• According to a recent study, happiness does not directly correlate with money: The link between income and happiness ends once someone earns $75,000 annually.
• For many, working at a job they love is more fulfilling, productive, and important than money. It can even lead to a higher level of success.
• To determine what job you will love, you should ask yourself a few questions about your dreams, goals and strengths.
• This article is for those considering a new line of work that focuses on something they enjoy doing and might be able to turn into a career.

You’ve heard the cliche that life is too short. You don’t know what tomorrow brings or where you’ll end up. So why waste your time in a career that doesn’t make you happy?

Studies have shown that happy people tend to earn higher salaries, and it stands to reason that these high earners are content – at least in part – because they have jobs they love.

Reasons to do what you love

Enjoying your career should be a priority over earning a high salary or flashy title, but that may not have been the case when you first considered what you wanted to do for a career. Here are four reasons to quit the job you’re unhappy with, along with four questions that can help you determine your next steps to finding a career you love.

1. You’ll feel more fulfilled.

Your job shouldn’t just be a source of income. If you don’t enjoy what you do, you’ll end up missing out on your life.

“As the lines between working life and personal life blur, a job is as much about personal fulfillment and growth as it is about a paycheck,” said Philip Ryan, partner at Ipsos Strategy3. “People don’t want to make widgets; they want to change lives, including their own.”

Your career should make you feel good emotionally, both in and out of the office.

“A job that you love … gives you extra motivation to meet your goals, and when you do, the sense of accomplishment is outstanding,” said Masanari Arai, co-founder and CEO of Kii Corporation.

You will carry and radiate that success wherever you go, helping yourself in other aspects of your life.

2. You’ll be more productive.

It’s important to feel motivated and inspired in your career. Without the drive to excel, your performance will lack passion and, in turn, your work may suffer. Productivity allows you to become more efficient, which makes room for downtime and encourages work-life balance.

“If you are passionate about your job, you are likely to take an active interest in learning every aspect of the business,” said Patrice Rice, CEO and founder of Patrice & Associates…[MORE]