Business Week recently ran a story, based on reader submissions, about the design and use of home offices.

While the offices they show are interesting, I think that what’s more important here is how the entrepreneurs in the story have weaved their lives, careers (dare I say it? — dream jobs), and work spaces into one tapestry.

Check ‘er out.  Good idea fodder.

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I wish I would have followed my instincts earlier in my career rather than looking for others’ approval.  While it’s easy for people to be their greatest critics, it took me years to become my own advocate.

Ellen Langas Campbell, President, NouSoma Communications and author of the Girls Know How book series

Source:  Success Magazine

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Here’s an interesting article for every manly-man out there who’s looking for a cool job.

• Brew Master
• Casino Host
• Ice Cream Creator
• Toy Creator
• Video Game Designer
• Comic Book Guru

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From the “if they could do it, I could do it too” file . . .

Check out this interesting article at Yahoo about a few people who’ve created businesses with unique ideas.

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A lot of career and success writers, coaches, and self-appointed gurus will tell you to follow your passion when going after what you want.

You know the scenario: Follow your passion and the money will follow.

Well, there are lots of folks who’ve followed their passions all the way to the poor house.

So, what’s the regular Dream Job Seeker to do?

Scott Allen’s got a really good bit of advice about this over at About.com.

Good stuff; check ‘er out.

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Having something go viral is the dream of every entrepreneur.   Going viral, as related to working on the Internet, relates to having a product, promotion, or some other activity be perceived as something so incredibly special that it gets passed around, usually via email, from one person to another to tens of thousands or millions of people.

So, literally, word spreads — like a virus — about you and your product, usually without you having to do anything.  This is the marketer’s nirvana.  The dream world.

And, I’m pleased to say, I’ve had a recent experience with something going viral.  But, the interesting thing about what I learned is that you cannot plan for something to go viral — it just does.  Oh, I’ve tried to come up with all sorts of clever ideas that I thought would go viral — My goodness, I say to myself, how can others not realize how brilliant I am here? — but none never have.

Until recently, when the whole idea of viralness (yup, that’s a word) never even entered my thoughts.

At InfoSource Learning, we created a product called SimpleAssessment that is designed to test the digital literacy skills of school kids.  Now, this is an important thing these days because the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) statutes from the federal government mandate that kids have these skills by the 8th grade.  Consequently, schools need a way to assess their students.

Enter SimpleAssessment.

We decided to give it away (as a way to introducing ourselves to new customers, who we hoped would buy something else from us later) and our lives have changed dramatically.  We simply can’t keep up with the demand that has been created for SimpleAssessment, and the freebies are now turning into paying customers.

My point is that we didn’t set out to get people passing our offering around; we were simply immersed in trying to create something that we thought we could share with the educational community.  We’ve been creating and selling educational products for over 25 years, and this was one small thing we could do to give back.

And, the dang thing has gone viral on us.

Which got me thinking about what it might take to get your own personal dream job to go viral.

Let me ask you this:  Are you obsessed with finding and having your dream job?  Because, like getting something to go viral, maybe focusing on it too much is not such a good thing.

Here’s an idea for you, then:  Whatever your dream job passion, just start working on it, even if it’s a few hours a week.  Just plug away at it.  Don’t obsess over the fact that it’s not your entire life just yet.  Work at it, sow some seeds, do a little more every day.  Maybe, just maybe, who knows, you might turn around in a few months and find that your work has gone viral and you’re actually working full time in your dream job.

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A:  ________________________.  (Hint:  Whatever goes in that space might possibly form the basis of your dream job, so look carefully.)

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A:  Think about what consumes your interests and passions and base it around that.

Hint:  If you are unable to come up with this answer after just a few minutes of reflection, you’re thinking too hard.

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If you have any local school contacts — from teacher to superintendent — will you help me pass the word?

All public schools and school districts in the United States have to assess the technology skills of all of their students by the 8th grade — new federal mandate.

My company, InfoSource Learning, is providing a free, no-strings attached way to do that.  It’s for unlimited students and unlimited schools and there’s not a dime’s cost to the school or district.

We do all of the hosting, provide free student tracking and reporting . . . the whole shebang!

No catch.  No cost.

Check this out and let others know, please:  SimpleAssessment.com.

We’re doing it for one reason — we’re celebrating our 25th anniversary and we’re giving back to the educational arena, as they’ve been a big part of our growth.

Pass the assessments around anyone?

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Having trouble uncovering your dream job passion?

My buddy, Stephen Hopson, over at Adversity University did something clever recently.

Stephen regularly runs interviews with interesting people who he knows or would like to know.   Last week, though, he didn’t have an interview subject, so he decided to interview himself.  And, in typical Hopson style, he added a little flair.  Normally in his interviews, he asks a question of his subject, then he’ll add his own final comment to the subject’s answer.

And, here’s the twist:  When he interviewed himself, he answered his questions; but then, he also commented on his own answers.

So, it was Hopson interviewing Hopson and Hopson responding to Hopson’s questions and comments.  Sounds a little confusing, but it really isn’t when you look at it.

In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized this would be an incredible technique to help you uncover just what it is you want in life.

In fact, your first question to yourself should be:  Self, just what is it you want your dream job to do for you?  Then, answer that question.  After that, reflect and respond to the “you” who just answered it.

Then let your questions take whatever direction feels right to you, as the interviewer.

I’m intrigued with what you might uncover about yourself.

Check out Hopson’s interview with himself, and then do your own.

Good stuff; check ‘er out.

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