Finding my perfect job

[gackle]

Since the users here are so smart, I thought I'd tap into the voluminous grey matter available at the tip of my fingers. I just finished reading Dan Miller's book No More Mondays (highly recommend it). For those of you that haven't read it, the basic premise is that if you can find a job that utilizes your talents and passions, and preferably one that pays by results instead of the traditional salaried position that pays for time, one can substantially increase your income. I'm at a job that I really enjoy, but can't help wondering if there's another one out there that would be even better. The problem is, is that I just don't know what it would be. So, here's where ya'll come in!

I'm hoping that if I spell out my passions and talents some of you might be able to suggest some careers/jobs that would be intriguing to me. So here goes:

• I graduated with a B.A. in Speech Communications.
• I love aviation, but only have my dispatch license (not my pilot's).
• I like variation/get bored with routine.
• I am great with detail (i.e. I love to do 3,000 piece puzzles and can usually find where a piece goes by comparing it to the picture when others can't).
• I like to train employees.
• I am not the greatest socializer, but am good at recognizing opportunities to communicate better between people (i.e. when the pilots where I work check in to see if there are any changes to the schedule they were confirmed for last night, some people say "no changes". By not telling the pilot again what their scheduled for, I say that people miss an opportunity to eliminate errors. Sometimes changes have happened in the middle of the night that pilots were shown to be notified for when they actually weren't.)
• I like to blog/participate in forums.

Any ideas that anybody might have, no matter how silly or outrageous, would be great. I just saw on Nightline tonight that a London hotel now employs a "bedside reader". Guests can have someone come into their room and read them a story for an hour. Whodathunkit? So no idea is too ludicrous. Thanks for your time!

[MonkeyMama]

What kind of job do you have now?

Curious. Also, if you really enjoy your job now, I think you are well ahead of the pack.

But I identify with a lot of your passions/talents. I am actually a CPA and one probably my favorite part of my job is that I have a lot of different clients and different kinds of work that we do. & the pay ain't so bad. Not that I am suggesting you become a CPA, but you may want to focus on a consulting type job with a broad range of services.

That being said, even that kind of work gets tedious to me. I bore quite easily. So from that angle, you may want to keep your day job and consider branching out into something during your off hours. I think it keeps it interesting.

Just some things to think about, I am sure others will have more specific ideas.

[gackle]

Thanks for the input, MonkeyMama. Ironically, my day job is my night job. I supervise the operations center on the midnight shift of a corporate aviation provider. The good thing about it is that I have Wednesday through Friday off, which allows me the opportunity to venture into other avenues during the work week. The bad thing is that I've trained all my life to sleep during the night.

I know what you mean about enjoying your job. I'm amazed at how many people come to work everyday and start complaining about what they do, but they would rather wallow in their discontented stability than to seek the perfect job for themselves.

[cschin4]

I don't really know what a perfect job is. I don't think there is a perfect job. Every job has ups, downs, periods of boredom, annoyances and on and on. And, what is perfect for you now may not be in 5 years, etc.
However, if you are feeling restless and are willing to move on from where you are, then start shopping around for new jobs. My niece just graduated from college and took a job overseas. She will probably have the adventure of a lifetime.
I am sure there are many things you could pursue in many different industries.
However, don't assume there is a "perfect job". And, it is unlikely that any job is going to include all of your interests and passions. That is why we need hobbies, to keep our work life separate and to remove us from the daily routines of life. Anyway, good luck and start looking.

[aurielle]

Get your pilot's license VFR/IFR and become a flight instructor.

[maat55]

There is a perfect job, but Tiger Woods has it and he isn't giving it up anytime soon. The rest of us have to just settle for whats left. Sometimes, good jobs are based on the atmosphere and not so much the accual labor itself.

If you like the outdoors, you can be a game ranger. If you like flying, you can be a pilot or instructor as stated above. If you manage to save a lot of money and invest well, you can afford later to open your own business.(Though, openning your own business isn't real expensive if you succeed out the gate.) It's best to start one part time. Look around you and see who is doing something you want to do. Good luck with it.

[SusanP]

Hmm... I don't think I'm qualified to tell you what your perfect job is...

But I'm going to move to London and be a "bedside reader"! Thanks!

[gackle]

Get your pilot's license VFR/IFR and become a flight instructor.

When I originally posted this I told myself that I was totally going to keep my mind open to anything. I think flying would be my perfect job, but it takes about $9,000 just to get a private pilot's license, then roughly $7,000 to get an instrument rating, then roughly $2,500-$4,500 to get a CFI. These kinds of funds I just don't have unfortunately. Working in aviation, I have heard many stories of young pilots who love to fly, but live on Ramen Noodles because they're getting paid next to nothing. I've got a wife and children to feed. I really do appreciate your suggestion, though. It's about the one thing that I cannot do at this stage in my life.

I don't really know what a perfect job is. I don't think there is a perfect job.

The perfect job is where you don't even think of it as a job, where the snooze button on the alarm clock has dust on it from lack of use. The perfect job is utilizing your interest/passions/hobbies to fulfill needs of people in return for a paycheck. Yes, there are challenges out there, but without challenges then life would be boring. I believe it's out there, I just have to find it.

[samonwheels]

Just some things to think about, I am sure others will have more specific ideas.