Create a list of every career you've ever thought you might enjoy since you were 5 years old. (Ages 6-10 are extremely important!)

Now go back to all your lists and cross off every task that drove you crazy, or that you couldn't stand doing, or that you promised yourself you'd never do again! Ask yourself, "is this something that I would enjoy doing for 8 hours"?

Take a look at what you are left with and look for patterns. For example: Did you enjoy teaching in each paying and volunteer position you've held? Does organizing or working with numbers or working with your hands come up in your descriptions time and time again? Does a clear picture of your ideal career or business shine through?

If your ideal career isn't evident yet, try these resources: ~~ Visit Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook at http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm ~~ Ask people, what careers someone would have if they were doing __________ (the things you enjoy doing)? ~~ Consider this...you have perfect life while you are enjoying working. What would you be doing? OR you won a million dollars and only stipulation in receiving it is that you'd have to continue working. What would you be working at?

Now, go find your ideal career (or business)! Or create something wonderful and new!! Take some classes if need be... and above all, SMILE...

With special thanks to John Crystal Institute (NYC), Richard Boles, and many other authors who wrote books I've read or studied over years. Also thank you to everyone who was unable to create their resume, and instead asked me to design it for them.

Even further, you've faced those times when you actually got what you wanted, only to discover it wasn't as great as you expected.

You end up just accepting and tolerating whatever life throws you, whether in form of your career, your mate, your income, your living environment, etc.

Then, of course, in our state of "tolerating life," more we focus upon what we don't want, more of it we experience.

In words of fitness guru Susan Powter...

"Stop insanity!"

"What do I want?" Begin using these 4 words each day. As Stephen Covey says, "write it down, asterisk it, underline it." If you ask it, answers will come. Keep asking until answers do come.

See, you will always get something, even if it's only more of same. My good friend and fellow Coach, Bryden Manning talks about "Christmas morning relationships."

As a child, when you awoke Christmas morning, you knew you'd have stuff under tree. But if you didn't make a list of what you wanted, there's no telling what you'd get.

It works same with every area of your life. Every day is Christmas morning. You'll always get something. Have you made your list yet?

"What do I want?" Just say it outloud with me.

"What...do...I...want?"

If you have a hard time with this question, consider taking a class or work with a coach. It's too important a question to ignore any longer. It's your life, after all.

Start today. Say it..."what do I want?"

To extent you get clear on answer to this question, to that same extent can you focus your attention on it and make it your intention to create it.

I'll leave you with simple and direct words of Walt Whitman, who said "claim your own at any hazard."

It's your life! Make it great.