“At any given time, most relationships are uneven-one person is more in need of support than another. A real friendship is mutually satisfying over the long haul.”

“Is it enough for people to simply enjoy their work without finding it meaningful or being passionate about it? I think it is. In fact, I would prefer to completely rid the concept of meaningful work as the gold standard, and replace it with a new one: doing satisfying work that meet one's needs.”

“In fact, we are often more interesting and sympathetic as human beings when something has gone wrong than when we are convinced of our own infallibility.”

“You are protecting your employability and ensuring that you are on the path to career satisfaction if you can answer yes to the following questions:Are you feeling stretched in a positive way?Can you describe what you have learned in the past six months?Can you describe what you will learn in the next six months?Are you aware of the most recent trends in your field and their implications for your longer-term success?Do you know what skills and knowledge you need to develop that are critical to your future success and employability?Are you strategic in your learning, focusing on something you are good at rather than on your weaknesses?”

“Do you feel you are doing something important or that you care about deeply? Do the content and challenges associated with your work enthrall you? Do you often find yourself surprised by how much time has flown by when you are working? Do you feel passionate about your work? If you have answered yes to one or more of these questions, you are in the fortunate position of being fully engaged by your work.”

“What roles do you want to play? Consider, for example the roles of: team builder; manager; individual contributor; change agent; technical expert; relationship builder; trouble shooter; someone who makes things happen; consolidator; problem solver; conceptualizer; big picture thinker; marketer; decision-maker; talent spotter/nurturer; mentor; turnaround artist; mediator.”

“People have read so much hype about passion that they feel they are missing something because they do not jump out of bed champing at the bit to get to work. They are afraid that if they are not completely engaged, then they must be dull and uninteresting at best, spiritually bankrupt at worst.The reality is that not everyone needs to feel passionate in their work. Lifestylers, for example, want to have a general sense of professional accomplishment, but they derive their sense of personal fulfillment from activities outside their workplace, whether sports, hobbies, charity work, or family.Many people fulfill vital functions in out society without loving their work, yet they are content in their lives. Perhaps it is only the current obsession with passion that leads some to worry that something is missing.”