I always wanted to be a ___________________ [fill in the blank with your favorite coulda-shoulda-woulda dream job] but I couldn’t ever quite get there because ________________________ [now, fill in that blank with the excuse/reason/person/whatever that kept you from your dream job].

Ya know, if I ever hear someone tell me that again, I think I’m going to barf all over myself.  Really.  I just don’t want or know how to accept these kinds of comments.  As Bill Cosby might say, “Come on, People.”

I mean, really.  Do you believe that there’s really anything other than yourself who’s holding you back?  Unless you’re physically locked up, strapped down, or held hostage, I just can’t believe there’s not a way out and on to your dream job and the life that you want outside of cubicleville or burgerland or whatever other trap you’ve found yourself in.

So, it was with such incredible joy that I came across this passage from my favorite historian, David McCullough, in his gem of an essay called No Time to Read? and here it is:

Once upon a time in the dead of winter in the Dakota territory, Theodore Roosevelt took off in a makeshift boat down the Little Missouri River in pursuit of a couple of thieves who had stolen his prized rowboat. After several days on the river, he caught up and got the draw on them with his trusty Winchester, at which point they surrendered. Then Roosevelt set off in a borrowed wagon to haul the thieves cross-country to justice. They headed across the snow-covered wastes of the Badlands to the rail head at Dickinson, and Roosevelt walked the whole way, the entire 40 miles. It was an astonishing feat, what might be called a defining moment in Roosevelt’s eventful life. But what makes it especially memorable is that during that time, he managed to read all of Anna Karenina. I often think of that when I hear people say that they haven’t time to read.

All right now, Dream Jobber . . . you don’t have time to sink your teeth into prepping for something — a change in career — that you’ve wanted your whole life?

Come on, People!

Popularity: 57% [?]

Are you a risk taker?

If you’re not, you probably should be working for someone who is.

You see, there’s this myth out there (and I’m not really sure who the they are who promulgate this damn thing) that says you should follow a fixed course in life, that your surroundings, friends, parents, or partner have laid out for you.  And, that there’s a safe way to live — the job with the perfect benefits, the home in the “right” neighborhood, the ideal partner, yaddy yaddy yadda. Read more »

Popularity: 38% [?]

If you’re as much a personal development geek as I am, you’ll sure want to check out this site from Priscilla Palmer (and, thanks, Priscilla for including Dream Jobs Dialog, and thanks to my pal, Stephen Hopson at Adversity University for telling Priscilla about what we’re doing here).

Priscilla has compiled an incredible list of personal development blogs, and here they are (ya gotta love some of these names):

Aaron Potts at Today is That Day

Adam Alexander at Adam’s Peace

Adam Kayce at Monk at Work

Adam Khoo at Adam Khoo’s Philosophies and Investing Insights

AgentSully at Life Learning Today

Al at 7pproductions.com

Alan Torres at Made to Be Great

Alex Shalman at AlexShalman.com

Alexander Kjerulf at The Chief Happiness Officer

Alexys Fairfield at Unraveling The Spiritual Mystique

Albert Foong at urbanmonk.net

Albert Lee at My Journey to Living an Exceptional Life

Alvaro at Sharp Brains Blog

Amber at Amber Waves

Amber at Random Mangus

Amie Ragan at Psychology of Clutter

Amit Sodha at The Power of Choice

Amy Hedin at There is no Maximum to Human Potential

Andrea Learned at Learned on Women

Andrea J. Lee at Money, Meaning, and Beyond

Andrew Brunelle at Andrew Brunelle.com

Andy Wibbels at AndyWibbels.com

Anita Pathik Law at Power of Our Way

Anmol Mehta at AnmolMetha.com

Ann at A Nice Place in The Sun

Anna Farmery at The Engaging Brand

Antonio Thornton at AntonioThornton.com

April Groves at Making Life Work For You

Argancel at C’eclair  (for those who speak french)

Ariane Benefit at Neat & Simple Living

Ash aka Mr. Biggs at One Powerful Word

Ashley Cecil at The Painting Activist

Ask Lucid at Ask Lucid Spiritual Development

BK Diva at Bklyn’s Finest

Barb Lattin at Feels Like Magic

Barb Melloh at The Law of Attraction Info

Barbara Curtis at Mommy Life

Barbara Sliter at Creatorship

Belle Wong at Abundance Journal

Ben Yoskovitz at Instigator Blog

Benjamin at WOWNDADI

Beth at Butterfly Thoughts

Bill Perry at Lucid Blog

Billy Smith at The Organic Leadership Blog

Blogfuse at LifeDev

Bluskygirl at LifeGoddess.com

Brad Isaac at Achieve It

Brett Farmiloe, James Whiting, Noah Pollock and Zach Hubbell at Pursue The Passion

