How much do you love your job?

We all know people who hate their job, their boss, or their organisation. These people will tell you they go to work to ‘pay the bills' or ‘eat their lunch'.

The questions I pose to these people are:

• Is it really how you want to be spending your days?
• If you could do anything in the world, what would it be?

Every day I hear fabulous stories of people who come to the conclusion they are in the wrong job, industry or profession, and actually do something about it!

These people are bold. They are proud. And they believe in their own abilities.

Banker to Builder

Take Pippa Jones for example. She traded her designer clothes and well-paid desk job for a tool belt, work boots and an apprentice's wage. In her previous life she was an interest rate dealer for the ANZ bank, in her new life she is an apprentice builder.

Pippa says “Leaving the bank I thought I was either bravely stupid or stupidly brave. I was earning a very good salary but I got to the point where I felt like I didn't a choice, in terms of soul food. I chose building because it's something I've wanted to do for a long time. I'm quite a creative person so it feeds that creativity, and it's also rewarding in that you see what you've done at the end of the day. It was a huge risk leaving the banking industry but it was absolutely worth it. I really enjoy what I do and I enjoy the people I work with. Building is my passion and I couldn't be happier.”

Forestry Worker to Guidance Counsellor

Rob Hodge left school with no qualifications and went to work in the forestry industry in Rotorua. He lost his job, and had enough money for a one-way ticket to Cairns , and $65 left over.

His youth work began in Cairns , when he saw a newspaper advertisement for a crisis care accommodation place. Then he moved on to work as a Guidance Counsellor at an indigenous school. He spends his school day teaching spray painting, networking with youth agencies, and visiting parents of troubled pupils.

Rob says “there are Outback kids who are sniffing gas and it looks like it's a third world community. I go out and talk to fathers and ask them why their kids aren't at school and they say, ‘I don't have a job' and ‘it's too hard to get my kid to school'. And I just say, ‘wake him up and put him on the bus'.

Motor Mechanic to Hotelier

Grant Gaskin grew up in Wainuiomata and trained as a motor mechanic. While on his OE in Melbourne he took on a job in a hotel as a porter. “I did everything from cleaning the foyer to taking bags to rooms.”

More than two decades later, and Grant has made a name for himself running five-star, award winning hotels around the world.

If you have an ambition that doesn't reflect what you are currently doing for a job or are looking for a new vocation but don't know where to start…. Working with a career coach is a great place to begin.

A career coach will assist you to unearth your hidden talents and help you to see where you can use your current skills and experiences in a different job, industry or profession. They will get you to be really selfish and focus on yourself, perhaps for the first time, to allow you to discover what it is that will have you getting paid to do the things that you love.

Contact TMK consulting today to find out how we can facilitate positive change in your career - 021 044 5454 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Dominion Post, Saturday 26th July 2008

Dominion Post, Saturday 9th August 2008