Management consultant Peter Drucker once said, "Any time I have seen someone accomplishing something magnificent, they have been a monomaniac with a mission. A single-minded individual with a passion." Former advertising executive Donnie Deutsch has a program on cable called, "The Big Idea". Each week, Deutsch interviews entrepreneurs and business legends about their secrets to success. Without prompting, nearly every one names passion as the key to their success. I quoted a study about ten days ago that all but proves this.

And so as we embark on a new year, my question to you is, "Are you building your career around your passion?"

I’m guessing the answer is no.

I don’t know you, it’s just that statistically speaking, most people follow a career path based on something other than the call of their hearts. I’ve got to believe the numbers are even higher for lawyers.

I heard about an article today in the Wall Street Journal citing a growing number of attorneys who are disillusioned with the practice of law. That’s not news, really, but I was told the article also noted a number of new lawyers who are suing their law schools for misrepresentation about their prospects in the legal job market. Isn’t that special?

In the past, I have talked to many lawyers who were inquiring about my marketing program who I talked out of purchasing because I could hear in their voices their lack of enthusiam for their career. I told them I could help them bring in clients but given their state of mind, the clients wouldn’t stay.

Some people truly love practicing law. God bless you if that’s you. But I think many lawyers have convinced themselves that they love practicing when in reality, they would rather be doing something else. The worst place to be, however, is knowing you hate what you do but not seeing a way out.

There is always a way out. It might be painful–economically and emotionally–but the pain will pass. Five years from now at the outset, you could be happily engulfed in a new career, a new life. The sooner you take steps towards changing, the sooner your new life will appear.

I didn’t know where I was headed when I began this post, and I certainly don’t want to start the year with a downer. But I know this is a time when goals are set, resoulutions are resolved, and it’s not long before we are all caught up in the day to day of our careers, and before you know it, another year has come and gone. So I wanted to mention it once more and now I’m done with this topic (for now), so let’s get back to the business of bringing in clients and increasing incomes. After all, it’s better to be miserable with money than miserable and broke.

Happy New Year?