Brian Clark at Copyblogger

Brian Kim at briankim.net

Brian Lee at geniustypes.com

Brightfeathers at this time-this space

Brooke at Plain Advice

Bob at everyeveryminute

Bolly at Motivational Corner

Boston Gal at Boston Gal’s Open Wallet

Byron Katie at Byron Katie.com 

Cam Beck at ChaosScenario

Cara Lumen at The Success Magnets With Cara Luman and Your Second Wind Blog

Carlon Haas at Possess Less Exist More

Carol Skolnick at Soul Surgery

Catherine Carter at Continuum Wellness

Cheif Family Officer at Cheif Family Officer

Chris at The Philosophy of Change

Chris at One is All and All is One

Chris Brogan at Chris Brogan.com

Chris Cade at Spiritual Short Stories

Chris Cree at SuccessCREEations

Chris Marshall at Martial Development

Chris Melton at Soupornuts.com

Chris Owen at Pink Apple

Christine Kane at ChristineKane.com

Christine Valters Painter at Abbey of the Arts

Christy Z at Totally Fabulous

Clyde at Feeling Good

Colin Beavan at No Impact Man

Colleen Wainwright of Communicatrix

Conceive, Believe, Achieve at Conceive, Believe, Achieve

Confessing at 7Confessions

Cooper at Wonderland or Not

Corrine Edwards at Personal Growth with Corrine Edwards

Crabby McSlacker at Cranky Fitness

Craig Harper at Motivational Speaker

Craze at Crazedreamer’s Thoughts

Curt Rosengren at Occupational Adventure

Cyres at Cyres Matters

Damian Carr at Soul Terminal

Daniel Roach at Daniel Roach.org

Daniel Sitter at Idea Sellers

Danny Kohn at Be Inspired Everyday

Daria Black at Figmeant Writing Studio and Community

Darlene Siddons at Spirited Boutique

Darren Rowse at Problogger.net

Dave Pollard at How to Save the World

Dave Schawbel at The Personal Branding Blog

Dave Schoof at Engaging the Disquiet

Davers at Language Trainers Blog

David Allen at The David Allen Company

David Bohl at Reflections on Balance

David Finch at David Finch.com

David Richeson at 360 Degree Success

David Rogers at How to Have Great Self Confidence

David Seah at David Seah.com

David Zinger at Slacker Manager

Dawn Vinson at Daydreaming on Paper

Dawud Miracle at dmiracle.com

Daylle Deanna Schwartz at Lessons from a Recovering Doormat

Dean Lacono at Law of Attraction for Beginners

Deb at Mind Body and Solar

Deb2012 at Fibromaylgia and Wellness

Debbie Call at Spirit In Gear

Debbie LaChusa at 10 Step Marketing Collection

Deborah aka Zephry1 at Climate of Our Future

Debra Moorhead at Debra Moorhead.com

Denise Mosawi at Destineering.com

Derrick Kwa at Sui Generis

Desika Nadadur at Desika Nadadur.com 

Devlyn Steele at Tools To Life Guide

Diane Cese at Everything Yoga

Dick Richards at Come Gather Round

Dominic Tay at Personal Development for Winners

Don Simkovich at Hey Don

Donald Latumahina at Life Optimizer

Donald Trump and others at The Trump Blog

Donna Karlin at Perspectives

Donna Steinhorn at Rethinking

Douglas Eby at Talent Development Resources

Dr. Charles Parker at The Core Psych Blog

Dr. Hal at Northstar Mental fitness blog

Dr. Michael Shea at From Pain to Personal Gain

Dr. Tim Sharp at The Happiness Institute

Drew Rozell at Drew Rozell.com

Dwayne Melancon at Genuine Curiosity

E Murphy at The Active Life

Edward Mills at Evolving Times

Edward Smith at Bright Moment

Edith Brown at JETEAK PRESS WRITER BLOG

Edith Yeung at Dream Think Act

Elizabeth Badurina at Modern Gypsy

Elle Mgee at Ever Hopeful, Ever Thankful

Ellen Weber at Brain Based Business

Ellesse at Goal Setting College

Elly Jolly at Jolly Life Coaching

Emily G. W. Lilly at The Science of Waldorf Education

Emmanuel Lopez at The Adventures of Motivatorman

Enoch Tan at Mind Reality

Eric Boehme at The Blogging Boss

Eric Napier at Quotation Collection

Erin Pavlina at Erin Pavlina.com

Ev Nucci at My Life is Murphy’s Law

Evelyn Lim at Attraction Mind Map

Evelyn Rodriguez at Crossroads Dispatches

Evolving Excellence at Evolving Excellence

Farouk Radwan at 2KnowMySelf

Frank at Re/Transformation

Frank Kanu at Frank Uncovers Excellence in Leadership

Frank Roche at KnowHR Blog

Galba Bright at Tune Up Your EQ

Garr Reynolds at Presentation Zen

Gary at Personal Strategic Plan

Gary Evans at Good to Feel Good.com

Gerri at Absolutely True

Gilad Buchman at Sigsug

Gleb Reys at Personal Development Ideas

Glenda Watson Hyatt at Do It Myself Blog

Grayson at Modern Worker Blog

Greg Butler at holistic-personal-development.com

Greg Frost at ChargedAudio.com

Geoff R at Gearfire.net

George Vasu at 360

Golbguru at Money, Matter, and More Musings

Gretchen Rubin at Happiness Project

Gustav at Success-is-in-you.com

Guy Kawasaki at How to Change the World

Gyanish at Diethack

Halina Goldstein at The Inner Travel Journal

Hatter at Dreaming to Infinity

Hilda Carroll at Living Out Loud

Heather Goldsmith at A Creative Journal

Helgi Pall Einarsson at Everyday Wonderland

Henrik Edberg at The Positivity Blog

Holly Sumner at The Abundance Place

Honman at Open Your Mind to Prosperity

Hueina Su at Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul

Ilyria at Finding Norway

Inkedmn at The Cranking Widgets Blog

Isabella Mori at MoriTherapy

Isha at Isha Yoga

Itzy Sabo at Email Overloaded

JC at Job Life Upgrade

Jacin Steele at Jacin Steele.com

Jack Vinson at Knowledge Jolt with Jack

Jackie at The Painted Veil

Jackie Ford at The Vegan Diet

Jacklyn Ker at Inspiring and Empowing Lives

Jarle Husefest at The Personal Development Blog

Jason and Michael at Black Belt Productivity

Jason Ivers at A Miracle a Day

Jason Womack at Fit and Effective

Jay White at dumb little man tips for life

Jean Browman at Transforming Stress Into Power and Cheerful Monk

Jeane Michelle Culp at Binding Ink

Jeanne May at Aspirations Plus

Jeannette Maw at Good Vibe Coaching

Jeanie Marshall at Empowerment and Meditation Blog and DailyAffirm:  Positive Affirmations Day by Day

