Everybody, at some point or another, has had a job, something they’ve sloughed through 40 hours a week, 52 weeks year just to end up unsatisfied or unfulfilled. A career, however, has the potential to not only afford you the opportunity to effectively pay your bills, says Joseph Dale Guerrieri, but to also provide you the kind of satisfaction and well-being that comes from doing exactly what it is you want to be doing. Careers provide people more than a paycheck, says J. Dale Guerrieri, they provide happiness, and choosing the right one can have a positive, resounding and lasting impact on the rest of your life.

Let’s face it. You want, and need, a career that is both fulfilling and rewarding, something you can be proud of while still being afforded the opportunity to pay your bills and take care of your family. Careers are about far more than just a paycheck, they are about happiness, and finding the right one can only help to enhance the quality of your well-being.

Joseph Dale Guerrieri shares some useful things to consider when determining which career path is the right fit for your budget, health and well-being.

Choose Carefully

It’s important to take a long, hard and serious look at the career you want to pursue. Ask yourself, says Joseph Dale Guerrieri, if you can truly envision yourself doing this work tomorrow, next week or ten years in the future. After all, you really don’t want to find yourself in a position where regret and self-doubt are a major part of your day. Your time, and your life, are too important to waste on something you don’t or won’t like.

Choose for Yourself

Though it’s probably a good thing to actively seek out the advice and wisdom of people who have and/or like their career choices, says J. Dale Guerrieri, it’s also important to make your own choices when it comes to establishing a career. Never let yourself be forced or bullied into a career choice just because it works for someone else, and don’t accept something just because someone you know enjoys it. Make your own career choices.

Ask for Advice

When looking into a profession, or beginning your career path in earnest, be sure to seek out the counsel and advice of people who have been there. You can learn a lot from people, says Joseph Dale Guerrieri, who have proven experience in the career field, which makes the cultivation of relationships vital to your success. You’ll often find helpful insight and wisdom into the field you’re pursuing, helping to take the sting out of what would otherwise be unpleasant surprises.

Be Kind To Those That Help

Making the effort to thank someone for their help, particularly as it pertains to your career, can be a resounding and significant gesture, one that demonstrates your appreciation as well as making it far more likely that person will be available to you in the future. It’s also important to provide help to others as much as possible, says J. Dale Guerrieri.