INTRODUCTION:
Are you happy in your job right now? Or are you spending most of your work day watching the clock tick slowly towards 5:00pm while dreaming about what you’d really rather be doing instead? Well, if what you’re dreaming about is a new career, make sure that it’s one that will make you happy while it makes you an income, or you’ll find yourself staring at the clock all over again. Brendan Baker is one person who has found the key to linking happiness, work, and life – and he’ll share his tips with you.
UV: You’ve got a great quote on your website attributed to Abraham Lincoln: “People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.” That reminds us of one of the first noted motivational authors, James Allen, and his essay titled “As A Man Thinketh,” which discusses how a person’s thoughts can affect their life, their character, and even their health. Who are some of the other people that have inspired you?
I’m inspired by so many different people – from thought leaders to sportspeople to celebrities to the everyday person to my own coaching clients.
What really inspires me is when someone has a dream and they turn that dream into reality. I don’t know of one person that hasn’t had challenges in their life or in making their dream a reality, but it’s the process of breaking through those barriers that really fires me up! It reinforces the fact that we can all do what we really want to do as long as we are willing to be persistent, consistent and we stay firm to who we are.
I think the famous quote by Thomas Edison sums this up perfectly – “I have failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. It’s those that remain committed to their dream and make it a reality that truly inspires me.
UV: Thoughts are made up of words, and most people have a sort of inner dialogue going on that they may not even be aware of. How important is it to choose the right words to use when talking to yourself?
Words are insanely important!
And note that I used the word “insanely”… because your words can truly make you sane or insane. They can motivate or demotivate. They can inspire or they can bore.
I’ve caught myself out on numerous occasions using language that prevents me from taking action or demotivates me. Phrases such as “I’m not good enough for this” or “I’m a failure” can be replaced with phrases such as “this is challenging, but I’m learning and growing”.
That very change in the way you speak to yourself can change your life. The key is to be aware of your own thoughts.
UV: Happiness may not require talking to other people, but most careers do involve communication. Here at Ultimate Vocabulary we’re dedicated to giving people the tools to learn better communication skills. At what point do people need to start focusing on how their ability with words affects their dreams and goals?
I’d actually argue that happiness does actually require talking to other people. Numerous studies have shown that relationships are the number one predictor of happiness, no matter your age, social status, geographic location or cultural background.
Based on this, communicating skills are essential for happiness. Also, the more effective you can communicate the more likely you are to be able to inspire, persuade and negotiate which will help you achieve your dreams and goals. All dreams and goals involve other people.
UV: Why do you recommend that people start by looking at their values?
Your values are your core beliefs. They fundamentally represent who you are as a person.
When you start with your values, you start creating goals and creating a life based on who you truly are and what you truly want to do with your life. It’s about being honest with yourself.
When you are aligned with your values and you act congruently with your values on a daily basis, you will be more motivated, inspired and energetic and ultimately reach your goals faster.
UV: Sometimes when people say “I wish I could spend my day doing …” they’re thinking about the things they like to do in their free time, like surfing or hiking or reading. How easy is it to turn a hobby into a career?
It takes time. If there was a magic pill then everyone would be doing it.
In saying that, the earlier you start the more time you will have to be doing what you truly want to be doing on a daily basis.
The key, as mentioned above, is to be honest with yourself. Be honest whether you truly have the desire and passion to make that hobby a career and do it day-in-day-out. Will it give you the income you desire to support your other areas of life? If you’re looking to turn that hobby into a business, do you really want to be doing things like accounting, marketing or management?
If your answer is yes, then the key is to act now and simply get started!
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