Jeff Davidson at Breathing Space Blog

Jeff Lilly at Druid Journal

Jeffrey Phillips at Think Faster

Jennifer at Goodness Graciousness

Jennifer Mannion at Heal Pain Naturally

Jenny Ryan at Using My Powers For Good

Jenny and Erin at Jenny and Erin

Jeremiah Owyang at Web Strategy by Jeremiah

Jerry Hart at Blue Print to emarketing

Jerry Lopper at Personal Growth

Jessa at clairvoyantGuidance.net

Jessica Hagy at Indexed

Jim stroup at Managing Leadership

Jim Walton at Black In Business

JoLynn Braley at The Fit Shack

Joan Schramm at Accelerating Momentum

Joanna Young at Coaching Wizardry

Joanne at I’m Happy Fish

JodeeB at You Already Know This Stuff

Joe Vitale at Dr. Joe Vitale at Zero

Joel at Fearless Dreams

John Chow at John Chow Dot Com

John Pratt at John Pratt International

John Place at John Place Online

John W. McKenna at The Leadership Epidemic

John Wesley at Pick The Brain

Jon at Join The Secret

Jon King at The Effective Life

Jon Willis at Self Happiness

Jonathan at Smart Wealthy Rich and Freelance Folder

Jordan at The Abe Blog

Jory Des Jardin at Pause: Meaningful Work

Josh Bickford at Reach For Magnificence and Reach for Magnificence

Josh Kaufman at The Personal MBA

Joshua Denny at Catalyst for Change

Judy Martin at The Work/Life Monitor

Julia Rogers Hamrick at Julia’s Blog: Journal of the Journey Home to Eden

Julie Bonner at Declutter It

Kailani at An Island Review

Kammie Kobyleski at Passion Meets Purpose

Kara-Leah Masina at Be Conscious Now

Karen at Journey with Water Learner

Karen Lynch at Live The Power

Karen Putz at A Deaf Mom Shares Her World

Karen Wallace at The Clearing Space

Karl Moore at Karl Blog.com

Karl Staib at Karl Staib.com

Kathy Mallary at Coaching Biz Tips

Keith Ferrazzi at Never Eat Alone

Kelly at Kellymentology

Ken Dow and Martin Cooper at Creativity Happens

Kenton Whitman at kentonwhitman.com

Kevin Kinchen at Creative Power of Thought

Killeris at Attitude, The Ultimate Power

Kim and Jason at Escape Adulthood

Kim George at Doing What You Can Do

Kimber Chin at Client K

Kirk Nugent at Kirk Nugent.com

Krishan Singh at Kundalini Yoga Blog

Kirsten Harrell at Ipopin

Krishna De at Biz Growth News and Todays Women in Business

Kristen King at Lively Women

K.L. Masina at Be Conscious Now

LJW at Heavenly Inclinations

Lauchlan Mackinnon at Think Differently

Laura at Heaven is Inside

Laura at Orgjunkie

Lawrence Cheok at A Long, Long Road

Laura Young at The Dragon Slayer’s Guide to Life

Leah Maclean at Working Solo

Leigh at The Lab

Lee Nutter at bmindful

Leo Babauta at Zen Habits

Liara Covert at Dream Builders

Life Reflection at Universe in a Single Atom

Lilifixt at Feel Happy

Lillie Ammann at A Writers Words, An Editor’s Eye

Linda Hernestal da Silva at Daily Power Walk

Linda Salazar at Awaken The Genie Within

Lisa Braithwaite at Speak Schmeak

Lisa Gates at Design Your Writing Life

Lisa Haneberg at Management Craft, Two weeks to a Breakthrough Blog, and Chile Pepper High

