Years ago, Earl Nightingale, a motivational expert who had a national radio show, got a question from one of his listeners.

The listener, a young man preparing to enter college, asked a question similar to this one, "What field should I go into where I can make the most money, be the most successful, and be the happiest."

In my own words, Earl Nightingale's reply was along these lines:

Find out what you really love to do. Make sure it's something that you enjoy so much that you would be willing to do it even if nobody paid you. Make that your life's work, and every day you will wake up wanting to go to work and loving your workday. People will see, or otherwise sense, your enthusiasm and will be inspired by it.

If you love what you do, you will be happy to continually learn more about it, and your learning will propel you to the position of expert. If you love what you do, you will always be happy to talk about this love of yours with others, and when they come to you with questions or problems, it will excite you to share your knowledge and pleasure with them.

Next thing you know, you will be the expert looked up to by others, sought out for guidance, and rewarded both by the pleasure you gain from life, and the financial rewards others will give you for your expertise.

If, on the other hand, you choose a career that means little or nothing to you other than the financial rewards or accolades it brings, you will eventually find life to be empty and unrewarding and each day will become an uphill battle. You will NOT be inspired to improve your knowledge and skill, and others wil be aware, eventually acutely aware, of your lack of interest and enthusiasm. Your work will suffer as will your life and the lives of those close to you.

If you are in some way able to hide this and force yourself to succeed, you will live a life of bitterness and resentment, and, at its end, you may find yourself happy to let go of this burden yet immeasureably saddened at all the lost chances for happiness, joy, and love.

Whatever path you choose in life, begin it with love.

The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service, has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for several years, and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He has been an active internet marketer since 2000, and now makes his living online. You may read other articles of his at his blog at donovanbaldwin.blogspot.com, or view his website at donovanbaldwin.com.