Ask the Expert Dr. Kathleen Wells is a professional career coach and Director of Coaches That Care. She has coached thousands of clients through the stages of successful career development. Finding a Job You Enjoy Q: I am a Speech-language Pathologist in a school system. Great hours, great vacations, great benefits...not satisfying and never enough time with my 18-month-old son. How do I find something that is interesting and fun that would allow me to have more time with my son throughout the year and also have job satisfaction as well as a good salary? Amy A: I had to chuckle at your question, only because we all want what you do. Good job, good salary, time with family and job satisfaction. I personally believe that is possible. The first thing to do is look at what you have a passion for. I got the impression from your letter that being a Speech Pathologist wasn't everything you thought it would be. A book I've been recommending a lot these days is "The Work You Were Born to Do." This is a great book for finding your passion. Another one for doing the same and also for setting goals to achieve that passion is "Do It! Let's Get Off Our Buts." The first is by Nick Williams and the second by Peter McWilliams. Both are well worth reading before you go any further. Then consider all the practical issues you need to and want to meet at the same time as working in a field you feel passionate about. Figure out finances and the income you need, benefits that are necessary and number of hours you want for family vs. number for work. Then find a field you are passionate about based on the things you learn in these two books. If you go self-employed in the field you think you'd enjoy, be prepared to have less salary but more of everything else you mentioned that you want. Life is a tradeoff in many cases, and I can tell you living and working at home with breaks to see family and horses is worth making less money than I did as a corporate "suit." Good luck and best wishes, Kathleen Wells