Lisa McGlaun at LifePrints - Good News for a More Compassionate World

Lisa Mills at Work at Home Mom Revolution

Lisa Q at 40s Singleness-Dating in Your 40s

Lisa Van Allen at Finish Strong

Liz at Internet Marketing Strategies

Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Lodewijkvdb at How to be an Original

Lola Fayemi at Real World Spiritual and Personal Development

Lori Grant and Debbie at Smart Lemming

Lorie Marrero at The Clutter Diet Blog

Lorraine Cohen at Powerfull Living

Luciano Passuello at Litemind.com

Lucid at Spiritual Suggestions

Lumosity at Brain Health Blog

Lyman Reed at Creating a Better Life

Lyndon Antcliff at LyndonAntcliff.com and Cornwallseo.com

Lynn McTaggert at Living The Field

Lynne Morrell at Lynn Morrell.com and Musings From The Edge

MT at MindTWEAKS

Madame X at My Open Wallet

Maddy at Illuminated Minds Want to Know

Malathy Badri at Laws of Universe

Malcolm Campbell at The Round Table

Manny at Success Books

Maria Gajewski at Never The Same River Twice

Maria Garcia at Get Organized Now

Maria Palma at The Good Life

Marianne Williamson at Journal

Marion at Herbal Connection

Marilyn Jenett at Feel Free to Prosper and Feel Free to Prosper Ryze Network

Mark at The Naked Soul

Mark Forster at Get Everything Done

Mark LaPierre at The Winding Path

Mark McManus at Build Your Life To Order

Mark Sanborn at sanborn.com“>Mark Sanborn.com, and  You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader

Mark W Shead at Productivity 501

Martin Avis at Kickstart Daily

Mary K at Becoming Your StellarSelf

Matthew Cornell at Matt’s Idea Blog

Matthew M. Costello at The Winning Attitude

Meg Haworth at Life Lessons From Your Soul

Melanie Benson Strick at The Success Blog

Merlin Mann at 43 Folders

Meryl K. Evans at Meryl.net

Michelle at aMusing My Genius

Michelle at Binding INK III

Michelle Moore at Happiness Blog

Michael Port at The Think Big Revolution

Michael Vanderdonk at TOACH Performance

Michael Werner at Dream Jobs Dialog

Mike Janssen at Opgestroopte Mouwen

Mike Kemski at BANABU

Mike St. Pierre at The Daily Saint

Millionaire Mommy Next Door at Millionaire Mommy Next Door

Mimi Lennox at Mimi Writes

Mizzy Bohemia at Miz BoheMia’s Rhapsody

Mona Grayson at Question The Mind

Monte Ladner at Fitness Rocks

Moneymonk at Moneymonk

Mr.Wang at Mr Wang Says So

MsJayy at Jackie Young Writes

My Everyday Planner at My Everyday Planner

My Mind on Books at My Mind on Books

Mystical Monkey at One Mystical Monkey

NCN at No Credit Needed

Nancy Mills at The Spirited Woman

Nancy Tierney at Unconditional Confidence

Neal Donald Walsh at Conversations With God

Neil Patel at Quick Sprout

Nic Askew at Monday 9AM Blog

Nick Smith at Life 2.0

Nita at Moments

Nneka at Balanced Life Center

Ordinary Mystic at The Ordinary Mystic

Organize-It at Organize-It

Pamala Slim at Escape From Cubicle Nation

Pamm Larry at My Secret Spiritual Dance

Patrick Combs at Good Thinking Co.

