less responsibility for some of these tasks and their outcomes. It was (and remains) a very liberating feeling to know that.
My initial successes with self-enquiry made me curious to know even more about what I was not yet aware of concerning personal development and unrealized potential at this middle stage of my life. Though it was clear that I could develop myself further within my existing employee career role (with or without outsourcing scenarios), I wondered what other roles existed beyond my day-to-day conscious awareness of “this is what I expect of myself”.
All this pondering concluded with the emergence of a simple but subtly effective self-awareness tool I refer to as “the Bio Map”.
The tool has 7 straightforward tasks each requiring only a one-word “answer”. Get a pen and some paper if you want to test it out. Here it is:
- Write down your Family name.
- Write down where you were born.
- Write down where you live now.
- Write down your current job title.
- Give one word that recalls a big goal you have already achieved in your life.
- Write down a major goal you really want to achieve.
- Write down the date.
Good job! You just made your first Bio Map! And to finish up, here is the tiebreaker! Take your list of words and write a brief paragraph on what these words mean to you and your life right now.
This marks the beginning of all effective goal creation.

When you work in the same environment for years (decades even!), it’s so easy to settle back and wait out for retirement.
Yet if there is a niggle of doubt, take note – it’s time to overcome that gnawing sensation of looking at your job and seeing where the fault lines are – and doing something about it!
You know that the only thing to do is get ahead, but it seems like you’ve gotten as far as you’ll ever get. You’ve given the job everything and you are good at your work, but nothing about your job satisfies you.
So why aren’t you chasing down your dream job? Why are you still working in a job you loathe?
Life isn’t about a routine of day in, day out in some career you didn’t really want. Feeling stuck is an awful one to deal with when you realize you’ve still got plenty of years ahead of you.
Life is about living and feeling alive, so it’s time to make some changes and realize your full potential! No one is forcing you to stay in a job you hate and no one is holding you back from your dreams – except yourself, that is.
Start by figuring out what it is you really enjoy in life. Do you have a hobby or a passion? Most likely, you’re pretty good at whatever it is you love doing. Have you ever thought of turning that hobby into a dream job that you’ll look forward to every day?
You could turn your hobby into a paying career with a little determination and some good focus.
That’s right; focus. Decide what it is you’d rather be doing, and then find out all you can about how you need to get there. Do your homework on whether you need credentials or qualifications to turn your hobby into employment.
Find out the steps you need to make that will bring you to where you want to be and lay down a plan.
Keep in mind that you’re not going to get anywhere over night. Miracles don’t happen but hard work, effort, and the right choices to move you forward will have solid results.
If you need training, part time courses or night school can let you keep your day job and work towards a new career in your spare time.
Volunteer. Network. Apprentice under someone who excels at what you want to do. Offering free services in exchange for the learning experience can be a great way to break into a new industry or career.
Talk to everyone you know about your plans; the more contacts and support you have, the more it will help you stay focused on your goals and provide opportunities.
Don’t give up. Making life changes takes time and isn’t always easy. You may face some stumbling blocks along the way to a dream job. If you remember your goals and you’ve taken the time to lay down your steps and plans, you’ll be better prepared to find a way around the obstacle.
Obstacles are valuable opportunities for lessons in achieving what you want. Be prepared to face them and accept the challenge of resolving them. You’ll also gain plenty of wisdom and experience while you work towards securing your dream job and a life of happiness and satisfaction.
If you believe you can, you will. If you believe you can’t – well, sadly, that will prove to be true as well. How you set about getting the acreer you want is up to you, like it mor not.
Your own fate is in your own hands. Know you can and you will!

