Trade your dreams for a purpose to achieve success

The abundance of information we have today can be overwhelming, and it can be tempting to jump to conclusions instead of taking time to gather evidence methodically, question assumptions, ask clarifying questions, discuss the matter with others and engage in critical thinking before forming an opinion, writes Steve Keating. "If you don't have the facts, actual concrete facts, to support your conclusion, you may have jumped into something you shouldn't have. Never hesitate to jump back out," Keating advises.

Put it into practice: Refrain from relying on your first impressions when events happen or new data becomes available, Keating advises. Instead, seek out more information, especially data from different perspectives and don't make quick decisions if you're emotional or stressed.

Passions and dreams may be compelling, but they often fade, which is why following your purpose is more valuable career advice since it asks you to align with a job that contributes to the world, which can bring more lasting happiness, writes LaRae Quy. "Many of our dreams turn out to be superficial and shallow. They may bring short bouts of happiness but also a sense of emptiness if those dreams do not align with our purpose," writes Quy.

Put it into practice: Developing your sense of worth, whether you're mopping floors or in the C-suite, can help you find a sense of purpose and happiness in any job, Quy notes. "Most jobs have a bit of suck to them, but you can still find aspects of your situation that bring you joy and fulfillment."

Annoying coworkers come in many forms, from narcissists to passive-aggressive coworkers, but you can defuse them with strategic compliments for narcissists or clearly stating explanations for coworkers who hate confrontation, writes University of Texas at Austin professor Art Markman. Perhaps the trickiest coworkers are the ones who endlessly explains things you already know, but "a handy way to defang this beast is to ask a difficult question as a follow-up that this individual probably can't answer, and then provide the answer yourself," Markman writes.

Put it into practice: Another type of annoying coworker is the one who tells a rambling anecdote, but remind yourself that they might simply be trying to connect. "I recommend a polite interruption and a reminder that you need to move on to something else," Markman writes.

While eating nutritious foods throughout the day is the ultimate goal, registered dietitians agree that breakfast can help start the day on a healthful note, and they offer several breakfast ideas to help. Protein, healthful fats and fiber figure prominently in their menu suggestions, which include overnight oats, Greek yogurt, frittatas and toast, and RD Sarah Wagner says that "sometimes, I'll go on a toast kick and eat one sweet and one savory toast for breakfast."

As they have co-evolved with humans, dogs may have developed an innate ability to understand and mirror human emotions, according to a study in Animal Behavior. Pet dogs exhibited signs of stress when they heard the sound of a person crying and were generally unconcerned by the sound of humming, while pet pigs reacted with some stress to crying and even more stress to humming.

I was 17 years old when I landed my dream job -- an evening DJ at a local AM/FM radio station. I knew, at that time, that I would spend the rest of my life in radio. I loved it so much. I got hired in a nearby community as a news anchor and reporter and landed in the Atlanta market at WGST. It was a fantastic journey, but it wasn't easy to find full-time work in that market.

I finally jumped to television, serving as an associate producer for the brand new show "Good Day Atlanta," and finally ending up at CNN working for CNNRadio, CNNInteractive and finally on the CNNWires desk in the main newsroom. I had a passion for news (and still do, to some extent), but the news business itself was changing in ways that distressed me. I jumped to academic public relations and worked in that field for the next ten years.

I landed my dream job by accident, but I felt so passionate about radio, television and the news business that I kept at it and made it my career until the passion began to fade. While at CNN, I entered seminary and started a new passion for preaching and teaching that would last another 20 years before coming to a close.

I have lived LaRae Quy's advice. I began my career by following a passion that has now waned and shifted over the years. New passions arose, but they, too, faded after a while. The common denominator, though, in all of the jobs I've done is that I always felt my work contributed to something greater than myself. I've always believed in the power of journalism to serve the greater good. As I saw profits become more important than good reporting, my enthusiasm flagged. The businesses that I loved had forgotten their mission of service.

I love where I have landed, however. In this job, I get to use all the skills I have accumulated throughout the years, and the mission of SmartBrief remains the same -- to provide a service to our readers and advertisers that is larger than the sum of its parts. I wouldn't trade a moment of my career, but the fact that it has culminated in a job that does feel it serves a higher purpose has made the journey worthwhile.

It's vital for us to reassess our career journey from time to time and make sure we're still on the path to joy because that's where we find real success.

If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or send this link.

What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have praise? Criticism? Drop me a note. And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off.