Work to love your job and never work again

Great movies leave plenty of excellent footage on the cutting-room floor. It's part of the process, my son David, a film director, tells me.

The same is true when an author writes a book. Following the dozens of interviews I conducted while researching my new book, "Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door: Job Search Secrets No One Else Will Tell You," I discovered that I couldn't include all the wonderfully inspiring stories I heard. I have an advantage over the movie industry, though: I can share these stories in this column! And reading them just might nudge you toward a career change you have contemplated but never realized.

Tim practiced law, quite successfully, for more than 30 years. His practice included representing defendants who had some tough breaks growing up and followed the wrong path as they grew into adulthood. "Story after story was the same sad situation - absent parents, no motivation to do well in school, little supervision, basically no encouragement. It started to occur to me that I could have done more for them at an earlier point in their lives than I could with all my legal training and experience," he said.

So Tim decided that "early retirement" for him would mean a return to college to get a teaching degree, and he would concentrate his job search in some of the poorest neighborhood schools in his city. His student-teaching semester almost did him in. "I understand what challenges teachers must overcome even before they have their students crack open their books," he said. "I am determined to let every one of my students know that if they are willing to do the work, I am willing to be their biggest cheerleader. And I love every minute of it."

By the way, Tim made that move seven years ago, and he's still going strong. He also admits, "I changed careers at just the right time. Don't get me wrong: I loved practicing law, and I was very good at it. But I have found that you can have more than one passion in your work life, and I am incredibly fortunate to have discovered that."

Maureen owns an art-supply store. She is an unlikely entrepreneur: a former nurse who enjoyed painting as a hobby but admits her work will probably never warrant an exhibition. She had a perfect schedule, working at a hospital three days a week with hours that made it possible for her to be available for her kids' activities and accommodate family schedules. She was highly satisfied with her career, liked her hospital and co-workers, provided excellent care for her patients, and could have stayed in that routine with no regrets.

Then Maureen inherited a few thousand dollars from a relative, which got her thinking about what she should do with that money. In the back of her mind, she had always thought it might be fun to be the proprietor of a little store where artists would hang out and discuss their current work, find inspiration for new projects, and buy their supplies.

After considerable thought and consultation with folks in the business and her bank, Maureen decided to leave the hospital and leased a small storefront. She has since expanded twice, and has to fight the temptation to open a second site. "I love opening my little shop every morning, knowing that I built this business and that my customers trust me to take good care of them - not so different from my nursing days," she said.

I heard so many of these stories. Some career changers went for a variation of a theme, like the interior designer who got her real-estate license and is in great demand for the high-end clients who appreciate her eye for the details. Others took great leaps, like the insurance executive who went to cosmetology school with the eventual intention of owning a funky salon.

Some were burned out by their current careers, others downsized out of their jobs. Some had put dreams aside for more practical occupations. Still others had settled into the first job they were offered, until it occurred to them that they didn't really like what they were doing for a living.

Like I've always said, find a job you love and you'll never work another day in your life.

Mackay's Moral: Don't be afraid to take the plunge - just test the water before you dive in!

Harvey Mackay is the author of The New York Times' No. 1 bestseller "Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive." He can be reached through his Web site, www.harveymackay.com, by e-mailing harvey@mackay.com or by writing him at MackayMitchell Envelope Co., 2100 Elm St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.