I’d like to do something that I enjoy and get paid for it. Yet when I look for a job, I find myself thinking about my office skills or other business skills and there’s no enthusiasm or excitement about job hunting. What to do?

There are many books these days, like Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow, that address your question. There are also a few simple processes that you can do to clarify what might be a good “job” for you - or career for you to create.

Step One - Make a list of 10 things you truly enjoy doing in any area of life.

Step Two - For each of those 10 things, brainstorm 10 ways you could make money using that pleasure or skills related to that pleasure.

Step Three - For each of the 100 resulting ideas, ask these questions:

Is this a job that already exists?

Is there a way to do this that is legal, moral and sell-able?

Is this a potential business idea?

Would I really enjoy doing this on a daily basis, all day?

Could I charge money for this idea, service, product?

Step Four - Pick out one idea for which the answers to most of the above questions is yes. Brainstorm into a full blown job or business idea, including the steps it would take to make it happen for you.

Step Five - Ask yourself if you are willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

One of my mentors told me that the job/business with the most success potential was one that either included or supported all 10 of your pleasures. The lower the number of pleasures included or supported, the less likely you are to be satisfied and successful in that job/business. So the next step is...

Step Six - Ask yourself how many of the original 10 pleasures are included in this new job/business idea. Go for the highest possible pleasure ratio.

Step Seven - If you are still excited about the idea and it has a high success potential, consult a coach or advisor to help you clarify your next steps and support you in following through on your new job/business.

Hundreds of thousands of people have left Corporate America to do what they really love to do, often for less income, more joy, more family or self time, and more satisfaction in life. So you won’t be alone if you follow the route of starting your own business venture. If starting a business is to much risk for you, or if you just are suited for that, remember that you might be able to create the job you desire in someone else’s business. You may have to sell them on the idea and how it will make them more successful or it may just turn up now that you know what you are looking for!