Patricia Klingler at Remarkable Women Speak

Patricia Singleton at Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker

Patti Digh at 37 Days

Paul at Paul’s Tips

Paul Piotrowski at Self Help Wisdom

Paula Kawal at Paula Kawal.com

Peggy Payne at Peggy Payne’s Boldness Blog

Penelope Trunk at The Brazen Careerist

Peter at I Will Change Your Life

Peter Aldin at Great Circle

Peter Haslem at Necessary Skills

Phil Gerbyshak at Make It Great

Philip J Eby at Dirt Simple.org

Philippe Matthews at Shockwealth

Pia at Courting Destiny

Polli at Polliwog’s Pond

Priscilla Palmer at Personal Development Demands Success

Priya Florence Shah at Soul Kadee

Quint Jensen at Win Your Mind

Raymond Salas at Zenchill Powertools

Real Modern Man at Real Modern Man

Reg Adkins at ElementalTruths

Rhonalala at The Harder I Work, The Luckier I Am

Ricardo at Wake Up Tiger

Rich Schefren at Strategic Profits

Rick Cockrum at Shards of Consciousness

Rick Cooper at The PDA Pro

Ririan at Ririanproject

RivKaz at Waterlearner

Rob at 7Breaths

Rob Cooke at Leave the Office

Robert at Compassionate Council

Robert at Myselfdev

Robert Ashcroft at PDSS Online

Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings

Robin Skeen at Robin’s Reflections

Robin Yapp at Yapp 3.0

Robyn McMaster at Brain Based Biz

Roger Von Oech at Creative Think

Rolf F. Katzenberger at Evomend

Rosemary at Parkinson’s Disease and Peripheral Neuropathy

Rosa Say at Managing With Aloha Coaching

Ryan Marle at The Alpha Project

S.J. Yee at Personal Development for the Book Smart

Sam at Aquire Wisdom and Live with Passion

Scott Adams at The Dilbert Blog

Scott Andrew Bird at Scott Andrew Bird.com

Scott Berkun at Berkun Blog

Scott Bernadot at Keeping The Secret

Scott Ginsberg at Hello, My Name Is Blog

Scott H Young at Scott H Young

Scott McArthur at McArthur’s Rant

Secret Simon at The Secret of Life

Self Pursuit at Self Pursuit

Senia at Senia.com Positive Psychology Coaching

Seth Godin at Seth’s Blog

2 Know My Self at 2KnowMySelf

Shane Navratil at Zoomstart

Shaun Boyd at LifeReboot.com

Shauna Arthurs at Breathing Prosperity and Follow Your Path

Shaheen Lakhan at GNIF Brain Blogger

Simone at Dynamic Living

Simone and Mandy at Outfit Inspirations

Single Ma at Single Ma’s Fabulous Financials

Slade Roberson at Shift Your Spirits and Spiritual Blogging

Sleeping Dude at How to Wake Up Early

Sonora Jayne Case at Positive Realities Coaching

Sophiagurl at Life is Just Around the Corner

Spike at Organize It

Spiritlifter at Intentional Abundance

Stacy Brice at Virtualosophy

Start Up Coach at Take Charge of Your Life

Stay at Home Mom at Insanity’s Oasis

Stephanie and Jeffrey at Brains on Purpose

Stephen at HD bizblog

Stephen Hopson at Adversity University

Stephen Shapiro at Stephen Shapiro.com

Steve Beisheim at Jumping Ship Happens

Steve Grossman at Why I failed

Steve Harper at The Ripple Effect

Steve King at The Green Geek

Steve Moore at Personal Development Blog

Steve Olson at Steve-Olson.com

Steve Pavlina at stevepavlina.com

Steve Roesler at All Things Workplace

Steven Aitchison at Change Your Thoughts

Success Current at SuccessCurrent.com

Sue Ann Edwards at Always Embraces All Ways

Sunny Schlenger at SunCoach.com

Surjit at Gurushabad

Susan at Got2BeGreen

Susan R. Meyer at Life Work Cafe

Susan Sabo at Productivity Cafe

Susie at The Accidental Environmentalist

Susanna Kompogiorgas at Flowing Chi

Suzanne Bird-Harris at Learning Curve Coaching

Suzanne Falter-Barns at Discover Your Joy

Takeshi at Nakayima

Takuin Minamoto at Takuin.com

Taylor at Mom’s Out There

Ted Demopoulos at Blogging For Business

Teesha Moore at TeeshaMorre.com

Terry Starbucker at Ramblings From a Glass Half Full

Therapy Doc at Everyone Needs Therapy

Thom Quinn at Qlog

Tiffany at Little Red Suit

Tim Ferris at 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog

Tim Taylor at My Agapic Life