Getting people on your side is critical to get a job like you’ve always dreamt about, so taking the time to get your important people with you is really necessary. And worth it.
When you’ve tried to make changes in your life before, people have shaken their heads and told you you’re crazy each time you come up with the next ‘new scheme’ for that dream job.
When you’re thinking that you’ve had enough and that you want a change in your life, convincing your friends and family that this isn’t just another go-nowhere idea for a dream job can be tough.
So, here are 5 useful ways to bring everyone you need on board, when you’re determined to have career success:-
1. Be Serious About It.
By starting to lay down a plan that is well thought out and isn’t impulsive, you’ll be doing two things.
Not only will you be focusing your energy on where you want to go and what you’ll need to do to get there, you’ll be showing people around you that you’re serious.
Having a plan on getting from A to B keeps you on track and is positive proof to others – and you – that this isn’t another daydream.
2. Show Patience.
Plenty of impulsive people out there live great highs – and dreadful lows. They get excited about something, throw themselves into it, and when things don’t work out, they’re devastated.
Remember Aesop’s fable about the tortoise and the hare – ‘Slow and steady wins the race’? You need have some patience and take steps that will move you forward, without being too frustrating when progress is slow.
Careful consideration of how things are moving, will show others that you’re thinking things through to make smarter moves as you go along.
3. Do Your Homework.
People don’t have faith in those individuals who seize an idea and don’t think through what steps will be needed, or what sacrifices need to be made to accomplish that dream job.
They’ll say, ‘Yea, yea, yea’, and humor you.
So, do your research and find out what courses you’ll need to take and their costs, or which people and businesses you’ll need to network with to wiggle into your new career.
4. Believe In Yourself – Totally!
This is a ‘must have’. Being able to weather the elements and batten down the hatches, especially when things are a bit tough is important.
If you’re serious and you want to stay the course to your fabulous future, you’re really going to have to believe in yourself, despite what other people say or think about your plans.
Unfortunately, many people thoughtlessly take the wind out of motivation’s sails with a few unintended putdowns, so be prepared for these and stick to what you know to be right.
5. Know Why Changes Will Make Things Better.
When you’re planning to get into a new area of work or type of job, or when you’re thinking of changing careers to something completely new, you’re going to need to know why and how these changes will make your life (and the lives of others) better.
Sit down and figure out all angles as to why you should make this big change in your life. Then you’ll have something to help encourage you, on those tricky days when things are tough.
And remember, you are much more likely to succeed if you have partners who will cheer you on in this – and if you don’t have these people, success will be all the harder.
So go out of your way to get people onside with your dreams – of that elusive but very possible ‘dream job’ and new, vital, successful career!

People see the nice house you live in and the new car in your driveway. They see you pay your bills every month, and you can buy the luxuries you want, when you want. So, it looks like you have a dream job.
Yet, deep down, you know this isn’t your dream job. It might have been so a few years ago, but now you may be feeling like that once-upon-a-time dream job has turned into a bit of a nightmare – and it’s getting worse. Sure, it pays well, but, actually, you realize you hate your job. Time for something new and a change?
Look at these top eight reasons for a job change and see any fit your situation:
Challenge
Your days at the office could be long and boring, and you are lacking something to get excited about. Been there, done that. People need challenge to stay motivated and be productive; otherwise, they’ll drag their feet. Changing careers can put the spark back in loving your job.
Learning
You may be the type of person that enjoys learning and gets motivated about new things. If your job is boring and a routine that you know like the back of your hand, a change of jobs to something new could be a nice switch.
Happiness
If you are unhappy, you can feel it and it shows. Your family life might be suffering from bad moods that you bring home or needing time to unwind before being able to play with the kids. You are suffering and your happiness with life is taking a hit. A better job can turn your mood around and make you someone that’s smiling – MUCH more.
Fulfillment
Many people enjoy jobs that leave them feeling a sense of accomplishment or having helped someone. Many jobs are ones that seem to have no purpose or effect on the world at large. Changing careers for a job that gives you a sense of fulfillment can help you feel like you make a difference.
Location
Commuting is rarely considered a good part of a job. Your time traveling to and fro is wasted time that accomplishes very little besides getting you from point A to point B. Also, commuting long distances or through heavy traffic can be wearing, tiring, and stressful. Changing jobs to have one closer to home may leave you feeling more relaxed and happy, as well as giving you more spare time to enjoy life.
Personality Fit
A job isn’t just something we do. A job is part of WHO we are and should be a reflection of what we’re good at. If your job is about aspects that don’t fit your personality (like math or working in the public), then change it! The relief you’ll feel at doing something you like better, is definitely worth it.
Personal Potential
Many people enjoy seeing just how much they can do or how far they can go in life. If you have always dreamed of being something more or playing a much bigger game bigger, staying boxed into a job that doesn’t go anywhere can feel like a cage. A job switch can open up plenty of opportunities for growth.
Feeling Valued
There is nothing worse than feeling like you are just another number in the big scheme of things. We all like to be valued and feel important, but there are situations that can leave us feeling like a nameless worker that doesn’t matter. A place of work that doesn’t value you isn’t the type of place you want to work.
It doesn’t take much to sit down, in a quiet moment, to identify which of these eight things are a trigger. What may take a little longer is to consider how important to you it is to do something about it.
And only you can do that, by finding out more about what you can do next to move your job and career on to something better – a true dream job.