The 3 biggest career regrets you should start avoiding right now

If you've ever spent time with the terminally ill, or with those recognising that their life is nearing it's conclusion, you'll often hear the same kinds of regrets. Things like, I wish I hadn't spent so much time at work, or I wish I'd told my family I loved them more, or I wish I'd travelled the world.

So, why is it, that it's only when we realise that time is running out, that we start to give these things any real consideration? When actually, the time to do something about them, is right now, while you still have some youth and energy to play with. And what, you may be wondering, does your career have to do with these particular regrets? Well, let's find out, shall we?

1. Putting your career progression ahead of your life
Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in the idea of status, money, and material things, that we neglect to notice our lives flying by without us, while we work ourselves into the ground. The pressure to compete, to be the best, to be the most committed, and to break through the glass ceiling, sees us sacrificing time with our family, friends, and ourselves. Even when we are physically present with our loved ones, we're often checking emails, taking work calls, and generally have our minds in the office, rather than on enjoying the pleasure of being with the people that are the most important to us.

2. Doing work that doesn't matter to you
If you spend 30, 40, 50, or even more hours each week, doing something that doesn't matter to you, how can you possibly expect to feel good about your life? You're likely to be spending at least half of your waking hours working, or preparing for, and travelling to and from, work. Now, I know you work to live, and not the other way around, but if you're wasting half of your life on something that doesn't excite or inspire you, then how can that be anything other than deeply personal? And, sadly, your lack of passion for your work will undoubtedly manifest itself into a lack of passion for everything, including your loved ones. Is it any wonder you're always too frazzled, frustrated, and frantic, to remember to show them just how precious they are to you?

3. Just working for the money
If the only thing that keeps you turning up each day, is having the money to cover the bills, you need to seriously consider finding another way. Every woman I ever speak to tells me that it's the money that ties them to their job and, clearly, that's the main reason most of us work. But, if the money is the only thing that your job has going for it, then frankly it has nothing going for it at all. Money is hugely demotivating, particularly when we're talking about just enough money to keep your head above water.  

You will make far more money doing something that you're passionate about, which allows you to make a difference to people (whether by sewing cushions, counselling veterans, or anything in between), that brings you joy, and that makes Monday morning an absolute pleasure. You should be doing something with your life that you wouldn't give up on, even if you won the Lotto jackpot on Saturday night. You should do something that is so important to you, that you can't stop thinking about it, that you can't stop raving about it, and that your future customers will love you for. 

And that is where you'll discover that success isn't a rung on the career ladder, where you'll find the passion to love your life, and enjoy the special people in it, and where you'll earn the kind of money to live the life you never dared to dream of. That doesn't mean you have to start up in business for yourself, although many do. Sometimes, it may simply be pursuing a career that is so exciting to you, that you excel and thrive.

"Wow", I hear you ask, "So, what is this incredible career that I can be so passionate about?" Well, only you know that, and it can be a real challenge to extract that knowledge from your own mind. It's often buried so deeply beneath what's expected of you, what you're supposed to do, what you believe you can't do, and a lack of confidence cultivated over many years of experience, peer pressure, and external fears and expectations. 

So, if it's buried so far underneath all that social conditioning, how can you get at it? And how can you shake off your fears, build your confidence, and learn the right steps to make it all happen?

Well, I have the perfect solution for you. My Quit Your Job and Get a Life programme, launches this January, and is designed specifically for you. If the insights I've shared above remind you of your own situation, then it's the ideal place to start creating your future, in the very best way for you. So, if you're committed to turning your life around in 2015, and would like to work with a coach who will dispense with the nonsense, share the juiciest and most effective tools and techniques in the business, to make you fearless and unstoppable, and help you to discover everything you need to successfully launch your brand new career or business, then join me, and let's work together to make this your best New Year ever. Sound interesting? Then learn more and sign up here. Don't let another year pass you by. Who knows how many more opportunities you'll get? Take the first step today and start really living your life.