Tim Warren at Personal Development4U 

Tish at The Kat House

Todd Goldfarb at  We The Change

Tom LeDree at Tom LeDree.com

Tom Peters at Tom Peters.com

Tom Spanton at TRCoach

Tom Van Brunscot of Transformation Economy

Tony Brigmon at Smile Notes

Tony Chimento at Living Forward

Tony D Clark at Success From The Nest

Torlink at You Create Reality

Travis A. Sinquefield at Disorganizational Behavior

Travis Wright at Cultivate Greatness

Tricia at Blogging Away Debt

Tricia at Loving Farewells

Trizoko at Trizoko.com

Trent Hamm at The Simple Dollar

Trevor Gay at Simplicity is the Key

Troy Worman at Orbit Now!

Tuck Self at Rebel Belle Blog

Tupelo Kenyon at Tupelokenyon.com

Ubertech at Geeks Guide To GTD

Vanessa Vinos at Musings from a Life Coach

Vera Nadine at Vera Nadine.com

Vickie at Contemplate This

Wade Millican at The Middle Way

Wally Bock at Three Star Leadership

Wan Qi at Meditation Forum Mantras

Wanda Grindstaff at Creating Abundant Lifestyles

Wendy Betterini at Wings For The Heart

Wild Bill at Passionate Blogger

Winsome at Winsome Gunning Art Walk

Zale Tabakman at Success Through Balance

Zorka at Essential Life Skills

Here are some other sites with multiple authors:

Blogher’s Religion and Spirituality “department”

Burst Blog

Change This

Change Your Thinking

Daily PlanIt

Did I Get Things Done

GTD Wannabe

Jobman2

Joyful Jubilant Learning

Life Coaches Blog Stratagies for a Greater Life

Lifehack.org

Lifehacker.com

Phattitudes.com

TED Blog

Transformational Girlfriends

Transfoundation

Unclutterer

Popularity: 29% [?]

Hey!!  There’s not been a single day in your life when you’ve been anything but magnificent. Give this to yourself.  Every day you move mountains, touch lives, and perform miracles. Every day you’re a success, a hero, an example.  And every day you change the world.
Notes from the Universe

Mike Dooley runs the Notes from the Universe site and produces one of the most remarkable CD series I’ve come across — not motivational so much as thought provoking — called Infinite Possibilities – about how thoughts become things.

I’ll be doing a complete review of the series soon, but in the meantime I thought you’d like to see what another review said:

Mike’s most expansive work, covering “thoughts becoming things,” working with your beliefs, understanding your emotions, and the meaning of life.
“I have ‘known’ for some time that we create our own reality, but you have succinctly put into words HOW to create it. I’ve explored many paths - Course in Miracles, Caroline Myss, Conversations with God, Kabbalah, Eckhardt Tolle, Buddhism, and others, and ‘Infinite Possibilities’ is the best. Thanks. You are a real blessing.”

Infinite Possibilities.  Good, good stuff.  Check ‘er out.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Are you becoming the you that you want to be?

Or, are you just talking about it?

When it comes to figuring out who you want to be for the rest of your life, and where that dream job fits in, are you doing it, or just talking about it?

Over the years I’ve fielded hundreds, maybe thousands, of emails and posts at various career and job sites I’ve been involved with . . . the majority of them have to do with getting started on finding the dream job or figuring out what that dream job should be.

Most start off with “oh, my, I just don’t know what to do with my career,” or . . . “I’d really like to be a _______, but I just don’t know how to get started.”

Is that you?  Let’s check.

Here’s a quick self-test (no points, no grading needed . . . your answers themselves will tell you all you need to know) on the Dream Job.

In the past two weeks, have you:

1. Read a book or article about jobs that interest you?
2. Sent out your resume or contacted someone in your dream job field?
3. Volunteered to do work that relates to that dream job?
4. Started a part-time venture in your dream-job area?

