I was at a restaurant a few weeks ago and I got to talking to the waitress. I've worked in the food service business before, and I never met anyone within who had grown up wanting to be there. So I asked her about herself. After getting the basics out of the way (where you're from, went to school, what brought you to the area -- and the same questions for me), I ask her what she really wanted to do.

In other words: If you had all the money you needed, what would you be doing with yourself?

I was surprised to hear her say she didn't know. The only thing she could think of was going to the beach.

Life isn't a practice run. You won't be age ___ again after this year. Any time you lose is gone forever. If you don't know where you're going (your life aspiration), how can you direct your current actions? You're basically blowing in the wind. Wherever the jet stream decides to throw you, you just end up there, shoulders shrugged and wondering where you'll end up next.

Many people don't think about the question -- if you could do anything, what would you do? -- Because they simply don't see the possibility of it ever being real. But of course, it is. That doesn't mean you have to be a billionaire. You can do what you want to do and make your living from it. But what do you want to do?


Start there.