As executive recruiters, we are frequently contacted by Job Seekers, people who want to find new jobs. Some of them already have a job that they don't like, but most of them have no job at all. In reality, there really isn't much we can do for the vast majority of these people, but we really would like to help. Several years ago, we came up with a Job Seekers section on our web site. Therein we try to explain what we can and cannot do for those who are looking for jobs…the bottom line being that we can usually only offer them some free advice on the mechanics of job seeking. But we really would like to do more…maybe we can even help them find a life and not just a job.

Having always been a “big picture” sort of guy, I like to put things in perspective and consider the greater universe before moving into action with the details. I have often felt that most people tend to drift into the jobs that they have without a great deal of thought about how those jobs fit into the more important aspects of their lives. Having done my share of drifting in the past, I can speak with some degree of authority on the subject. Back in April, I wrote in this column on the topic of misemployment; a phenomenon that apparently affects as many as 80% of the people in the workplace today. Some people like their jobs more than others do, but very few find a lot of joy in what they do for a living. About ten years ago, I realized that I was one of those people who had no joy at work…in fact, I was miserable.

At the height of my misery, I vividly remember one afternoon in 1992 while flying first class back home from a business trip. During that trip, I remember composing a list of six things that I thought a person would need in order to be happy while working for someone else: needed, wanted, trusted, respected, empowered and appreciated. Of course, at the time, I had none of those things; only big job, big title, prestigious company, big paycheck, all the trappings of success…lots of stress too, but no joy.

In addition to my job, there were other things in my life that were not acceptable. The list below offers some clues as to what some of those things were. On the bright side, I remember deciding on that airplane ride that I was going to do whatever it took to get my life in order. I just didn't realize at the time that it was going to take ten years. Maybe the seven secrets that I discovered during my journey will help reduce that time for some of my Job Seeker friends out there. This list won't make it easy by any means, but it just might help.

2. HEALTH Adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes a serious commitment to a healthy diet coupled with a consistently executed, professionally developed, exercise regimen for the rest of your life.

3. LOVING RELATIONSHIPS Purge yourself of relationships that do not bring you any joy. There is just not enough time on this planet to waste our time with negative people.

4. ENJOYABLE WORK It has been said that if you love what you do then you will never have to work a day in your life. Spend a lot of time figuring out what kind of work will bring you joy…for that is a lot more important than money.

5. FINANCIAL FREEDOM The best advice that I have here is to figure out a way to live on about one-half of what you can earn. I have finally learned how to do this…just wish that I had learned the secret about 30 years ago.

6. SERIOUS FUN As you address the first five items on this list, you will find that you will have much more time to invest in things other than working. This can include hobbies, volunteering, or just having more fun with the people you love.

So that's my list…at the heart of it in the Number Four position is that thing called work, where most of us spend well over half of our waking lives. I contend that we can all be more successful in our working lives if we put our jobs in perspective with the big picture of our total lives. Here are a few of my favorite books that might help you in that process. Some of them are out of print, but you can easily find all of them on Amazon.com.

The Canyon Ranch Guide to Living Younger Longer by The Staff of the Canyon Ranch with Len Sherman. A Complete Program for Optimal Health for Body, Mind, and Spirit.

Jim Hicks specializes in delivering value well beyond executive search. Following a 27-year career equally split between line management and consulting, he founded The Ansley Consulting Group in June of 1999. He sincerely feels that the most important decisions a CEO will ever make are those regarding the recruitment of leaders and those involving the selection of leaders to be promoted. Jim's former roles include COO of Nautica, EVP of Polo, Principal at Kurt Salmon Associates, and implementer of The Deming Method while working with Bill Conway of Conway Management. A former officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, he holds an Industrial Engineering degree from Auburn University and an MBA from The University of Hawaii.