If the answer is “no” to all of the above, you’re a dream job dreamer.  You’d rather be yappin’ about the new you than becoming it.

If the answer is “yes” to at least one of the above, you’re a dream job doer.

Be a dream job doer.  Take some action.  Even a step that turns out (with hindsight) to have been wrong, is a real step in the right direction, because you can eliminate that mistake and move forward on a different path.

Write and let me know what path you’re taking and if there’s a way I can help.

Popularity: 16% [?]

I recently received the following email from a Dream Jobber, who hates her job and is looking for a way out.  She’s a lawyer, but this could be about any career and any person.

Let’s see if we can help her.

Here’s the email:

Michael,

Are your for real? Oh, let it be true.

If you could only help me!

I made a break after a fifteen year career in nursing to go to law school. I am now a practicing attorney and I HATE IT! I feel stuck in a career because friends and family are so proud of me. How can I tell everyone I envy the road construction workers I see on my way to work and most days would gladly trade places with them.

If I knew how to go about it, I would like to write.

Suggestions?

Janet

Here’s how I will answer her:

Janet, thanks for writing and telling me about your dilemma.  I guess if there’s any good news, take consolation in the fact that you’re not alone.  A lot of people hate their jobs, many for the same reasons you do.  And, like you, they feel trapped for reasons that go beyond their core being — perhaps it’s the perceived need for money, or the need to fit in, or because that’s what the family just expects you to do.

So, Janet, you can stick with what you’re doing and blame those around you, or you can suck it up and do something about it.  You, and no one else, own the outcome of your life — as wiser people have said many, many times . . . you can’t always control what happens to you, but you CAN control how you react to what happens to you.

So, by “doing something about it,” I mean to take a step, and then another step, towards what you want to be doing.

Writing, is it?  Great, there are something just short of a gazillion opportunities to make it as a writer.  Loads of ‘em.  All over the place.

But, to get started, you MUST start thinking and acting like a writer, even though you’re wearing your lawyer suit.

Here are some ideas, and small steps to get you started:

1. Take a writing class.
2. Find and go to a writers’ conference.
3. Join a book club.
4. Join a writer’s club.
5. Buy and read books and magazines about writing.
6. Start a blog or website about writing.  Here’s one for you, so you can use your legal credentials to help you.  Each week, find a weird or oddball case going on someplace — describe it and then talk it.  Do one every week.  More if you can.  In 52 weeks, put ‘em all in a book and call it something like Janet’s Guide to the Weirdest Cases of All Time.

Most importantly, Janet, you must surround yourself with other writers.  They will inspire and nurture you and lead you . . . and it’s pretty likely you’ll run across lots of others — just like yourself — who’ve made the break from their former careers and lives.

Anyone else have an idea or two for Janet?

Over and out,

Michael

Popularity: 10% [?]

Using some language from the Buddhists, have you found your right livelihood?

In short, are you working at really and truly what you’re called to do?

Or, are you just a pig trying to sing?

I remember Robert Heinlein, one of the all-time great science fiction writers, saying that you should never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.

Why waste your time doing something you’re not suited for? That’s not your right livelihood?

Come on, Dream Jobber, don’t be a pig trying to sing.

Popularity: 16% [?]

I’m a movie fanatic.  I like most kinds of movies, but I’m partial to some of the great black and white oldies from the 40s and 50s.  I have a daughter who’s also into movies, yet if I try to get her to watch anything that was made before 1990, you’d think I was asking her to throw away the best two hours of her life.

Old, sometimes and for some people, is just not worthy.  I find myself walking past older books and titles in the bookshop in favor of the newer ones, for example.  So, it’s always a wake-up call for me when I rediscover something from an older book or a master thinker from days of yore.

Old books and thinkers remind me that people have gone before us, thinking the same thoughts, and struggling with the same issues. Nope, not many from the past had the luxury of “worrying” about getting a dream job (they were happy just to have food on the table and a warm place to sleep at night), but our ancestors did struggle with values and choices in their lives.  They did worry about doing the right things, for themselves, their families, and their communities.

So, it was great when I rediscovered Henry D. Thoreau a few weeks ago and realized how appropriate he is to those of us in our dream-job quest.  Here’s one of his thoughts:

As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind.  To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again.  To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we with to dominate our lives.

Are you doing that Dream Jobber?  Are you thinking the thoughts that will lead you to action that will take you in the direction of that desire you’ve always had?

Thinking over and over and over again . . . and turning those thoughts into action is what will get you that dream job.

