Everyone has a different opinion on what the best career might be. Many people enjoy the security of a job though many jobs are not as secure as they were a generation ago. When considering the best career choice, you must look deep into your values and find a choice that matches up well with your values and interests.

Not everyone is motivated by making money. Everyone requires money to survive but there are other motivations that drive the most satisfying career decisions. In the best case scenario, you will find your passion and be able to make more money than you require.

Ask yourself, do you like working with people or does being around other people make less comfortable? If you are not comfortable with other people, then you may want to develop a skill that allows you to work alone, perhaps being paid for producing a valued product. Art objects, software development, agriculture, some forms of engineering, and possibly, design might be areas to examine. If you love to be around other people and enjoy serving, then you may want to explore careers in education, healthcare, services, sales, or communications.

If you are entrepreneurial and enjoy working a career that is both profitable and satisfying, you can consider a career in coaching or training. You would have to be self-motivated and driven by the desire to provide services that empower or educate your clients to improve their performance and enhance their quality of life. In my career, the most satisfying moments have come when I was really connecting with my coaching client or the audience of a training presentation and catching the focus of my presentation being important and well received by my audience. The nod of a head, the smile of recognition, or the breath of an enlightening moment can be more satisfying than cashing the check that I receive for my efforts. There have been a few groups that seemed like real work and the only satisfaction came from the paycheck, but most of the time the most rewarding payments I get are from the positive feedback and appreciation from my clients.

If you like making presentations, connecting with individuals or groups, being of service, and, hopefully, finding the way to assist your clients to make necessary positive changes, then you should consider coaching or training as a career option. To be successful, you will need to be able to sell your service by spending time finding the people who may need your service, discussing their specific needs, and finding an effective way to explain (and then sell) how your service will help them to move forward. You will need to have the confidence to ask to be compensated for your work at a level that is high enough for you to make a living and then some.

Not every great teacher, trainer, or coach should be in business for themselves. Many will not have the drive to sell their service even though they may be of great service and completely happy serving their clients. But if you have passion for your service and are willing to learn how to perform the necessary business of marketing, promotion and sales, then you will not find a more satisfying career to pursue.

Thoughts to consider when selecting topics for training and coaching. You should find a topic that you feel passionate about and fills a need (heals a pain) and has an audience that can afford to compensate you for your training/coaching. You should conduct some informational interviews with people or organizations that can afford to hire you for your services, find their pain, and figure out how your services can be of value to this client. In your proposal, if you show them the value and can convince them that you are the best coach/trainer to meet their needs. They will pay you to do what you love to do and, this is great way to make a living.

Find your passion, follow your dream, but if you really want this career be ready to role up your sleeves and do the work that is necessary to be successful.

If you need to learn the skills necessary to provide the services of a coach or trainer then go find the right organization that can give you these skills. Make sure that your training includes the business side, including how to market and sell your services or get a coach, trainer, or mentor that will help you learn this critical skill set. Without this piece of the puzzle, your passion will be wonderful but not profitable.

Picture yourself standing in front of an appreciative audience or connecting at a deep, productive level with your coaching client. Feel the gratification of providing this service. With both of these images you will be able to make your passion a reality.