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even noticed.

Since that epiphany I spent the next two years soaking up as much information on my four new passions as I could.

- To improve my writing I started reading, reading anything from the Sunday paper travel section to going as far as keeping a dictionary in the toilet to brush up on my vocabulary. I love multi-tasking. Of course this was the time I stumbled across helium.com and started honing my skills.

- To improve my photography I started by buying a decent SLR camera. There's no point penny pinching when you're chasing rainbows. I then went out stalking wildlife with my Canon at masochistic hours of the day. But I also practised techniques in the comfort of my own home even photographing my pint of beer as I tinkered with the innumerable camera functions. I also frequented photography courses, soaked up books and absorbed the best the internet could provide on the subject.

- The travel and the wildlife were focal points for the writing and photography so all that was required here was to go out of the house and experience what the world had to offer, both locally and globally. I had never even been to Scotland or Wales, a sinful offence for a 32 year old Englishman. If you've not been I can tell you that they are both resplendent because I visited them both within 12 months of noticing my error. I even realised a childhood dream and went to Kenya for a safari (see my Kenya review to see how I got on).

So here I am. I left my roofing job to move into the charity sector and I now work closer to home giving me more time to practice the things I love. I'm not the new Alan Wicker, Bill Bryson or Steve Irwin yet, but I have a game plan and I have a passion in my life.

I keep my motivation high by reading about the people I want to emulate and the places I want to go. Without enticing myself like this it's easy to let days and weeks slide by without accomplishing anything. Motivation is important, but if you love what you're learning you shouldn't need too much encouragement.

I am infinitely happier now than I was two years ago. I have the same salary, I have a similar job (albeit a different industry) and I have the same wonderful wife. The difference is that I have dreams now. I may only realise part of that dream, but I'm enjoying the journey.

So my message to you is this. Think about what you enjoy, get good at it and go out there and start doing it.

If you can't be bothered to do that then please stop complaining about your dreary job, you're ruining my mood.

Learn more about this author, Daniel Waters.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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