When it comes to choosing the right career, many of us are stuck between choosing a career we love and a career which will make us money. Is it possible to do both, if you don't happen to love the idea of being a surgeon, haven't the brain cells to become a rocket scientist or you lack the talent to be a top movie star or pop idol?

You can find work you love and make money if you do a little creative thinking and are prepared to be different.

Most people start out thinking that they need to have a job in a stable career and stay in that career for life, hoping to move up the ladder to greater success, achievements and wealth. But reality doesn't usually work that way. And even if you do get a good job which you enjoy, once the economy takes a downturn, you could be for the chop.

However, the changing economic climate has led to plenty of opportunities and, as a result of changes in the way many businesses now operate, it is much more acceptable to have a less traditional career path. Great news for those of us who find jobs boring!

So, what steps can you take to get work you love and plenty of money?

To start with, you must look at the bigger picture. Say you love a particular sport, you were very good at it in school and your dream was to compete in the Olympics. But you didn't make the team. Your dream is shattered. You go and work in an office or stacking shelves in a supermarket or you train to become an accountant or whatever your parents said you should do.

Of course you are disappointed, but even many of the athletes who do make it to the Olympics never win a medal. And there is more to sport than winning. When you first took it up you didn't decide you loved it because some day you might win a medal. You loved it because of how it made you feel. And the same is true for any activities you love, any careers you might be dreaming of.

Get out a piece of paper, and write down all the activities you want in your career, the skills you want to use and how and where you'd like to spend your time and with whom.

When you've done that, write the description of your dream career. It doesn't have to have a traditional job title and may include several part-time activities, or one main job and a small home based business.

Take another piece of paper and write the dream in the centre - Olympic athlete, world class actor, millionaire business owner or whatever combination of activities you came up with. Then brainstorm all the events, people, circumstances and jobs which make that dream possible.

Then look at all the ways in which money can be made in the process of bringing this dream to life. If you have one big dream, such as the example of world class athlete and can't be the central player, you can still be part of the dream.

Every dream is surrounded by an entire industry. You can become an expert in one aspect of the industry and work behind the scenes, or you can teach, train, coach or write about it. You might find something you love even more than the original dream. You can still play sport or take part in amateur dramatics for the pure enjoyment of it.

Don't give up on your dream - or on your dream to make money. Be creative and see where it leads. And don't forget that it isn't the winning singers who make the most money from American Idol.

For more careers advice and tips to help you choose the right career, check out our articles at: http://www.coolercareers.com

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