If you’d like to learn more about your thoughts leading to action, you may want to check out a more contemporary source, and another master, Earl Nightingale and his book, Earl Nightingale’s Secret Discovery.

Thoreau . . . Nightingale.  The best of the best.  Top 5ers.  Check ‘em out.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Dream Jobber, do you surround yourself with positive images and things that remind you of your goals and where you’re headed in life?

I’m not talking so much about putting up photos or magazine pictures of the material things that you want (although lots of the motivational types out there will tell you that you should be doing this), but rather about the things that make you feel good (the picture of the cabin in the woods, the photograph of you and your kids walking on the beach . . . or positive words of wisdom.

I’m a word-guy, so it’s words that inspire me and words (in a variety of forms) that surround me everywhere I turn in my home and workspace.

I use those words to get moving in the direction I need to go, to inspire me, and to make me realize that others — much like me — have gone down this road before.

One of my all-time favorites, and one that I happen upon from time to time (it gets covered over on my bulletin board with other items occasionally) is actually a horoscope from the inimitable Rob Brezsny of Pronoia (is the antidote for paranoia) book fame.

Here’s what Rob’s horoscope said for me back on my birthday last year:

“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing,” said motivational author Dale Carnegie. Those should be your words to live by.  It’s time for you to become almost ruthless in your intention to enjoy yourself as you carry out your life’s work.  I’m tempted to go so far as to say that you should disentangle yourself from any commitment in which duty overshadows pleasure.  Your drive to do good deeds and be of use to people will ultimately fall short unless you love what you do.

God, I just love that.  So true, so real, so powerful.  Well, err, just so Dream Job focused.

So, please reflect on Rob’s words and let me know what you think.

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Guest Contributor:  Ernie Zelinski

Regardless of what profession you are in, you may want to make a career change to something better — particularly a dream job or unconventional business that you have thought about for some time. Remember that there is no such thing as a perfect job or business, however.

There will always be barriers and adversity to overcome in any dream career or business. Even so — to the inspired and committed individuals of this world — leaving an old familiar job for something new is more adventure than adversity. New careers come with new problems but they come with new opportunities and wonderful experiences as well.

Truth be known, to make a dramatic career change to that dream job you have to be a little crazy! Indeed, whatever new field you decide to enter in pursuit of real success without a real job, chances are someone is going to think that you are nuts.

Relatives, acquaintances, friends, life coaches — even you — may doubt that you have what it takes to make it. The good news is that if others and you yourself think that you are at least a little bit crazy, this is a good sign that you can attain creative success in a new field of endeavor.

Perhaps you are, in fact, a bit crazy. Not to worry — this is even a better sign!

In his book, The Hypomanic Edge (Simon & Schuster, 2005), John Gartner establishes a link between craziness and success in America. Gartner, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins University, claims many of today’s successful entrepreneurs and business people exhibit hypomania, an energetic and ebullient state, which is a milder form of the mania associated with bipolar illness. Moreover, he contends that leading figures in American history, including Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford, had the condition as well.

While many successful entrepreneurs are not entirely crazy, they are not entirely normal, which leads others to believe they are crazy. Talk to America’s successful entrepreneurs and you will find that most of them had at least one friend or acquaintance — even a spouse — who thought that they were crazy to attempt what they did. Yet it was their willingness to be a little bit crazy that allowed these entrepreneurs to achieve creative success.

Allow me to use myself as an example. For years, I have made a living from working leisurely telling North Americans not to work so hard. To many people this sounds crazy — and it is to a certain degree.

I don’t care, however. My career life is working just fine. I make an income in the range of $100,000 a year by working only when I want to work. What’s more, if I pursue a few more crazy ideas of mine, I am sure that I can increase my income to $300,000 to $500,000 a year in the next few years by just working four or five hours a day.

Best of all, I know that I am making a major contribution to people’s lives because of all the positive feedback via letters and phone calls that I have received from readers of my books. Compare my lifestyle to the lives of millions of reasonable people slaving away at conventional jobs and you will see much value in being different, even a bit crazy.

So allow the craziness in you to shine. Combine your craziness with courage, patience, and perseverance and you will find yourself at places you didn’t think were possible.

In short, if you dream about writing books, then crazily start writing books. If you dream about making a documentary about Thailand, then experience your craziness and hop on an airplane for Bangkok. And if you dream about being a visual artist, then start creating crazy paintings or drawings. Otherwise, you will find that the ache of not pursuing your dream career can be the biggest pain you can ever experience.

Author:  Ernie Zelinski is an expert on early retirement and solo-entrepreneurship and the author of 15 books.

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