Popularity: 35% [?]

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: 27% [?]

When you’re beating yourself up about all the things that are keeping you from your dream job mission, here are a few ways to get back on track: 

1. Looking at “material” things as “replaceable” things.
2. Persist to small achievement.
3. Something that you do with passion.
4. Taking a walk.
5. Personal positive self-talk.
6. Helping others without expectation.
7. Small daily success.

Source:  A great little jewel of a book from Jeffrey Gitomer called Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude. 

Popularity: 10% [?]

Curt Rosengren, who runs the delightful Occupational Adventure blog, had a really interesting post a few days ago.

Curt contends that you don’t have to make sweeping changes in your life to see some rather dramatic results and an improvement in your overall outlook.

You don’t have to get that dream job tomorrow, for example, to feel fulfilled.

Here are the 10 things he recommends you can do right now to make your life better, more fulfilling, and probably a lot more fun.

1. Improve Your Attitude
2. Smell the Roses
3. Help Somebody
4. Get More Restful Sleep
5. Improve Your Health
6. Get Your Finances Under Control
7. Set Goals for Yourself    
8. Learn Something New
9. Get Organized
10. Eliminate A Bad Habit

Hey, Dream Job Pals-o-Mine, works for me.

Check out Curt’s article, then let me know if you would add anything to the list.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Dream Jobs and how to find them . . . if you remember from an earlier post, I mentioned that there are several steps to go through in finding your perfect job.

And, it all starts with a passion.  That’s Step 1 — Finding that passion.  (You can learn more about the Dream Job Process by clicking here.)

But what if you don’t know what that burning desire is? Or, as my teenage daughters tell me: Dad, I don’t have a clue.

Well, there are many ways to get a clue (and we all have them, even if they are buried deep inside), and I’ll talk about several of those techniques in upcoming posts.

One of the best ways, though, is to try different things until something clicks.

Even after I’d left graduate school and was working full-time in my Climb-The-Corporate-Ladder world,  I knew that I wanted to work for myself.  I had absolutely zero idea what that meant, or what field it would be in, but I did know that I needed to be in charge of my own destiny.

So, let me tell you about my Big Failure #1 and what I learned from it.

No one likes to fail, and I’m a very competitive person, so it’s unusually tough on me when I don’t succeed.

Let me take you back to the 1970s and the waning years of the hippy era.  Ever hear of Andino Imports?  Nope, didn’t think so.

Well, that was my first (ad)venture at self-employment.

Back then,  handmade clothing, and especially embroidered shirts, was the rage . . . they were muslin (soft cotton) material with bright colored designs on the chest or shoulders.  Cool shirts.  Everyone seemed to have a couple and wanted more.

At any rate, I’d been travelling a lot in South America and had many contacts in Ecuador where the best of these shirts were made. So, a college buddy of mine, Jerry Jones, and I figured we’d just corner the market in our little part of the world, Indiana, with imported/embroidered shirts.

Sounded good.  We’d buy up these things, which were selling at retail for about $20, for about $2 each, and sell them to the retailer for $10. Yup, so far so good.

And, it was good.  We even, smart guys that we just knew we were, went out to solicit some orders before we made our first buying trip to Ecuador. That even went better than we could have believed . . . not only did we get several boutiques to pre-order a few dozen shirts here and there, but we got the kahuna of kahunas (The Ayre Way chain of discount stores — sort of a forerunner to today’s Target) to take an order for 5,000 shirts.

I don’t recall our initial buying quantity, but I believe, including the Ayre Way order, it was around 6,500 shirts.

So, at $8 profit per shirt, we were looking at bringing in around $52,000, just from one trip . . . that was more than my pal and I would make in our day jobs for the next three years — combined.

We were pumped, practicing our Spanish, and ready to begin on the journey to the next great international fashion empire.

But, come back next time where I’ll tell you how and when this thing started to head south . . . literally.

Popularity: 18% [?]

If you’re like many people, you have an itch to be working at something you love — the dream job.  While a lot of this site is devoted to motivational topics — we all need emotional support from time to time when embarking on something new, and positive motivation works for me — the real purpose of why you’re here, and what we’re all about, is to identify your dream jobs and help you find them.

Over the coming months, we’ll be examining exactly how many people have gone about finding their dream jobs, along with providing some of the techniques we’ve recommended others use.

Step 1 on the Dream Job quest is to discover your passion.  Because, let me tell you right now, if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, it likely won’t work. So often people start with “where’s the money?” to be made over the next year or the next decade.  Wrong!

Start with what drives you . . . what you’d do for free.

The money will follow your passion.  It did for me, and it has for dozens of other successful  people I know.

What is it that keeps you up at night dreaming about?

What job would you create for yourself if nothing — the pay, the prestige, your family’s needs — else mattered.

In future posts, I’ll talk about how to go about finding this passion, this calling as some people think of it, if you don’t already know.

And, no, don’t worry if you’re in the majority and you don’t know what your passion is.  We’ll look at ways to help you learn more about yourself.

Popularity: 11% [?]