Did I get your attention? Good; that was the point. No one should have just a job after 40. Before 40, it is necessary to build your ego in the world. It is critical for self-development, self-esteem, and to get a sense of your place in the world. Naturally, it would...
What contribution do you want to make? What exactly do you want to contribute to most now? What issues concern you the most? Where do you feel your natural gifts and talents can make the most difference in the world? Do you want to help children learn, feed the...
Is your work coherent with your life? This is a question rarely asked before 40, but it’s so important after 40. Most of our work lives have been about accepting the views of others and working to the plans of others. We had jobs and we were expected to meet the...
We humans are terrible at preparing for the crisis It seems to me that many people tend to ignore their needs in mid-life. We tend to be very good at reacting to a crisis, but terrible at planning for one. I think this is the root of the problem. For example, many...
P is for Perfect: Purpose What is life about? How will you make a difference in the world? Your purpose drives your behavior and can provide you with daily energy and happiness. What is the purpose of your life? Think deeply about where you most want to make a...
Look at the big picture of your life This can be hard to do. The daily pressures of a thankless job, a demanding commute, and mounting bills all lead to stress. Worst of all is the nagging feeling that your life is out of your control, and slowly slipping away. I...
Evaluate where you are Evaluate where you have been in your life and ask yourself, “Is this enough?” The beginning of the New Year is a great time for re-evaluating your life and plans. What would you do with free time? If you had a day to yourself, what would you do...
How do you define success? If you are like most people, your definition of success is based on external factors. A nice house, perfect children, a trophy wife or husband, nice vacations, lots of material things, and of course, a great big salary. What price will you...
Do I have to change who I am to do what I love? The answer is yes. When you go from one lackluster job to another one, not much personal change is needed. However, when you go from “just a job” to a vocation—that is, doing what you love—it does require a change. It...
# 1 Figure out why you should quit in the first place That’s right. If you find joy, passion and meaning in your work, there is no reason to quit. Sadly, this isn’t the case for many of the people I meet. Look at what is most important to you. Is your work aligned...
